Sertraline and work.

Have a read and don't worry about your work, just be straight with them and try and work out an understanding with them. Take a companion to assist you or act as a mediator.

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I can give you my insight into my own issue and feedback that may help you and others understand this easier.

I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression back in September 2013.

My issues were brought on due to the pressures of my job and possibly a few other personal issues to boot.

After breaking down at my computer one morning while talking to one of my colleagues, I dropped everything then went straight to my wife in tears for help where she then rang the doctor and got me in the very same day. (My wife is my rock, my soul partner)

This action was the best one single thing that my wife did for me and this helped me on my road to recovery so much quicker.

Identifying the actual problem is the most important thing that you must do and accepting in yourself that you actually have a problem.

After seeing the doctor who was just great and fully understood my situation, I was prescribed with 50mg Sertraline per day and over the course of my illness this never changed until Yesterday where I am now moving on to a once every two days dose as part of my withdrawal program.

I can say that my own experience with Sertraline has been very positive, however with a few side affects which I will state below.

Headaches (Normal for me as i used to get migraines when I was a kid aged 8) Now 43yrs old.

Sleeping issues (But always had this problem anyway)

Increase in appetite (Great as I needed to put weight on anyway)

Unable to ejaculate during sex (The wife loved the lengthy sessions)

Chest pains (Minimal, sort of like indigestion)

Varying anxiety at first (Got better as the Sertraline took hold)

Slight short term memory loss from time to time.

Fatigue feeling,

On a very positive note and the best advice I can give is as follows,

Talk...Talk...Talk.

The 1st few weeks were by no means easy, for starters the 50mg tabs did not work straight away and I was feeling anxious at varying times of the day, with the urge to check in on my work which just made me even more depressed, with thoughts of how can they manage without me, what affect is this going to have on my colleagues, etc, etc.

I put this out of my head as soon as i was able to,

I kept myself busy with anything else but work while I was off for 6 weeks. (No mobiles, no computers, no work..!!)

Setting myself goals such as getting a new bike and cycling again, bringing back good memories from my past that made me feel happy and alive.

Going walking with the dog and enjoying pleasant things like views, fresh air, etc.

Eating better foods, healthy foods, a better diet all round.

I found that writing down all the problems during my 1st week of my 6 week phase after diagnosis that made me this way helped me lots (I wanted to remember while it was still fresh in my mind)

Talking with my company HR and boss upon my return to work after the 1st six weeks about these issues and how they affected me, my work and my home life. (They were astounded by all the work I actually did, as was I)

Agreeing a phased return to work program over six weeks helped me to break in to work again gradually and not just jumping in head first. (An understanding company helped make this easier)

Taking regular breaks and lunch during the day and not just working through like I used to do.

The most important of all was to TALK......To your family, friends and anybody else that was willing to listen to you.

It is funny how strangers can give you something that close family and friends can not.

So to sum all this up...!!!!

I am nowhere near a fully recovered man just yet, but I am making good progress and remaining positive all the time.

I feel happy and a better man for it, my wife is happier, my family is happier and I generally feel like I have a purpose again. :o)

Sticking to the happy thoughts, keeping positive, keeping active, keeping focused.

I am not sure at present how my next 6 week period is going to pan out during my withdrawal program, but I must remain strong and not let the bad times return again.

My GP has told me to come straight back to her should any issues occur and we will re-evaluate my situation again.

I have also updated my boss and HR again as the withdrawal program could be a tough one and side affects may surface which may affect me and of course my work again.

I hope that anybody reading this gets some benefit from my story and I wish you all the best in your own individual scenarios.

Some other points on this,

Not thinking about the side affects of Sertraline and just getting on with the prescribed dosage.....Because this itself will bring on anxiety.

Remember that it may take between two to four weeks for the benefits of this medicine to appear, so it is very important that you keep taking it, even if it doesn't seem to make much difference at first.

If you feel your depression has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts or feelings in these first few weeks, then you should talk to your doctor again....Remember it is good to talk.

I feel a little better about going to work tomorrow, and will be getting there before I'm scheduled to start so I can speak to my boss about it.

I hope you do well with coming off and getting back to normality!

Thank you for sharing your story. x

If you need to chat further or need a shoulder to lean on just post here or message me direct.

Be strong and keep focused.

xx

Today went much better than I was expecting. Took a lot to actually leave the flat, walk in and then actually go inside. But I did it! Spoke to my boss and he was very understanding, said that we can change the amount of hours I work and such if need be.

I want to stick to normality as much as possible but it's nice to know that if I can't manage it there won't be a massive problem.

He also spoke to me later on about being promoted to a supervisor, (if that happens I won't have to work with the supervisor I can't get along with) :D

I hope today has been as good to you as it has to me. x

I so pleased that all went well at work.

Now you have goal with the supervisor position

To keep you focused.

Hope this works out for you.

I had a great start this morning but ended up

feeling really crappy this afternoon and went

to bed at 4pm and awoke at 8pm

I am going walking tomorrow, so hoping

I feel better.

Take care and keep in touch.

Xx

😃

Sometimes the fear of doing something or a situation is our worst enemy, I'm on day 9 so far so good.

Hope everythingcontinues to go well for you

Mark