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Sertraline for Intrusive Thoughts & Death Anxiety

Posted , 4 users are following.

joey_52339
joey_52339

Hi Everyone.

I am currently suffering from unwanted intrusive thoughts about death and suicide, this began in January and has been a constant presence in my life since. I am not suicidal and would never harm myself as I have an extreme fear of death and harm but these thoughts seem to be looped in my mind continuously and they are super intense & distressing that they almost make me question myself and have been making me feel flat, unmotivated and a bit depressed. My anxiety has been out of control and I always get a thought of 'i'm not going to make it through this day' everyday, but I always fight back. I do not want these thoughts at all, i really would love to go back to life how it was before these started appearing and i am determined that i will do that!

I am still on a waiting list to be seen by the NHS for a talking therapies assessment but hopefully that'll come through next month. I have had a bit of counselling but it is all centred around unpacking my past which i am not sure is helping my current intrusive thoughts.

I am 15 days into taking Sertraline 50mg and have been on a rollercoaster of emotions everyday since starting to take it. I am hoping for brighter days to come. Does sertraline help with getting rid of negative, intrusive thoughts?

Please reassure me things get better, i would love to know any tips you may have for banishing these thoughts.

Thank you !

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • rachel03720
    rachel03720 joey_52339

    Edited

    Hi Joey!

    Firstly I want to say you are not alone.

    I have the same issue as you, I have a very intense fear of death bordering on obsession and often tell myself I have illnesses or my heart will stop or just generally imagining my own death.

    These thoughts are intrusive and obsessive and dictate every day and how I feel and often result in extreme panic attacks that heighten my anxiety.

    I am three weeks on sertraline as I too am waiting for the talking therapies but there is a delay in getting any support.

    I felt a real boost initially and have noticed that these thoughts are happening less but have not yet gone, I have good days and bad days and seem to find new illness to obsess over diagnosing myself with.

    I believe it can take several weeks to really kick in and often can cause the anxiety to be more intense initially but most over come this. I had a review after 14 days with my gp have you had one or are you due one at all?

    I can't promise you everything will be perfect again or when it will be but I am at a really similar stage in a really similar journey and more than happy to support you.

    • joey_52339
      joey_52339 rachel03720

      Posted

      Hi Rachel!

      Really appreciate you replying to me!

      I am so sorry to hear of your struggles but I am glad that we are both at a similar stage in our journeys so we can support each other through this.

      Yes I have had to resort to getting private therapy as the NHS waiting lists are insanely long.

      I agree with you, I also felt an initial boost when starting sertraline and now I seem to be hypersensitive to new obsessions and thoughts too.

      Yes you're absolutely right, everything is meant to get worse before its gets better so I just hope we are through the worst of it now.

      I also had a 14 day review with my GP on Monday. Are you taking 50mg?

      Thank you for lovely message and we shall keep on going!

    • anne30266
      anne30266 rachel03720

      Posted

      Rachel,

      When I read your reply, i felt like you were talking about me. Three full weeks on sertraline and, while i see some improvements, i still obssses over any minor symptom I get.Still having intrusive thoughts and images that bring so much distress, but less panic attacks or at least not as mighty as they were when I started the sertraline. I think that we must hand in here and hope we'll see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

  • charlotte43928
    charlotte43928 joey_52339

    Edited

    hi!

    it took about 3/4 MONTHS for me to start to see the light. the side effects are horrific but please stick it out, it will change your life. intrusive obsessive thoughts, are very normal my love. nothing you said there made me feel uneasy, we can all relate. you will be happy again

  • anne30266
    anne30266 joey_52339

    Edited

    Joey,

    Just wanted to see how you are feeling now 3 months later. Hope your anxiety got better and the intrusive thoughts are gone.

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