STORYS OF HOPE FOR PEOPLE ON SERTRALINE/ZOLOFT
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello Everyone,
I have been taking Sertraline / Zoloft for coming up 5 weeks now. 4 weeks at 50 mg and the rest at 100 mg. I can tell you it has been a roller coaster of emotions to say the least. Ive had nearly every side effect possible. The intrusive thoughts have been the worst for me personally though and the sheer feeling of hopelessness. But I have to say now I am definitely seeing an improvement! It is still very early days for me at 5 weeks and I still have BAD points for sure but with the right mindset, positivity and progress I am having I am hopeful. Mornings are the worst as I wake up with a racing heart and anxiety! Baring in mind I wake up multiple times with a sweat or after having a vivid dream so I am low on sleep to start with! I personally think I have OCD judging by my thought patterns, ruminations and intrusive thoughts. I am dealing with them by just understanding that they are just thoughts and that they have no meaning. (Feels like they do in the moment but they don't) I am self medicating myself watching OCD specialists online who specialise in ERP in OCD therapy. Anyone out there struggling with intrusive thoughts the only way your going to control them is by not giving them any meaning. Everybody gets intrusive thoughts its just how you deal with them. Understanding how our brain and body's work I think is also important on the road to recovery. In controlling our anxiety we need to have control of our mind. Understanding our concious and sub concious mind. I found a app called "Calm" for meditation has helped me a lot when I have been feeling anxious. I wish I had of tried meditation earlier its brilliant you just have to commit yourself and give it a go! If anyone else out there is suffering with intrusive thoughts, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, lonely please know this....YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Great days are coming!!! I am far from my destination but I have started the journey!! I am sure more bad days are coming along with anxiety and negative thoughts.... but thats okay! Become friends with your anxiety and meet it head on I believe is the remedy. I am also hopeful that Sertraline as I progress through the weeks ahead will take to me more and ill see more improvements.
1 like, 15 replies
rora05081228 robbie86846
Edited
Hiya Robbie!
Thank you so much for your post!
I am also at 5 weeks, (1 week 25 mg, 4 weeks 50 mg).
I have gone through a plethora of side effects as well, some of the worst were nausea, shaking, night sweats, intense morning anxiety..
Most of those have gotten better, but I still have a few annoying ones.
I have these strange, intrusive thoughts. They are strange in that they are more like earworms (songs, lines of movies, etc) that just repeat over and over making me feel like I'm going mad!
I also get weird repetitive thoughts when I wake up and it sometimes causes anxiety, but it doesn't allow me to go back to sleep if I wanted to sleep in.
I also started feeling pretty foggy and tired recently.
I'm hoping these effects are short lived. I told myself I was going to give it a good solid 8 weeks to kick in and get over side effects, but I have read from some people on here, it can take longer!!
It looks like we on the same timeline, so we can support each other through this!
I read these forums all the time, but I just recently joined so I can interact!
Hope you are well.
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Hi Rora,
Thank you for your reply! I am okay thank you I hope you are too. Yeah I forgot to mention the night sweats they are a pain! The intrusive thoughts seem as though there is a C-D on repeat they just don't stop do they! Don't engage with them and let them pass or agree with them and give them the opposite reaction to what there expecting so you kind of make friends with the anxiety if that makes sense. The foggy and tired feeling I am also feeling, its as if I'm not living in the real world and im in a dream! Yeah course we can I am on here regular. Are you from the UK? Also if you haven't tried the app "Calm" give it a try. I would of laughed at somebody if they had of asked me to meditate few months back, i was so wrong! its brilliant! Learning mindfulness, breathing exercises, etc. Highly recommended.
rora05081228 robbie86846
Edited
Hey Robbie!
Thanks for replying!
Yeah, the ear worms are really weird, as they are not really thoughts, but songs stuck in my head!! I try to let them just pass, or I'll just sing with them (make friends) or try to distract myself with other music or something else!!!
Yes, "living in a dream" state is a great way to describe it. Ugh! I'm hoping it will all go away soon.
I am in the States (Arizona), but I love that the majority of people on here are in the UK! (besides the time difference).
Isn't it like, midnight there?
I have seen the Calm app and considered using it, but it costs money so I've been hesitant.
Yay! Its nice to have a mate that gets it to go through this with!
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Hi Rora,
Yeah keep treating the intrusive thoughts as just thoughts or just agree to them or (sing with them in your case xD) These dark days will go away, you cant have sunshine without rain. Good days are coming! I would HIGHLY recommend using "Calm". Investing in your self I believe is the best investment you can make. Your health is your wealth. Yeah we will stick together through this and support each other and anybody else struggling. How are you currently?
rora05081228 robbie86846
Posted
Hey Robbie,
I'm doing pretty okay today!
Had some anxiety and weird repetitive thoughts upon waking this morning.. That is a weird side effect that seems to be lingering.. but it goes away when I get up and around..
Also I seem to foggy throughout the day still.. boo.
But I have noticed some improvement as well. I am not as mopey and overwhelmed about everything, and I am a tad bit more motivated and dare I say happy?
I put on some music and stripped my bed and made it fresh and I was DANCING.. so, progress?
Do let me know how you are getting on.
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Hey rora,
I'm glad your feeling okay today! Yeah morning thoughts and anxiety to tend to go away once you get up and potter on. With you saying you feel more positive and a little happier I think we are pretty much having the same cycle which is great! Dancing while stripping your bed is defo progress as I don't like doing mine even when I am normal! ha ha. I hope youve turned the corner to happiness now rora I really do. I am okay, ive had bad patches at times but nothing like what I have had. All in all I think i maybe have turned a corner? lets hope so.
rora05081228 robbie86846
Edited
Robbie!
I truly hope this is the "turning of the corner" we hear so much about on this site!
I know I'm only a little over half way to "effective"point, and coincidentally I would say I feel about 50%.
I'm just hoping this foggy feeling and other weird stuff goes away.
So you say you are feeling happier? Please elaborate!
Also, may I ask how old you are?
I am just curious. I just turned 36.
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Yeah I am feeling a little happier for sure! I'm hoping I will see more benefits as I progress through the following weeks. I am 27 also. Hope your feeling okay
rora05081228 robbie86846
Posted
I am so glad to hear it!
I'm okay today. I woke up with the weird thoughts and grogginess again.. I have been taking melatonin to help me sleep at night and it has worked wonders, but I think I may cut my 3 mg tablet in half and see if that helps me feel less groggy during the day.
I'm going to give the sertraline the full 8 weeks at 50 mg, and if I keep feeling zombified, I may see about going back down to 25, as that worked for me in the past.
We could private message to keep in touch so we aren't flooding the thread, if you'd like.
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Hi rora, how are you getting on?
rora05081228 robbie86846
Posted
Hey Robbie!
I'm doing okay still. Still have the morning stuff and fogginess, but pushing through.
How about you?
robbie86846 rora05081228
Posted
Glad your okay! How is your thoughts coming on, have they calmed down? I am actually feeling as though I have turned a corner! As I am definitley feeling better. Mornings are bad but once I meditate and have some breakfast I feel okay. I dont know how to private message on here but yeah your right it saves flooding the thread!
gemma80830 robbie86846
Posted
can i ask how you both got on please? i have the same issues
gemma80830 rora05081228
Posted
could i ask how you both got on please? i am struggling with the same x
megan11021 gemma80830
Posted
Hi Gemma, just noticed your message on here & I am struggling with them too! I'm 10 days in. Hope you're ok x