Positive Sertraline Story

Hi all, 

This forum provided a lot of comfort to me when I started Sertraline 5 months ago and so I have come to share my story, as I said to myself I would. 

For about a year I suffered terrible anxiety and panic attacks. I didn't realise it at the time, but my anxiety caused physical symptoms - due to a history of urine and stomach problems my body started to mimic these in my times of anxiety, making me panic even more. I didn't want to admit it could be anxiety and went through a whole range of tests and exams to rule out more serious health causes. 

Finally, after this going on for well over a year, I went to see my doctor and broke down about the panic attacks I was having. She started me on Sertraline 25mg for 2 weeks saying I would then up to 50mg. I delayed starting the medication as just reading about the side effects sent me into a whirl. When I took my first tablet at night, a few minutes later I lay in bed feeling my heart rate increase, this was when I realised that my anxiety could mimic these physical symptoms that I am so afraid of feeling. 

I had the worst side effects starting on 25mg - you name it I had it, I felt like I was on a different planet, nausea and vomiting, diahrrea, increased urination etc. This actually heightened my anxiety and panic attacks even more. So we decided I should stick with 25mg to ride out the side effects and after 4 weeks, I felt myself again. I was going out with my friends and not panicking about every small detail (although a few months previously these small details seemed much bigger of course).  

A few weeks later, I learned that I was going to be made redundant, so the anxiety started to creep back. After visiting my doctor she told me to try upping to 50mg, which I did. I was expecting for the side effects to be exactly the same as when I first started. Luckily for me, I felt a little spaced out and had some trouble sleeping, but that was it this time. 

I've been on 50mg for a few months now and I'm honestly so glad I finally accepted that my health issues might actually be anxiety related and accepted that I should take medication. I take pleasure in living again, I laugh with my friends and I'm not constantly worrying or panicking about things. 

There is still a big stigma around mental illnesses like anxiety and depression and I often see people saying on here that they do not want to have to take a medication for this, for the rest of their life. However, people with physical conditions often have to take medication for a large part of their life, for example pain relief and so, for myself, taking Sertraline for a mental condition is no different. If I have to take it for the rest of my life to actually help me live instead of being crippled by fear, panic and anxiety, so be it  

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