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Feel like giving up

Posted , 7 users are following.

aliciat
aliciat

I have been back on Sertraline for 8 days now and my obsessive thoughts are killing me I am panicking so much all the time and it's getting too much to bare. I can't even write what my worry is as its too embarrassing yet it feels like if it happens it will ruin my life how am I supposed to get better?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • richard172
    richard172 aliciat

    Posted

    Hello Aliciat,

    Initial side effects of sertraline , as im sure you are aware of, are very unsettling.

    your brain is kind of fighting off this new chemical, but once it settles into your system, these feelings will subside. It's a horrible process of riding out the storm. One thing i always say to myself in any times of anxiety or panic, is this " there are no external threats to me, it's all internal feelings"

  • gothiclady
    gothiclady aliciat

    Posted

    Hi please try and keep cam I do no it is very hard to do is there any one you can talk to at the monument that could help you I have been where you are many a time over the years I know it is not very nice place to be right now but do try to keep going and give the tablets time to work all the best to you please let me know how you get now I really want to know xx
  • CoolBeans
    CoolBeans aliciat

    Posted

    Oh no! Have you talked to your doctor?? That was good advice from the others - breathe in and remember it's the chemicals, not real threats or issues. And you need to talk to someone about what's troubling you so you can take a rational stance on it mentally. That feeling is awful. Hang in there!! You're not alone. Prayers and hopeful feelings just sent your way!
  • e37242
    e37242 aliciat

    Posted

    It may take may weeks to finally stabilize on Sertraline. Meanwhile you need help with the anxiety and panic to feel like you're coping, right?  I found in the worst of it, that doing slow, deep breathing for several minutes at a time, in a quiet place, really brought down my anxiety. Very slow, focused breathing. And many times a day, as often as needed.  I had some Xanax which I only took one occasionally. They are very addictive! But it would kinda reset the crazy panic anxiety.  Talk to your doctor if it gets unbearable.

    Ellen

  • betsy0603
    betsy0603 aliciat

    Posted

    Hi aliciat, 

    Everyone has given you really nice advice.  I'm curious, you say you have been back on for 8 days.  How long were you off?  How/what were you feeling before you took the first dose back and how have your symptoms changed now that you are back on?  The reason I ask is that sometimes after coming off, we can get sensitized when going back on and can have adverse reactions, maybe the dose being too high for where your nervous system is at.  It would help to know what your symptom pattern was/is like. 

    Definitely speak with your doctor and see a counselor for these feelings if you can. If the symptoms are causing you such distress then that needs to be addressed.

  • aliciat
    aliciat

    Posted

    Thank you all I went to the doctor and they gave me proponol. For those that asked I have been off Sertraline for about 4 months I stupidly took myself off to quickly, my symptom pattern varies but usuall morning panic and feeling of dread I find it hard to breathe speaking to people I find difficult and I constantly look at others smiling and happy even though I have a great family an amazing little girl it just gets too much.

    I have obsessive thoughts and intrusive ones mainly things thinking I have done which I haven't I was on 50mg yet doctor put me back on 50 straight away. This time feels different like I will never get out of it yet I guess that's what I must have felt like before. I have honestly not felt this sucidal before which makes me feel guilty on my family as I know they all love me. How can the mind work like this! I have nothing to complain about good job, nice house all the things you want in life yet here I am wanting to give up. I just don't understand it!

    • betsy0603
      betsy0603 aliciat

      Posted

      You poor thing, it's dreadful, isn't it?  Just know that this is all chemical, caused by the imbalance from coming off and then going back on at probably too high a dose.  Ask your doctor about taking half as much.  Your nervous system likely did some adapting back when you were off for four months, but when put back on the 50 it exceeded where your system was at, is my guess.

      You know that all of this is not "You," as weren't like this before, right?  It is rather freaky how a bunch of brain chemicals gone wonky can lead to such atrocious thinking, but try to take deep breaths when you are in those thoughts, and tell yourself, "This is not me and it will pass."

      I know the dread you are speaking of, experienced it in withdrawal myself.  It is a horrid feeling to have.  And I know that feeling, that it will never end, but guess what?   It will.  The morning panic is very common to people in withdrawal.   I often thought "I don't want to die, but I don't want to live like this."  But that was then...I don't think that way now :-)

      Propanol won't negate withdrawal from sert, so do speak with your doctor about trying half the dose and see if that makes a difference.  Once you find a dose like that that gives you relief, stay there at least two months to stabilize.  Your nervous system is cattywampus right now, struggling to find some kind of balance, so you won't want to do much more manipulating.  I do think perhaps the reinstatement dose is just a bit too high and causing start up side effects or an adverse reaction.  Only way to find out is to reduce it a bit and then wait at least a week.  Again, speak with your doctor about this.  Good luck!

  • e37242
    e37242 aliciat

    Posted

    Shows how powerful these drugs are!! Many doctors don't know about or believe the severity.
  • richard172
    richard172 aliciat

    Posted

    I found the same , when i tried to get off sertraline (without doctors advice) , after only 6 months of using it i felt fine again, so cut it down to 25mg , then after 3 weeks stopped altogether, mistake !!! 2 weeks later felt awful again. These days i'm on 50mg, and i plan to stick on these until at least early 2017, then see how i am coping internally, sit down with the doctors and make a plan to reduce to 25mg over the course of 6 months to a year if needed (depending on how I'm feeling). Even during good spells of health and no anxiety feelings, I always feel slight headaches , and nausea feelings, I think due to the sertraline effects.
  • nacho82802
    nacho82802 aliciat

    Posted

    Sertraline takes about a month to start working. You will get better. Talk to your psiquiatrist he will tell you what to do. BTW it's normal, it takes some time, 8 days is not enough... Be strong, better times will come soon!
  • aliciat
    aliciat

    Posted

    So I went really down last few days to the point where they rang the physcretric unit for me I am trying to push through it now as I don't want my daughter to suffer and not have me around. I am taking a week off work and seeing if I can come out the other side. It's so hard! The thoughts I have seem so real and the panic sets in so bad in the morning that it feels like I can't go on. I hate putting everyone through this and wish I didn't suffer with these problems 😐
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