Feeling really low
Posted , 4 users are following.
I'm nearly 4 weeks on 50mg sertraline, for anxiety and intrusive thoughts due to horrible zopiclone withdrawal. Not really noticing any improvement at all, I know people say it takes time but getting really despondent. Don't want to up the dose due to all the problems zopiclone caused when I came off it as hoping to eventually stop the sertraline, but starting to think this is as good as it gets. Had lot family stress recently probably hasn't helped but does anyone else feel the same at 4 weeks, not getting any worse but not getting any improvement either.
0 likes, 6 replies
SerotoninSurfer Guest
Posted
Hello, stick with it. It's only been 4 weeks which is such a short period of time. Rather than look forward for recovery, look backwards for improvements. Sertraline can take months to kick in properly for some people. Everyone metabolises antidepressants differently so one person could feel better in 2-6 weeks whereas others could be 6-12 weeks etc.
Keep distracting yourself with work, exercise, pets, books, music, nature. One of the bet pieces of advice i've seen is to learn to accept and live alongside your anixety for a while. Whilst you are constantly trying to fight it every minute of every day, there is no chance to escape the constant negative and intrusive thoughts. If your mindset is to accept that you will feel uncomfortable for a while whilst the medication kicks in, it certainly helps. I used to spend every single minute googling symptoms, checking forums, reading self help books etc and it was all wasted energy that only fueled my negative thinking. It's really easy to say all this but i am not fully recovered yet myself but i find that acceptance and distraction are the best tools in combination with medication in escaping the negative circular thoughts.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery and hope you have better days soon X
Guest SerotoninSurfer
Posted
Thanks just been really hard as been struggling for 10 months since I came off the zopiclone, just finding it hard to just accept the thoughts are there and go with the flow. . No advice available from NHS for prescription drug withdrawal, and the one helpline I found run by volunteers advises people often don't recover until after the first year and very anti SSRI"s so all a bit bleak. I try not to google too much any more, possibly as mine is entirely caused by drug withdrawal might take a bit longer to improve I don't know. Good to hear they worked for you anyway!
sue74917 Guest
Posted
Lemmana you say you are not getting any worse but seeing no improvement, lets look at this, you must be improving because you say you are going through a lot of family stress at the moment, if you were not improving then you would be worse because the extra stress would be making you feel worse, hope that makes sense? 4 weeks is still early, as you know, keep going you are heading in the right direction and as hard as it might be, stop dwelling on how and why you got here but try and accept this is where you are now and things will get better, nothing lasts forever
Guest sue74917
Posted
Felt worse the last week after problems with my son which has probably increased the feeling of hopelessness have at the moment. Was previously on citalopram for couple months but had to stop as made my hair fall out. Just feel I have no life at moment as due to the thoughts doing anything outside the house wacks up anxiety. Just keep thinking should have had some sort of improvement after 4 weeks. My sleep is actually not bad just some days like today feel I'll never properly recover. I know the advice is to just accept the thoughts are there and float with it but finding that impossible to do at the moment.
BulldozerMcr Guest
Posted
I have just finished my 5th week. Anxiety got much better, most of the side effects have been subsided but still feel crap 😦 I feel so depressed 😦 Hope it will improve
Guest BulldozerMcr
Posted
Hope you soon improve everything just feels awful at moment glad it has improved bit for you at least!