Tough road ahead

Thanks it's good to know that many people are going through or have been through similar experiences. Honestly I'm dreading my next dose. After reading many of these posts maybe I should try to take it before bed.

Any type of dream would be welcomed at this point. I managed to get a nap in today and have felt better since but it's almost time to take my next dose and I'm hoping round 2 doesn't start soon.

Hello Anne,

Believe it or not I probably would have had the same reaction as your husband if this wasn't happening to me as well. My wife is having a tough time understanding what's going on with me. I guess it's a tough thing to understand if your not going through it. I really just want to feel normal again and not so uncomfortable in my own skin. Only time will tell if this works I'm told. Until then at least we can talk on here and help each other out.

Hi Matt and welcome

I'm on week 3 for taking Sertraline 50mg for primarily anxiety and panic attacks.  I felt bad for the first two weeks with the side effects, including chest pains, increased anxiety, excess sweating, feeling sick and a few others.  In the past week these have started to calm down, and here's the good news - my anxiety and panic is beginning to soften. 

Sleep-wise, my doctor prescribes me Zopiclone 3.75mg to be taken before bed.  It's a hypnotic which helps you feel sleepy and get to sleep easier. I've suffered from insomnia due to all this and it's helped a lot, it may be worth telling your doctor about your sleep issues and asking if something like this could help you.  But, Zopiclone are addictive, psychologically speaking, not sure about physically, and shouldn't be seen as a long term solution, probably only one or two weeks at the most.

But anyway, things do get better in time, and if Sertraline doesn't work for you there are other SSRI's that may suit you better.  Stick with it for at least 4 weeks so that it has time to get in your system and for the side effects to subside

Thanks Nementh. I'm hoping to be back to work next week, so hopefully the side effects can be controllable by then. I think the hardest part is not knowing if this treatment is going to work for me. I can't be on the couch all the time with a wife and two kids but wanting to get better for them is putting more pressure on me too. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

No problem,

I took the first week off as well.  It might be wise to ask if you can do a phased return to work, that might help ease you in to it and you'd have the comfort of knowing you wouldn't be there long to begin with - which would ultimately reduce the stress and give you more time to keep your family in order.

I wasn't so lucky, I was still within my probationary period at work and they let me go on the grounds that after the current job was done there wouldn't be enough work to go around.

That being said, I've got backups so I can pay the mortgage/bills/food etc for some time so it's at least one stress alleviated.

That sucks about your job. Thankfully I've been at my company long enough that I can qualify for extended time off if I need it. Hope I can get back to work next Friday.

Hope you day is good so far !! My day has started bad a lot of anziety today in fact haven't felt like this in a long time 😦 Maybe that's normal you get worse before you get better 🤔🤔Hope so . 

Yeah it does they should say it'll get pretty rough and u'll probably want to stop taking the meds but dont?! Thats more accurate! Keep going b strong!

It will u'll have a few crap days then some good some bad some good thats the way it goes progress is slow and very up n down

Couldn't agree with this more, everything was going well for me today, got our wedding venue booked, managed to have lunch to celebrate at a place we liked...then the blasted car broke down in the middle of a busy car park and it all went to pot >.< thankfully my fiancee managed to calm me down before the guy from the AA got there! But been having stomach, calf and neck pains on and off ever since and been quite edgy and twitchy. It's tolerable, but wholly infuriating.

Yeah it seems like that but i'm not letting it be that way, this evening i've been doing a full set up on my guitar so it will sound awesome again so I can end the day on a positive rather than dwelling on the thoughts of earlier CBT was saying counter every negative with the positives, and i'll give it my best shot!

That's great Matthew your having a good day 😀Hope it's the start off your recovery path 🙏😀

Thanks Weenett, they should tell us all what too expect 😖

Thank you Weenett, good to here , hope tomorrow gets better 😞😞😞