My year on Sertraline.

[Nethermoor]

I've just started these today, not sure if its placebo or not but feel absolutely fucked after just one! Had a tough couple of years, its not been permanently bad. Left a terrible job earlier this year and got a better (but not perfect) job in the summer. I think I had a panic attack in there on Wednesday and had to be brought home, I've absolutely no stress tolerance or resilience. Because I've been so subconsciously anxious it has effected my performance significantly, they probably think im a chancer gaming the system but the truth is that any request or basic thing sends me into a fight or flight mode. If it was a shit environment then fair enough but on the rare occasions my rational brain comes through, I can tell that this is a good opportunity that doesn't really infringe on my personal time or life aside from the crippling imaginary pressures that exist in my head. I don't want to keep burning through roles.

I hope it helps mate. Anxiety is a shit.

I think I'd tell my employer if I was you. These days they are a lot more understanding!

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Hated sertraline.

It pretty much cured me of my sensory processing disorder (I have autism and ADHD) but I was incredibly numb and apathetic on it.

 

[grim up north]

I've just started these today, not sure if its placebo or not but feel absolutely fucked after just one! Had a tough couple of years, its not been permanently bad. Left a terrible job earlier this year and got a better (but not perfect) job in the summer. I think I had a panic attack in there on Wednesday and had to be brought home, I've absolutely no stress tolerance or resilience. Because I've been so subconsciously anxious it has effected my performance significantly, they probably think im a chancer gaming the system but the truth is that any request or basic thing sends me into a fight or flight mode. If it was a shit environment then fair enough but on the rare occasions my rational brain comes through, I can tell that this is a good opportunity that doesn't really infringe on my personal time or life aside from the crippling imaginary pressures that exist in my head. I don't want to keep burning through roles.

Just gone on these my self had a rough 8-12 months been doing same job 30 yrs dealing with negative problems all the time, living in a house I hate and finding out an ex has terminal illness. Started getting massive anxiety about talking to strangers stopped going out stopped going to play to play golf and missed City’s last 4 home games sat in house going deeper and deeper into a hole very depressed. Had a major wobble at work now on sertaline and had 2 counselling sessions not sure yet which is helping the most but starting to feel a little better with help of family and friends
Please tell your employer you might be suprised at their reaction mine have been very understanding

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

@Nethermoor @grim up north - thanks both for your posts and advice. I'm really not too sure about telling my employer, well more specifically my manager. I know the only way to find out for sure is to tell them but I'm concerned that my manager may not care (I dont want sympathy or pity but I'd be gutted if I just got told "that's life" as well). I'm going back on Monday anyway. My sick cert gave another reason but I dont think there's much hiding what went wrong from the people who saw me, I was a shaking mess.

 

[BrianW]

Drugs are a lottery. A given drug will work for Mr A but not for Ms B. Or vice-versa. It took ages for me to get on Mirtazapine and since then I have improved massively.

As for dealing with work - it's a dodgy business at best. Even the most enlightened employers look at you with a different eye once you have issues. But ultimately, you have to put your own welfare first.

 

[grim up north]

Drugs are a lottery. A given drug will work for Mr A but not for Ms B. Or vice-versa. It took ages for me to get on Mirtazapine and since then I have improved massively.

As for dealing with work - it's a dodgy business at best. Even the most enlightened employers look at you with a different eye once you have issues. But ultimately, you have to put your own welfare first.

I understand where you are coming from with regards employers my were great to start with really concerned at first then it’s gradually felt like I’m forgotten now, I feel really guilty about being off work, it’s not a pysical symptom that can be seen. My counsellor has urged me not to feel the guilt if you go back to soon back to square one.
I have taken the massive step to resign and find something else

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I've just started these today, not sure if its placebo or not but feel absolutely fucked after just one! Had a tough couple of years, its not been permanently bad. Left a terrible job earlier this year and got a better (but not perfect) job in the summer. I think I had a panic attack in there on Wednesday and had to be brought home, I've absolutely no stress tolerance or resilience. Because I've been so subconsciously anxious it has effected my performance significantly, they probably think im a chancer gaming the system but the truth is that any request or basic thing sends me into a fight or flight mode. If it was a shit environment then fair enough but on the rare occasions my rational brain comes through, I can tell that this is a good opportunity that doesn't really infringe on my personal time or life aside from the crippling imaginary pressures that exist in my head. I don't want to keep burning through roles.

Thanks for sharing mate.

I will be a year on 100mg Sertraline later this month, it took me years to bite the bullet.

The first few weeks are pretty brutal mate, I had blurred vision and hands were shaking, it can even make your anxiety worse in the beginning.

Please stick with it for at least eight weeks, as that is the acknowledged amount of time to see what is effective.

I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder a few years back but a number of setbacks and then losing my business during Covid was the final straw.

My doctor was brilliant and said they would even me out and no longer have the wild extremes of me being too high or too low.

I check in every six weeks when I need a new prescription. He also gave me beta blockers when the anxiety was so bad in the early stages of taking Setraline.

A year on, I still have some of the same work/financial issues in my life, but the tablets don't let me ruminate on stuff and I don't sweat things like I used to.

It's changed me as a husband and a father. I'm a better person for being around and although I miss not caring as much about things, it is very difficult to get overly emotional about anything, to the point I can't cry or stew about a big game or event.

It has also stopped the cycle of eating crap because I felt crap about myself, so have lost four stone in last six month and down to 10.5stone, as light as I was as a 16-year-old.

I know Sertraline has many side effects but the pros outweigh the cons for me, and scared to try other meds and see if something else works better.

I will stay on these indefinitely, because it is no hardship and has given me my life back.

Drink plenty of water, cut out the sugar and good luck, you have made a very brave step and I admire anyone for taking their mental health in hand.

I was dying inside and dead behind the eyes, but Sertraline has lifted my fog.

 

[grim up north]

Thanks for sharing mate.

I will be a year on 100mg Sertraline later this month, it took me years to bite the bullet.

The first few weeks are pretty brutal mate, I had blurred vision and hands were shaking, it can even make your anxiety worse in the beginning.

Please stick with it for at least eight weeks, as that is the acknowledged amount of time to see what is effective.

I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder a few years back but a number of setbacks and then losing my business during Covid was the final straw.

My doctor was brilliant and said they would even me out and no longer have the wild extremes of me being too high or too low.

I check in every six weeks when I need a new prescription. He also gave me beta blockers when the anxiety was so bad in the early stages of taking Setraline.

A year on, I still have some of the same work/financial issues in my life, but the tablets don't let me ruminate on stuff and I don't sweat things like I used to.

It's changed me as a husband and a father. I'm a better person for being around and although I miss not caring as much about things, it is very difficult to get overly emotional about anything, to the point I can't cry or stew about a big game or event.

It has also stopped the cycle of eating crap because I felt crap about myself, so have lost four stone in last six month and down to 10.5stone, as light as I was as a 16-year-old.

I know Sertraline has many side effects but the pros outweigh the cons for me, and scared to try other meds and see if something else works better.

I will stay on these indefinitely, because it is no hardship and has given me my life back.

Drink plenty of water, cut out the sugar and good luck, you have made a very brave step and I admire anyone for taking their mental health in hand.

I was dying inside and dead behind the eyes, but Sertraline has lifted my fog.

Good post the biting the bullet is crucial glad I did I felt like I was slowly falling down a well with no way of crawling out I have been on sertaline for 8 weeks now and it’s starting to make a difference to me I’m not falling down that well anymore I’m starting to crawl out baby steps tho

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

Thanks for sharing mate.

I will be a year on 100mg Sertraline later this month, it took me years to bite the bullet.

The first few weeks are pretty brutal mate, I had blurred vision and hands were shaking, it can even make your anxiety worse in the beginning.

Please stick with it for at least eight weeks, as that is the acknowledged amount of time to see what is effective.

I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder a few years back but a number of setbacks and then losing my business during Covid was the final straw.

My doctor was brilliant and said they would even me out and no longer have the wild extremes of me being too high or too low.

I check in every six weeks when I need a new prescription. He also gave me beta blockers when the anxiety was so bad in the early stages of taking Setraline.

A year on, I still have some of the same work/financial issues in my life, but the tablets don't let me ruminate on stuff and I don't sweat things like I used to.

It's changed me as a husband and a father. I'm a better person for being around and although I miss not caring as much about things, it is very difficult to get overly emotional about anything, to the point I can't cry or stew about a big game or event.

It has also stopped the cycle of eating crap because I felt crap about myself, so have lost four stone in last six month and down to 10.5stone, as light as I was as a 16-year-old.

I know Sertraline has many side effects but the pros outweigh the cons for me, and scared to try other meds and see if something else works better.

I will stay on these indefinitely, because it is no hardship and has given me my life back.

Drink plenty of water, cut out the sugar and good luck, you have made a very brave step and I admire anyone for taking their mental health in hand.

I was dying inside and dead behind the eyes, but Sertraline has lifted my fog.

Ah sorry to hear about your struggles TH, hopefully you’re on the upwards curve now.

 

[Marklr]

They don't tell you one of the side effects is a very sore cock.
"fuck it...i'll finish it off later"

Some people take well to SSRIs but for some they have no effect. I think it comes down to the chemical imbalances in the brain. That's what they work on and if that's not your problem, they don't do much. You just feel the side effects.
They helped me abstain from alcohol. Or that's what I believe. My thoughts were becoming more positive and problems became solvable. I've been on Citalopram since 2005 now and I too am worried about quitting them as i worry that I might crack up and get all fucked up again!
I tried halving the dose for a bit, but got the withdrawals. Brain ZZZZZaps!