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My anxiety has returned and seems worse than before

Posted , 5 users are following.

jodie-91
jodie-91

Hey everyone, I haven't written on here in months - I struggled for almost 3 years with severe anxiety, I was going to A&E almost every week and visiting my GP at least every two weeks. However, I started medication and CBT - 100mg of sertraline per day and I continued the CBT for 5 weeks and stopped as I didn't find it helpful - part of my anxiety is that I completely zone out and can barely concentrate and I felt that this is what I did through the sessions, not even remembering what we had talked about by the time I got home.

Anyway, I had been feeling much better to a point that I actually felt cured or the anxiety disorder but this weekend, it returned and seems even worse than before with feeling unable to breathe, dizzy, chest pains and a flare up of my IBS. Could it be that the tablets are no longer working or could it be due to drinking alcohol whilst taking the tablets?

Please send any advice you have my way, will be very appreciated. Thank you

2 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Chris1991
    Chris1991 jodie-91

    Posted

    Hi Jodie,

    Sorry to here about your anxiety coming back.

    I too suffer from anxiety and little depression that stems from anxiety I have been taking 50 mg sertraline for 4 weeks and upped it to 100mg for the last 4 weeks. I felt one really good day in both of the dosages but that very night I drank a lot of alcohol and didn't ever come back up to feeling good again. So if u could do it all again and could get back that day of feeling good, I wouldn't drink until I had been stable for a good few months.

    Unfortunately today I went to see my doctor and he has took me off sertraline and tomorrow I will start something new. I hope it's not to soon for me to change but if you can trust your doctors decision then who can you trust. I know that some of the best advice will Come from this site, from good people who have experienced highs and lows and can shine a lot of light for you.

    I hope it all works out for you

  • lynda70899
    lynda70899 jodie-91

    Posted

    I think perhaps it might be the alcohol.  It is suggested not to drink on these meds. Might want to double check with your dr.

    lynda

  • kevin76200
    kevin76200 jodie-91

    Posted

    Hi Jodie, I honestly don't think it ever goes away. I think that it depends how our lives are travelling at the time. I have battled it for years and years and at times I feel like I am losing my mind. I have done the CBT, see my GP weekly, and take Valium, Seroquel, & Valdoxan. 

    It's a constant battle. I have a glass of wine most nights and I don't find it makes any difference.

    I have honestly tried about everything possible and I still struggle almost daily with anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I just try and get through every day and have a couple of great support people.

    As I have said to people before, I think it is just the way we are wired.

    Take Care.

  • wayne76842
    wayne76842 jodie-91

    Posted

    hello

    ​alcohol will neutralize the sertraline rendering it useless, so when you drink the next day you will most likely feel crap and not from the alchol but from taking it with sertraline, also it can take a few days to start the aweful side effects coming back,if you drink for a week then it's like coming of your meds for that period which could lead you to having all the startinf side effects from sertraline, yes it's awefull not drinking when others are but i would prefer to get better and then drink once recovered,i would never go back to the biggining, take care  

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