Needing support

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hello everyone after losing my wife 8 weeks ago I just could not cope anymore I was anxious about everything I went to my gp and he put me on 50mg of sertraline. This is my 10th day today on it yesterday was my worst day anxiety through the roof raised heart rate did not feel good at all...I have awfull insomnia and anxiety...tempted to quit and feel like I will be like this for ever...I guess I am asking g for support to get me through this....so please do reply if you can.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Paul,

    I'm sorry about your wife & that you're going through all this 😦

    You should be coming through the worst of the side effects hopefully, my therapist calls it "the hump". It's where the meds reach a steady state due to the pills half life so the concentration in your system becomes an even dosage. Everyone is different of course some get no side effects, some get more & it's hard to pinpoint a time frame. But you can do this, you're not alone in the struggle. The one piece of advice I've gleaned from on here is stick on one dose for 12 weeks if you can.

    Be kind to yourself, you're going through a huge ordeal.

    Could your GP prescribe a situational med for the interim while you ride out the side effects? I'm not a doctor but I know some people do. I didn't personally but someone might be along later who has.

    Take care of yourself, rest, drink plenty of water & try to keep eating & distract yourself if you can.

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply just to know there are others out there who have been through the process and come out the other end has been a life saver so glad I found this group

  • Posted

    HI Paul

    firstly sorry to hear about your wife must be a really trying time for you.

    Good on you for going to get help im sure your wife is happy you did as well

    I have been on them for almost 2 years but the first 4 weeks where very hard!

    You will find yourself having horrible days but theres light at the end of the tunnel and you will start to feel a bit better every day.

    Try doing something for yourself everyday lije excerise or a new hobby or even charity work..

    Keeping busy always helps

    Theres no magic pill my anxiety is still here especially every 6 months when i need to have mri MY anxiety was triggered off after a brain tumour 3 years ago

    GOOD LUCK

    • Posted

      Thank you so mu h for taking the time to reply and the reassurance...so need that at the moment

  • Posted

    Hi..sorry you are going through such a tough time. the side effects do pass, in weeks though not days. everyone has slightly different ones but you are experiencing ones that are quite widespread and so whilst scary they will go. each time you increase your dosage or decrease it you might get more wonky days for a little bit. i was on 100mg for 2 years after nursing and losing my Mum and they did help tremendously. try to get some daily exercise that helps as well. i hope the days get easier for you.

    • Posted

      Thank you for replying I too nursed my wife...just knowing someone else has been through a similar experience and come out the other end means so much....thank you.

  • Posted

    hi paul , please let me reassure you that they will work. it took between a month to 7 weeks for me on a 50 mg dose and it took 8 weeks to work for my mum . side effects far worse in beginning. The doctor gave my mum some diazepam to manage the increased anxiety for 2 months , then once the SERTRALINE kicked in she tapered off the diazepam. so, stick with it , be kind to yourself, you will get there ! x

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