Handhold please 🤍

[TTCX2]

Hi,

looking for a bit of a handhold/ reassurance. I recently posted about my anxiety/ mental health taking a little dip. I’m 26+4. Spoke with a lovely GP who advised sertraline and thought reluctant, I know I need to get a handle on this now. I’ve started on 25mg and to up to 50mg after a week and I’ve only taken it for three evenings and I have to be honest my anxiety has completely spiked. I know it is to get worse before better and I was expecting it, but not on such a low dose and this quickly. I’ve been on it in the past and don’t remember it having this effect. Feel paralysed by anxiety today. Any positive experiences to share?

thanks for reading 🤍

I was on sertraline previously, off it for 5 years ish pregnant again and my anxiety went in to overdrive, started sertraline and spent the first 4 or 5 in an even worse non functional state.

I won't lie it wasn't like a magic wand and on the 5th day I was better, but it did slowly start to ease after that, I had my dose upped a few more times and it probably took 6 weeks to feel stable. Now, whilst not perfect (especially if I'm tired) I'm about a million times better than I was.

My GP was very nice and I saw ger every week until I was properly settled please don't be afraid to go and speak to the GP more if you need to.

Thank you @user1469032438 for getting back to me and with your honest experience. I’m so glad you are starting to feel back to yourself (I don’t even know what that is for me at this point). Do you mind me asking how your anxiety presents? Mine is normally a really busy/ anxious mind with intrusive thoughts that go round and round. Though the reason I sought help from the gp was because I was starting to feel the anxiety in my body- panicky and upset stomach etc so there was just no respite from it.

thanks again 🤍

Mine is mainly health anxiety, it came on very suddenly out of nowhere, although I've had anxiety in the past it has always been social anxiety.

When it was really bad I was having full blown panic attacks which were horrendous. Now it has settled down, when it is bad it is much as you describe, I get a bad thought, my mind races and I cant do anything but focus on the racing thoughts, I also get an upset stomach and have developed a weird finger tapping hand movement but that is actually kind of useful because I don't realise I'm doing it but it lets family and friends know I am struggling.

I have found being tired really doesn't help and distraction helps sometimes but mainly what helps is calling my poor mum, I explain to her why I'm anxious, she tells me all the reasons it's a bit silly (in a very nice understanding way) and that usually makes me feel better.

Do you have anyone you can talk to when it's bad?

That sounds really tough, I’ve experienced health anxiety too and it’s really difficult and when one thing resolves something else comes along. It sounds like you have a good handle on it now, so you think that’s down to the sertraline, what dose are you on if you don’t mind me asking? I think I need a mum like yours she sounds wonderful!

My biggest fear is that I won’t respond well to sertraline and have to start over with something else. I just want to feel better or even just ok.

My husband is truly amazing and understanding (he has been entertaining our three year old constantly whilst I’m just trying to not crumble, which of course is making me feel awful). I had a cry with him earlier and felt instant relief but the anxiety has built since though. Hope once my daughter is in bed I can have a good cry. I’ve just let me best friend know as well that I’ve started medication and hopefully having someone else to confide in will be good for me!

I should also say my biggest fear is completely unravelling and losing my mind 🫣

Are you on the list for any talking therapy/CBT - meds will only be part of your answer in my experience anyway. CBT for intrusion thoughts can be very effective. Hope you're feeling better soon xx

Thanks @Nell80. I think the waiting list is so massive in my area I don’t know if I’d get the support I need for it right now but I suppose there is no harm on going on a waiting list. I don’t know if anyone has any recommendations for courses I could try online?