Feeling very down and anxious

Hi Nikki. I'm sorry to hear about your story. I was on sertraline for 3 years initially and eventually came off them successfully. Recently I've had to deal with a few life set backs and voluntarily went back on them again because they helped so much the first time. It's completely normal to be on them for a long time, one of my friends has been on it for 10 years. So never mind about the length of time you're on them. If they help, stick with it. Remember you're not on the highest dose yet, so increasing by a slight might help x

Suzie

Hey Nikki,

Although I have only recently started on Sertraline your story resonated with me as I was in the exact same situation as you recently after being on Citalopram for years (another SSRI). They changed my life and were working fine for years until it seemed overnight they just stopped working!! After increasing my dose it still didn't make a difference so the doctor said that if one SSRI stops working it makes sense to try another which is why they have switched me over to Sertraline.

I just wanted to reassure you that it is completely normal to be on these tablets for years if you feel they are helping. My doctor advised me that if they improve my life then that is all that matters - don't worry about ever stopping them unless I wanted to.

I think sometimes when a panic attack catches us of guard when we haven't had one for a while it brings back a lot of memories and feelings of when life was like that on a daily basis and we so don't want to go back there it makes us even more anxious!!

I would say to see how you feel over the next few days/weeks and if things don't improve then go to the doctor and ask about increasing or changing meds. Maybe an increase is all you need to start feeling yourself again.

Things will get better :-)

Xx

I can totally relate to how you feel. I'm currently signed off work with anxiety. I started work at a preschool in September after having been a cleaner for 10 years. I was the happiest I'd been in a long long time but gradually I felt my anxiety taking over again. I ignored it to the point of having a nervous breakdown and am now recovering from that. I was also on citalopram for 3 years before it just stopped working and have now been on setraline for 5 years and am just re increasing them now. I intend to stay on them permanently if need be. I've also put on 4 stone since starting them but I'd rather be overweight and happy lol

Xx

Hi Nikki, I have been on Zoloft, yeah, when it was the brand name and not the generic sertraline I am on now, but the point is, I have been on and off Zoloft for 20 years, and I intend to be on it for the rest of my life. I am just thankful that it has worked in the past and I pray that it works until God takes me home. There are quite a few articles out there that said the professionals recommend being on it indefinitely if you've had three or more episodes/attacks. Too bad I can't paste the link here. And even my very own brother, whose also a doc (internal medicine, not a psychiatrist), said I should be on this med indefinitely, but perhaps at a lower maintenance dose once I am over the throes of the attack, maybe in a few years. 

Sorry to hear about your breakup, job, and son - one of these things would be hard to deal with, let alone all three at the same time. I feel for you. I know how scary it is leaving the house. Been there myself. Is there anybody, like a family member or a real good friend, who would go with you to your doctors appointment? 

I find that I am a bit less anxious around someone close and familiar. 

Take care and and post here anytime. I am so grateful for this forum. It helped me a lot to know I am not alone in my struggle and suffering. 

Xx

Hi Nikki, how are you doing? Did you go the drs about maybe upping your dose or changing meds?

Hope your doing ok? I have a similar story to you. My husband left me on New Year's Eve day, works away. Been together 13years with 2 kids but he said he's not happy anymore so I'm trying to deal with that plus deal with my anxiety and depression which has heightened since taking the sertaline 15days ago.

I hope you got sorted and it was just a dose increase needed. Positive thoughts and stay strong xx

Hi Nikki,

i was just reading your post and thought I would reach out and say hello to you. I don't have any great information to share or anything and I do not suffer from the same kind of anxiety as you... speaking of agoraphobia. But I do have anxiety and panic and I know how crippling and awful it can be. 

I am at a bit of a low point myself which is why I was back on the site today. Just felt like to need to connec with other people that understand how I am feeling. 

I guess everyone on here probably understand how I feel or else they wouldn't be here eitiher