Nearly week 8! Feel like iv gone backwards

Posted , 4 users are following.

so im coming up to week 8 and i honestly thought i was turning a corner since week 6. But since sunday this week i started feeling low again and tonight i had very strong intrusive thoughts about hurting myself which felt very intense ( i dont want to this!) which then led to me having a rush of anxiety and feeling sick! has anyone experienced this 😦 im hoping its just a blip and i will be ok again really disheartening when you think your finally getting somewhere.

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  • Edited

    im kind of experiencinf this now and i just hit the 6 week mark a few days ago. I started to feel more low again during week 4 and started having some intrusive thoughts of the same nature because of the numbness and depression symptoms im still having. My anxiety is way better though but it is very scary that the depression stuff isnt getting better at least yet. I have been dealing eith anxiety since i was 12 and depression since i was 15. (im almost 23 now) I never wanted to get on meds but with the intense panic attacks and lowness i was experiencing recently i knew i needed them (and theres nothinf wrong with that!) and need to actually treat these waves of fear, numbness, and sadness that were getting longer and longer. I onow this was 2 weeks ago and im hoping youre doing better now!

    • Edited

      hey megan yes im doing better now i currently stopped my contraception pill 2 weeks ago as i believe thats what was making me feel so low in the first place! i ended up back on sertraline 3 weeks after starting my contraception pill so i sort of linked it together. since stopping the pill iv noticed i feel more myself and the thoughts have calmed. hope your doing ok ?

    • Posted

      I am SO happy youre feeling much better!!! Thats awesome 😃 I had tried birth control 5 years ago and felt like it was giving me very low mood as well so I had to stop taking it. Im glad im not the only one that had that type of reaction to it! Ive had really good days but i just got to my 8th week and have had more rough days recently, ive felt more anxious (although it is manageable) and just feel down a good chunk of days but i am having really good moments still and can function way more than I could 2 months ago I just thought i had turned a corner like you said you felt like and now it seems to be trickling down im hoping I feel more like myself within the next few days or week. These waves take a lot out of ya but im going to keep fighting and staying positive!

  • Edited

    Hey dear! So sorry to hear that. It's never nice to experience a backlash. My experience with Sertraline was mostly positive, but I've seen the real improvements only after two months or so. But I have to say, I haven't only been taking Sertraline, I also implemented many changes about my life that keep me busy and happier. I am now coming off it after 5 months because I feel I am ready to let it go.

    Personal suggestions I could give, after researching about the issue (I am studying to became a health professional, and I have recently worked on a project on Stress, Anxiety and Depression)

    -Exercise. I know it sounds like a cliche, but it really helps with serotonine and dopamine production.

    -Omega-3 supplements. Find a good one, if possible with Vitamin-D included, and try to do a 3 month supplementation taking a minimum of 250mg of DHA (it should be specified in the package). DHA are the omega 3 fatty acids that help with cognitive function and healthy maintainance of the brain. There are no adverse symptomps associated with taking even more, I have been on 380mg of DHA for a while now and I really feel it when i forget to take it for few days (I suffer from ADHD and Dyspraxia so for me is really essential)

    -If you feel Omega-3 are too expensive, please take at least some Vitamin-D. It is involved in so many pathways that, if your intake is not sufficient, can cause low mood, anxiety and depression.

    -Do stuff that you love. My project was about Music and Stress, and if you love music, I highly suggest you keep your brain busy with new activities such as learning a new instrument. It protects the brain from aging, but also it helps with making you feel satisfy and happy about yourself. I am now playing (poorly) 3 different instruments and it helps me tons!

    -When you feel anxious, try to go for a walk alone and listen to a podcast. Joe Rogan covers so many topics, I am sure you'll find the one that interests you, and if you want any help, reply to me with your interests and I'll find you some episodes you can listen to.

    I am sending you a massive hug, hope you'll feel better soon!!!

  • Posted

    I've been on it since Dec 2020 with increasing dosage up to 150mg. I find every couple of weeks things settle down then flare up and its increased dose and it repeats. I find i have occasionally had intrusive thoughts, and the side effects from sertraline makes my anxiety worse. double edged sword

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