Sertraline help!

Hi Lelo, i actually take it after being diagnosed with panic disorder/attacks, social agoraphobia, depression as well as anxiety. I am a right old mess to say the least... I will definitely bring this up with my doctor though as it makes sense.

Thank you for your help and i hope you get sorted too also xx

Oh okay, well for some it does help with social anxiety (agoraphobia) although not GAD (and I believe you can get medication targeted for agoraphobia specifically so I'm not sure why he'd choose Sertraline) If you find the sertraline does help with the depression and other things then maybe try asking for a more specific anxiety drug to go along with the sertraline (I know this is what I'm going to be doing) rather than swapping it all together xx

That is really helpful, thank you so much 😊 its the panic/anxiety that i cant cope with, everything seems alot better so i will be asking my doctor about this next week, thank you so much again. I hope you are feeling as well as you can be xx

I don't think I can do weeks of feeling like I am today Nicola, my anxiety has been thru the roof and ive wasted the day trying to sleep on the settee after only 4 hours last night, i finally managed to sleep 3-6pm and felt a bit better so popped to chat with a friend, got emotional again, anxious in my chest again. Im on betablockers so i shouldnt be getting the adrenaline reaction on my heart but it still feels so stressed in my chest and it scares me that it'll give me a heart attack.

Hi Julie, sorry your having a bad time. Have you started taking sertaline or you just on beta blockers? Xx

Julie i promise you you won't have a heart attack, i feel exactly the same its the anxiety. The more we worry the worse it gets, its an awful circle that the Sertraline WILL fix. Have you read some of the positive stories from people using this drug? I found it really helped me. Google it and honestly there is so much more positive to come from sticking with it. We can do it together, i am always here julie xxx

Thanks Michelle, i took my 1st sertraline last night, 4 hrs sleep, was very sick this morning, pins n needles and mega anxiety all day n i feel it in my chest.

Thanks Nicola, i worry so much that all this stress on my chest is gonna do me harm. I cant imagine surviving weeks of it x

Honestly Julie, my chest feels like that for around 10 hours a day it is the anxiety. I even had an ECG last month and my heart is perfectly healthy. Anxiety causes more pain and worry than most people could ever understand but i promise that pain you feel is what is does. Its nothing more serious i am sure xxx

Where you told to take them at night? I take mine in the morning but everyone is different. What dose have you started on? I was scared to take them so started 25mg for 6days then upped to 50mg which I've been on for 11days so far. I have had nausea do my dr give me some anti sickness tablets which have helped maybe get something for that. I still don't sleep much and at around day 5/6 I had nightsweats too which weren't nice but they seem to have eased now. You will be fine, my dr told me it will get worse before it gets better so stay stong xxx

Thank you Nicola. I had an ECG last week and doc said she didnt fully understand it but said id got atrial fibrillation but was going to consult a cardiologist. Of course this stressed me right out! Then yesterday she rang and i asked her what cardio had said, she said its not AFib and cudnt explain it but said its normal but gonna do a monitor for 24 hrs to check on palpitations, so they cud be just stress related (im guessing)rather than an arrythmia condition. I was relieved, doesnt sound as bad, but since taking the sertraline last night, so much anxiety n chest discomfort n back to worrying about heart again x

Oh im so sorry julie i didn't know this. But as you said it is probably stress and anxiety related as this medication does that. My dad had cardiomyophay i was convinced i had that but it just the anxiety so im sure it is with you too. Just remember we have to go through the bad to get to the good. Its so very scary i know but you arent alone! Look how many of us are on here and all the other forums... Its horrible to say but for now these feelings are normal but when our meds work they will be gone x and that day WILL happen soon x try to be positive in that ? xxx

Yes my anxiety started 18 mths ago (menopause i reckon), so id always thought palpitations were anxiety related, so it came as a shock when ecg supposedly showed atrial fibrillation! So a week of stressing about that, now the doc has backtracked and said its not that, but will do 24 hr monitor to see if identifies palps etc. my anxiety went crazy over xmas, probs cos was messed around by chap id been dating and had too much time alone brooding on it! How are you feeling now? Ive popped to see a cple of friends tonight for some company x

I feel really positive for you Julie, its been tough im sure but you do seem a bit positive? I wish i could pop out i cant leave the house as i have agoraphobia x im feeling really down and really anxious tonight, i think its knowing that in the morning will wake with severe panic attacks again like i do every morning. Im feeling really low ATM x I've got to up my Sertraline to 75mg tonight as well which is scarying me x I've just had enough now and don't feel positive x im sorry to be negative i just need to be honest xx

I totally understand Nicola, you have done so well to get this far on sertraline, surely better days are just around the corner for you. I have hardly been put in a week but whenever i feel i can cope, i'll try, just to feel normal for a bit. I will mssg you wen im home in case youre still awake to see if youre ok. Try LCB chat radio app, really soothing voices, help me fall asleep :-) x

Thank you so much Julie, im sorry if i have ruined your evening. You go and have a nice time you deserve it ☺i have taken some diazepam so hopefully i will sleep. I listen to rain and thunder sounds but will give LCB a go. Thank you so much for listening to me i really appreciate your support xx talk soon i hope xxx

Hi Nicola, don't be daft, you have not ruined my evening at all! :-) I know how important it is having someone to talk to on a bad day and especially someone who knows how bad this anxiety feels. Im sure i'll get home and struggle to sleep, so i'll defo txt you later on the off chance youre still awake. Where are you from Nicola? Im in Nottingham.

Thank you so much for understanding x im on the Isle of Wight so not too far at all x its amazing you are able to go out and socialise you are so lucky x i really hope you are having the best night and that you can sleep when you get home 😊 im just watching greys anatomy and trying to force a chicken sandwich down as i haven't eaten for two days. Please text when you get home and be safe x if i don't answer cos im sleeping i promise ill answer as soon as i wake up, but i will probably be mid panic attack so be prepared! Thank you again Julie and speak real soon x have fun xxx

Mainly chatting about health stuff with a mate who is very understanding! Feel calmer at the moment, was in tears earlier when i popped to see my best mate. I guess im putting off going home cos im more anxious when alone and know ill struggle to sleep. I really hope i can have a little walk tomorrow as ive not seen daylight in ages and exercise improves mood. I understsnd cos im in a similar place Nicola and Ive never felt so bad, but everyone tells me i'll get through it and so will you. I was good for 47 years, i can be good again! Catch you in a bit xx

Im so glad you have someone as that really helps x i prefer to be alone as when i am with someone and im bad i get worse. I know how you feel about exercise its meant to be so helpful with our illness. I was good for 37 years and yes we will be good again, no great! Talk soon x maybe tomorrow we can both get some exercise xxx

Home now, hope you managed to get to sleep, if not I'm here x

Morning Julie, i slept pretty well. Just woke with a panic attack again and have taken more diazepam. How are your u feeling? Did you sleep at all? Xx

Hi Nicola, that's great that you slept...how many hours did you get? I was still awake at 3 so I got about 5 hrs and woke to anxiety, though not a panic attack. I did some deep breathing, put tv on & will try n get a cple more hrs sleep, tho i doubt i'll get back to sleep till this afternoon! I didnt take the sertraline last night...i dont think i can cope with the full on anxiety all day like i got yesterday, i am thinking of trying HRT since i think the origins of my anxiety are from a sudden menopause...drop in estrogen...drop in serotonin. Maybe getting those hormones back will be enough for me to start healing myself. Also, i have missed work this week, after months of not enough work, no work is no pay for me and am thinking i may be able to get to work quicker if not on crippling sertraline! I have a job interview next thursday too which it would be a shame to miss and maybe i stand more of a chance of getting to the interview if not on sertraline. You are further along on your journey with sertraline and surely not far off your turning point. How are you doing now Nicola? xx

A good 6 hours which was nice, after taking the diazepam this morning i feel like a zombie but i just have anxiety not an attack anymore which is better. If i could go back i would this drug is awful and im so fed up now x i haven't worked since the middle if December and im self employed so am really struggling too x i hope that maybe all you need is the hrt that would be brilliant for you xxx

Aww Nicola x it's hard when youre self employed like us. I get jobseekers allowance but havent gone off with a sicknote cos ive tried to cope, but its something i may have to do. Ive just been looking up EFT tapping of pressure points as you say positive phrases, to reintroduce positive thoughts about yourself. Worth a try! We know anxiety is a constant loop of negative thinking so anything that can introduce positive thoughts must help! Yes i really dont feel strong enough to go lower on sertraline before potentially improving maybe weeks down the line, but i admire anyone who can do it! It made amitriptyline seem quite good...at least i slept like a baby when i took it! Maybe a little of that of an evening might help me sleep. We know how much worse anxiety is after not enough sleep! You are doing amazing to stick with the sertraline, ive given up after one pill! Lol i hope you turn the corner very soon. Here if you need a chat hun and make sure you ask for help or just to talk with friends and family too. What ive missed is just a big hug, none of my family are huggy people and with no man in my life, its the one time a hug would be so helpful! Its the little things lol. Xx

Thats a typo...i mean i dont feel strong enough to go any further with sertraline!

Typo...i mean i dont feel strong enough to go further on sertraline x

I also tried pressure points and breathing techniques, even meditation but my anxiety is too strong i just cant control it that way unfortunately. But that helps a lot of people so i really hope it works for you 😊

And my family aren't huggy either! My mum cant even said "i love you" but my dad is more loving. I get lots of hugs from my children and my lovely dog, who doesnt leave my side bless him xx im sending you a big hug Julie ?😙?