Big Set Back at 5 Weeks

Thank you so much for your reply! It is very much appreciated! Would you consider 5 weeks early days? and the fact I had a big set back the past two days would be normal? Sorry for all the questions. I am just so disheartened with the whole thing after having such a great week/weekend. I've had 3 sets of bloods done in the space of a month and all came back normal so surely if there was something serious going on with my tummy my bloods would have been slightly off and I wouldnt have had such a good week last week?

hi im exactly the same! ive been on sertraline 50mg for 5 weeks - it will be 6 weeks on thursday and like you ive been doing well until i tried to go back work monday. since then my anxiety has not gone and i cant sleep at night again! im hoping this will improve as i really dont want to up the doseage to get anxiety again

Hey Sarah,

Sorry you are going through this also! 😦 I am also terrified to go up in dosage and deal with the horrendous side affects that landed me in A&E twice in the first 2 weeks!! I have trawled through so many forums and the general consensus is that it can take up to 8 weeks to feel benefits and that you can have blips along the way, particularly the 5-7 week mark! I was getting up every morning last week completely free from nausea and vomiting, that was my biggest anchor and I was so delighted that it was easy to shrug off all the other little anxiety symptoms throughout the day. But now the nausea and vomiting has returned the past two mornings im at my wits end! I had to take yesterday off work I was that bad all day but today I forced myself to go in. Now in saying that, I had bad gastritis I was being treated for about 6/7weeks ago which triggered the anxiety and why i was put on the meds, so the fact that these meds can give you an upset tummy is not ideal. I am on omeprazole to protect my stomach but I decided to just take it in the morning for the past 3 days before the sertraline instead of twice a day and maybe its a case that I still need it twice a day. Also my diet wasnt great Sunday and Monday, I ate alot of chocolate, breaded chicken, chips, pringles, a fizzy drink and didnt drink as much water as I usually would 😕 so it might be self inflected and the sickness is driving my anxiety up. Its hard to know. Are you in a bad way today? What are your symptoms?

I was say this is just the start as the tablets will be taking affect but it takes time to fully settle. I had good days and then a few bad days the first 8 weeks.

by the 9th week I felt so much better, and when I did get a bad day, it was not as bad as the start of my journey.

other things can also affect your mood, like periods. A week before my period, I felt awful the first 6 weeks but it started to settle. Also, the lack of sleep made it so much more difficult.

I used to listen to hypnotherapy on my phone. There are apps that help combat sleep and anxiety. It really helped me and staying in a routine.

I also started a diary to write down how I felt and my symptoms. Then when you're having a bad day, you can look back and think, actually I was worse before and overcame it so I got this.

CBT also really helps as it teaches you about positive thinking and how to handle bad thoughts.

You will get there, believe in yourself and don't be hard on yourself. When you have a good day, be proud of yourself. This is not easy but you are stronger than you realise.

Hi Sarah,

Its ok if your dose needs to go up. When I was at home, I started to feel better and when I returned to work, it triggered my Anxiety.

You've been in your own comfort and space and then having to integrate and socialise with people at work probably feels overwhelming at the moment.

I would recommend giving it a bit of time to see if things settle. Keep yourself distracted and each hour keep telling yourself, that you're doing well. Sometimes a slow return to work is better. Doing 4 hours one week then 5 etc. This helps you to adjust over time.

If you do get bad anxiety, keep little positive notes in your note book or write a little sentence in it about how you're feeling followed by a supportive line saying you can do this.

I was very open with my work about my mental health when it started getting so bad. I also learnt not to keep things in and to speak with friends and family. its not burdening them, its actually helping them to understand how to support you.

Also, keep your GP posted for changes and don't be afraid to call them and cry and show how you're feeling. Most GPs are fantastic and there is so much more help than there used to be.

hi lauren

thats what im scared of - i cant go through the horrendous anxiety i had at first on this! its 6 weeks today and i feel so disheartened ive gone backwards. i was feeling so much better and sleeping well every night until i returned to work monday now im full of anxiety again and not slept in 4 nights! i manage to get half hour here and there but thats it. im sat here crying now from the raised anxiety and no sleep. i have also come on my period this morning. how you feeling today?

hi hope

thank you for your encouraging message.

yes ive come on today so maybe that has played a role but the no sleep for 4 nights now and the heightened anxiety back is awful. i just feel i cant take no more.

im too scared to up my dose to get that bad anxiety again and have read like you said that it can take a while longer to kick in. its 6 weeks today. ive gone back on the sick now whilst im like this.

how did you feel when the dose was upped? and should i wait for the 8 week mark first?

Hi Sarah,

Really hope you're doing a little bit better since yesterday! I do honestly feel your pain though, as i said i was super on week 3 of it with little wobbles so it makes you feel even 10x worse when you have a bad day because youre stuck in a rut of 'I'm always going to feel this way'. Ive cried a good bit the past two days with this set back! However, this morning I was so determined, I woke up and started with my usual 'butterflies in my chest' anxiety. The sick tummy started to slightly kick in and instead of sitting under it and vomiting for another morning, I got up, pushed through it, had a shower and got ready for work. Before I knew it I had actually shaken the sick stomach, not even one dry reach!. Now im in work and although my tummy and anxiety is a little off I'm glad I got up and out! I know this is hard and who knows, I could have a worse day tomorrow and there is days I didnt push through it, but I just proved to myself that it is also mind over matter. I have 2 kids under 3.5 years and I work a full time job, I promise you it will get better! just think, 'this isnt you, this is the medication', keep saying that on a bad day! Focus on the good days you had, you wouldnt have had those good days if the medication wasnt working  just think, you actually made it to work so you know you can do it and right now its just the side effects taking over and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone going to work while youre still recovering! My inbox is always open if you want to message privately, maybe i might need more support tomorrow who knows lol. You've got this! How are you feeling in the late morning now?

Hi Sarah

I understand your worries about having more anxiety and symptoms by upping the dose as Im the same.

Have you spoken to your Doctor about how you're feeling lately? I would give it some more time and then perhaps upping the dose.

Sometimes the Docs will give you something for a few days to help you sleep but after a few months the tablets will help you relax enough to sleep naturally.

The lack of sleep won't be helping your anxiety and with your period, your hormones play a part with affecting your mental health.

I remember going through something very similar and after my period things calmed down. Please try not to overwhelm yourself with worry as things will get better.

Also upping the dose wasnt as bad for me, the meds were in my system already and the symptoms were not worse than when i started the meds for the first time.

Push through it and keep telling yourself you got this. I found it hard at first but after a while, my anxiety just went as I stopped focusing on it.

Please let me know how get on.

Hi Lauren

Thats the way to do it. One day at a time and push through it.

You get this girl☺.

hi hope thank you for your message. im really struggling now with air hunger where i can never get a full breath. its really scaring me and dont know how long this will last and if it will come back

Hi Sarah,

Have you tried breathing techniques when you feel this coming on? There's a 3 2 3 method where you breath in deep through the nose for 3 seconds, hold for 2 seconds and release for 3 seconds through your mouth. I know its easier said than done. If you have Spotify, Yogi Bryan meditation is great!! He has guided anxiety/deep sleep meditation 😃 i stick him on in bed at night and actually manage to fall asleep to it! Also, if you have Vicks (Brand Name, I know its used for colds), when you feel short of breath smell some of it and rub it on your chest. I've seen loads of places that its great for panic attacks! Worth a try if you have it. Have you any other symptoms besides the sleepless nights and air hunger?

hi lauren

yes ive tried them breathing methods but nothing seems to stop it! once it starts its in my head. it literally goes on for days 24/7. the first time i got it was 3 weeks in on beginning on sertraline and lasted a week then it went. im now on 6 weeks and not sure if it came back due to the brand of my sertraline being changed or my period? i got that low the other night because of the air hunger i actually wanted to take my own life. im petrified it will come back - is this likely?