Sertraline - my 8 week story

How are you doing Chelsea?

how are you girls doing?

not too good unfortunately Richard on week 5 now i still keep saying to family members etc "this isnt going to work for me" its hard trying to remind myself that its still early days especially now that my anxiety is worse than what it was before, how are you doing hope you are well? 😃

sorry patrick i mean patrick lol

Hey Patrick

My anxiety takes a bit longer to build in the morning and also seems to reduce a bit in the evening but other than that my days are still hard. I feel like life is passing me by, as I havent socialised in the last 5 months.

How are you doing? Have you turned a corner yet? Here's hoping.

Have you been on meds for a long time Patrick? My biggest worry is that I may have become resistant to SSRI'S as I've been on them for 15 years.

God how I wish they could find a cure, or at least a treatment that worked for everyone!

xxx

yes having a tough time also very high anxiety also been on meds for 20 yrs

gotta somehow keep going

xxxx

Hang in there Patrick. What dose are you currently on?

I'm wondering about increasing to 125mgs this week, as therapeutic dose for anxiety seems to be around 150mgs.

I just want to see a glimmer of hope; something that indicates the meds are having an effect. Mind you. with Paroxetine I literally woke up one day and the anxiety had gone....no gradual improvement, just like a switch had been flicked!

Just keep telling yourself today could be the day that things start to improve. What medication have you been on before?

I turn 50 next month and had such plans to celebrate; I was going to Mexico on 15th May but that has had to be cancelled. I so want to be able to celebrate and look to the future feeling well, but cant imagine that being possible atm. Must just try to stay positive, as must you Patrick. We will help each other through.

Are you in the US or UK?

Remember you can do this, and life will feel all the sweeter when you come out the other side.

Sam xxx

hi hun how long were you on the paroxetine for before that started to work? i dont know whether to change meds or keep going its such a hard decision to make im thinking possibly venaflaxine as it works on 2 parts of the brain instead of just one but then my family think i should stick this out for a few more weeks im feeling worse and going onto week 6 😦 i too have my ibiza hen do in 3 weeks time which i am positive im going to have to cancel, i think we all need reassuring at times glad to see yous are making improvements 😃 xxx

just finished week 4 on 100mg 6weeks on 50 thiught id turned a corner last week but not to be at the mo. ive been on just about every med there is in the last 2 yrs

im going to try and stick ti this dose for another month if poss im uk by the way

xx

Hi Chelsea

Its a long time ago that I went on it......I think it started to work at around 6 weeks but the initial anxiety was horrendous as far as I can recall.

Venlafaxine is the next one my Psychiatrist wants to try if Sertraline doesnt work but I know I was on it a long time ago and it didnt work for me but then I'm older now and we change so who knows

I understand your need for something to work but I really dont think you should give up on Sertraline yet; you could literally be a week or 2 away from it working, but if you stop it will all be for nothing.

Obviously its up to you but if you change meds I dont think anything will start working within 3 weeks in time for your hen do...its bloody cruel, and I understand your desperation for something to work, but I still think the best chance you've got is sticking with the Sertraline.

I really feel for you; this illness is so cruel and unfair. I dont know about me making progress; I've been in bed until now as I'm just so fed up with it all.

Sending you lots of love....where are you in the UK by the way?.

Sam xxx

hi sam

are you able to work at all?? do you feel its impossible to enjoy anything without being scared stiff?

patrick

xx

Hi Patrick

No, I'm not able to work atm. I literally cant distract from my mind and heightened anxiety often has me crying out of sheer desperation; not a good look for the office!

My husband suggested we go to London for the day tomorrow with our 11 year old and I dont even think I can do that; I mean I could do it, but I just dont think I would gain any enjoyment from it, as I'd be stuck in my mind the entire day.

Its just so crap. I've made up my mind that I'm going to increase to 125mgs tomorrow. I figure I've got nothing to lose

xxx

The fact that you thought you'd turned a corner last week is a good sign....alot of people on here have said thats how improvement goes.....

Stay positive! Better times are coming your way 😃

xxx

Thanks sam

im the same,,go to london anyway if you can even though its not enjoyable,as im guessing anything you try to think of that would be a nice thing to do does not even regisister in your mind that could possibly be nice thing to do.im still doing things like that,its horrible but its going to be horrible at home on your own anyway???? im also feel so useless i cant possibly work, cant figure anything normal out even the simplist of tasks, guess im lucky i dont have to really

we will come through

xxx

its all trial and error isnt it its when you read all of these people saying they felt better within 4 weeks etc it sets my panic off! i need to keep reassuring myself that it could be 12 weeks im only at 6 tommorow and it does say can take longer to work for anxiety so your right i may have to ride it out, trying to get through a full day without having to take diazepam as i dont want to become reliant on it, so sorry to hear you also couldnt get out of bed yesterday until late in the day 😦 i was the same! today i have got up did excersise went in the shower got dressed, its an improvenent but no improvement in my mind im just pushing myself! how is your day going hun? im from newcastle what about you? 😃 xxx

There must be something in the air as I got up and went for a 3.5 mile run this morning. I was feeling pretty good afterwards so suggested to my h7sband that we took the boys out for a pub lunch and then a walk, so thats what we did!

All in all I felt pretty good, although I was tuning into my mind quite alot, and coming home things felt a bit strange.....I think its because when we're anxious we are taking in more than normal. Do you find you are aware of your mind all the time? I do, and I hate it. I think its what makes life feel so different to me, as instead of just 'being' I'm constantly self aware.

Have just had a lie down and had palpitations but other than that didnt feel too bad. Oh, and I went up to 125mgs this morning.

So, today has been a much better day than yesterday, although tbh I dont feel its down to the meds, I think its thanks to the run this morning! But nonetheless we must focus on the positives, and who knows, maybe it is the meds!

I'm down South in Hampshire, so couldnt be much further away! I thought I'd ask in case it had turned out we were virtually next door to each other!

Have you decided what you're going to do about your hen do? I should have been going to Mexico on 15th May but had to cancel because of my blasted anxiety. 😦

Hope you've managed to have a reasonable day......and you're right....6 weeks is still relatively early days judging by alot of the posts on the forum

Keep believing xxx

hi chelsea

are you suffering depression with the anxiety as well? what dose did you start on?

i am probably going to be canceling my hen do for me hun, dont think i will get any money back though 😦 i agree regarding being aware of your mind 24/7! instead of just living life we are aware of what we are thinking constantly, i too have been increased to 125mg so more heightened anxiety has returned which is what usually happens when i increase 😦 but hopefully better in the long run! currently in bed frightened to get out, have my daughters tea party today hugely anxious for that too! i hope youve had a better few days xx

hi patrick yes its post natal depression, anxiety and panic disorder i started on 50mg for 2 weeks then increased to 100mg for 4 weeks now on 125mg as of 2 days ago, itl be 7 weeks on tuesday since they increased, i always go back overs a bit they theyre increased!