Day 7 at 25 mg
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi Everyone,
So, here I am on day 7 (25 mg). Yikes! I am feeling terrible today. My anxiety is ramped up and I can't seem to do much to get it down. Breathing techniques and realistic thinking help, but they're temporary. My heart is racing, too, and I feel a bit jittery. I knew to expect side effects, but not like this. A week today I'm to up my dosage to 50 mg. This makes me quite nervous. I have to stick with it though. I mean, I'd rather live through these temporary side effects than live a life of constant panic. A small price to pay for the good that is to come, right? RIGHT?! I'm just finding it quite a challenge right now to deal with this high anxiety. For someone with GAD, these feelings are causing me to exaggerate what is actually going on. Reading other's experiences has been helpful, as I'm reminded that what I'm experiencing is 'normal' and to be expected. Best of luck to us. I'll check in again to provide an update on how I'm feeling. Perhaps my posts will help someone. Stay well!
1 like, 12 replies
lisa0203 raspberry17
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raspberry17 lisa0203
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Joe_Slim raspberry17
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Sorry to hear bout the anxiety! But like my doc says, the side effects are a good indication that the med will be helpful in the long run. If the med evokes no response (positive or negative) in the early stages, then it never will.
Since the side effects are bad, you might talk to your doc about lowering your dosage right now, and also delaying the increase up to 50mg. Slow and steady is fine!
raspberry17 Joe_Slim
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Hi Joe_Slim,
Thanks for your reassuring message! It truly helps. I'm staying optimistic. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully I'll feel better. I'm determined to feel better.
barna64 raspberry17
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raspberry17 barna64
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coop46269 raspberry17
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Just keep going with it. I'm on day 19 (50mg). It's the first time I've ever been on this type of medication as I've never suffered from mental health problems until my anxiety started out of the blue about a month ago.
I found that the first 10 days were the worst. My anxiety was REALLY bad and I was thinking all sorts of crazy things and wondering whether I'd ever return to normal! But as each day comes it gradually gets easier. I still experience mild anxiety - it usually takes up about 20 minutes of each day. The best part of the day I feel totally normal. Apparently it takes 6-8 weeks to work fully.
Are you going to do any kind of CBT? I'm attending a group session at the end of the month.
raspberry17 coop46269
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Yes, I plan on restarting CBT later in the summer. I hope to be able to really put my all into the sessions this time around and then gradually get myself off the meds. We'll see. I'm not against being on medication, but I'd like to (one day) be able to manage my anxiety naturally...if that's possible. I'm going to stick to it. I'm just now beginning day 8. I had a good night's sleep, so hopefully that will positvely impact my day. Thanks for sharing.
Sourtongue8 raspberry17
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I've just come back from the doctor after pouring my heart out
about these horrible feelings of dread and that something
awful is going to happen, he has prescribed sertraline
your posts have given me the courage I need right now.
to overcome this miserable life of anxiety dread and
feeling of despair. I'm not at all suicidal, just feeling
so low about these intrusive thoughts that I cant
seem to control, I know they are irrational but the
more I have these feelings the worse I have
become. I can't seem to enjoy anything now
without these horrible random thoughts taking
over even in the most unexpected situations.
planning anything is causing me anxiety
because along comes my horrible thoughts
and I convinced myself I'm tempting fate.
im not crazy very level headed have a
successful buisness, but this is so awful
to live with I just want to be calm and in control
again,instead of a nervous wreck. Does anyone
else have it so bad
raspberry17 Sourtongue8
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I'm glad that you feel comfortable enough to share on this thread. I, too, deal with intrusive thoughts and this lingering feeling of dread. It's no way to live. I don't know why it happens to some of us. It sucks - huge! I wish I had some profound words to share with you, but I don't. Knowing your thoughts are irrational is a good start. One thing that helps me a lot is realistic thinking. Do you keep a reflection journal? Sometimes this can help. Logging your feelings, thoughts, symptoms, etc. and then looking back on them can help in overcoming these negative feelings. When I start thinking negatively, I gently acknowledge the thoughts and tell myself that I'm going into a negative thinking trap. I try to pull myself by looking and feeling externally and living in the present. Easier said than done at times. I'm hoping that my medication will start kicking in soon. I'm in my 4th week at 50mg and no real change yet. Was at the doctor's today. She's keeping me at 50mg for another 4 weeks to see whether it's necessary to increase the dose. We'll see. Anyway, keep visiting this thread and others. It's very therapeutic and reassuring. Plus, everyone is very supportive. You can totally do this and be well!
barna64 Sourtongue8
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barna64 raspberry17
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