Bad anxiety leads me back to Sertraline - any positive feedback?

I really understand your frustration! I agree!

I have a health anxiety and an unsupportive GP. I am on Sertraline but I had to speak to the receptionist at my surgery and explain I felt like I couldn't cope and my GP wasn't listening! She gave me an appointment with the paramedic practioner at the surgery, she was very caring. She agreed I needed medication and went off and arranged it for me. It was so stressful!

I really hope Sertraline will help your anxiety.

David, to be fair to GP's they don't have the time or experience to be able to deal with acute anxiety and depression. It is a case of dishing out pills, trial and error with antidepressants and hope that you strike lucky. The best thing i did was to insist to be referred to a psychiatrist with good experience of medication. I was initially given cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) through an online course. However, i did not find this resonating or helpful as i have absolutely no triggers or pattern to my anxiety. After constant harassment of my GP and the local mental health authority i finally have someone i can go to and agree a strategy for medication. It's taken a long time but if you are persistent, you will be seen. i 100% recommend that you ask to speak to a mental health professional as opposed to routine GP appointments that are in no way adequate. I find that most of the long terms users of this forum have a lot more knowledge of medication side effects, perseverance so tap into it. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

David, I am sort of in the same boat as you. I have had anxiety/depression issues for a long time. Several years ago, I did see a psychiatrist for counseling. I was going through a rough time in my life with work and relationships. He prescribed Paxil. That was a terrible medication for me. I basically worked through my problems on my own. I took myself off the Paxil just because it made me feel so odd. I couldn't sleep at night, and I had trouble concentrating and focusing during the day. I only took the Paxil for a couple of months... and just couldn't take it. The psychiatrist was surprised when I told him that I stopped taking it and made it ok. I just tapered off it. I saw the psychiatrist for about 6 weeks. I don't really think he did much for me. Several years later, I still had the axniety and depression on and off. It would start in the mornings as I woke up. Stressing about just starting the day... then I started getting heart palpitations along with the anxiety. Testing showed my heart was fine. I was experiencing PVC's which my cardiologist said were harmless and most likely caused by stress and or anxiety. So he prescribed Lexapro. That one also was not good for me. It made me feel angry most of the time... and then I started getting muscle spasms in my legs when I was trying to sleep. I stopped that one too. Again, some years later, the palpitations got worse along with the anxiety. More heart related tests still showed nothing wrong with my heart. Finally I went to my GP that I have known for many years. We talked for a while and I explained how I felt so depressed sometimes and the anxiety that I felt. And when I would try to think about what it was that I felt so depressed about - I had nothing. I told him that I had so many things to be thankful for so I didn't understand these feelings - and then the palpitations on top of it. He said it sounded like GAD. General Anxiety Disorder. So he prescribed 25 mg Sertraline. After a couple of weeks, I was actually feeling better. The palpitations had stopped. I had a follow up with my GP after 6 weeks. I told him that I was feeling better and the palpitations had stopped. I still felt a bit down at times, but nothing like I had been feeling. He upped my dose to 50 mg. After a few days, I was feeling very anxious and sort of antsy. I went back to the 25 mg and after a few days felt better. I still want to try upping the dose to 50 mg and I plan on doing this in the next few days. I have both the 25 mg and the 50 mg now. So I was thinking of taking one of the 25 mg and cutting it in half - and try a 25 plus the half and see how 37 1/2 mg works. If I can do that for a couple of weeks, then try the 50 mg again. I know it would be good to talk to a professional counselor, but I don't know what I would talk about. Because I couldn't really say exactly what brings on my anxiety and depression. So I am hoping the sertraline will do the trick. I think the 25 mg is doing some good, but may the 50 would work better. People say the 25 mg is such a low dose. But I feel the effects of the low dose.

Let me know when and if you up your dose to the 50 mg and how you do with it.

Hi David my first thoughts on your post are why can you not share how you are feeling with your work colleagues? You may find that quite a few of them have or are having the same issues and would take comfort in the fact that they have an understanding boss who has been there plus it might take some pressure off of you knowing that you do not have to hide your feelings, I found that I could manage my anxiety at work with people knowing that if I suddenly needed to take a walk it was not questioned and ok for me to do.

Secondly if you feel that your GP surgery is not understanding of your needs then change to one you feel you can relate more to and will listen to you because if you have gone back on the medication some medical professional is going to want to see you to find out why and issue you with another prescription.

I hope you find something or someone who you feel is going to help but please do not be ashamed of admitting to others when you are suffering