6 weeks in and still praying for a miracle....

Hi Maria I'm too waiting for sertraline to work I've been on 100mg for 3 weeks and 50mg the first week. I think I have seen some improvement. Maybe going up to a 100mg will work better for you, I know it takes a while for sertraline to work. Also you have to force yourself to get out to bed, get dressed, go for a walk (you'll feel better getting some fresh air!) I know it's so hard when you feel the way you do, but you have to push yourself, that's what I do force myself to do things until late you feel better. You will see light at the end of the tunnel, you won't feel like this way forever (I know it seems like it! ? ) take care x

I think that increasing to 100mg might be the right thing for you to do.  Just remember that you might get some side effects again,  especially making the jump from 50 to 100 instead of 50 to 75.  I am on 150mg.  That is the dose that works for me,  and some people need something a little stronger and that’s okay.  Eveyone’s bodies are made up differently.  Pamela is right though.  You really have to push yourself and get out of bed.  It can feel like an impossible task,  but it does help.  Taking a shower and washing off the pain and sadness helps.  When I was at my darkest,  my husband had to physically undress me and put me in the shower.  I didn’t have any desire for anything other than to think about how much my illness was bringing my family down.  I felt empty and alone.  But everyday,  my husband made sure that I bathed and put on a change of clothes.  Doing this every morning got me out of my bed.  In the beginning it meant getting out of bed, taking a shower and then immediately putting on a pair of sweats and returning to bed just to stare at my clock begging to make it through the day.  Eventually I started being able to take get up and shower on my own.  Then I was able to spent time out on the porch.  Going outside was a really hard task in the beginning.  Sure I spent most of my time crying out there (I’m sure my neighbors thought I was crazy,  but whatever I doesn’t matter what they think). But the cold air hitting my face,  and the vitamin D from the sun made my mood lift slightly.  Then whenever I felt depressed I would sit outside.  Some days that meant spending the entire day out there,  but with time I was able to see small windows and moments of myself.  So I wrote those moments down.  I think the first one I wrote was “Held my son for 5 min before having a breakdown”.  Eventually the moments got longer.  The windows got larger,  and the sun started to shine through.  I have gone through both severe anxiety and severe depression and I know how lost you can feel. You have to try keep hold to the fact that you aren’t crazy,  there is a cure, and you will get better.  You don’t have to believe it right now,  just keep on telling yourself these things.  It’s not forever,  it only feels like it.  We are here if you need a friendly ear.

Thank you so much for your reply Ashley. I am feeling a little better now after 5 days or so at 100mg. But I feel nowhere near how good/happy I felt before. I really am unsure whether to continue with Sertraline or try to taper off. X