Need Some Reassurance Please

[sue.b]

Hi everyone, I am Sue and I have just joined NMP. If I could give a brief history to you, I had agoraphobia aged 13 after an accident in the school gym (fell on my head and knocked myself out!!) had panic attacks etc, got over most of this but there were still some areas i had not conquered, but hid them well. Apart from odd bits of anxiety I was okay until i was 37 when during the preceeding 5 years there were close deaths in the family and friends, got married, our business went into receivership and all the hassle that brings. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I started on sertraline 50mg up tp 150mg then back down to 50mg and apart from a few blips in the earlier years I have been extremely well, probably better than ever for the last 4 years......until I went on holiday in June and had so much anxiety that we came home early. Went back to the psychiart who said the depression had returned, probably due to the amount of pressure (all be it most of it fun) i had put myself under during the last 12 months. I upped the sertraline from 50mg to 75mg for 2wks then 100mg for 5 weeks, after 3 weeks felt a little better, but then seemed to become more anxious, waking really early, no appetite so I increased to 125mg a week ago. I have had a lot of increased anxiety, my mood quite low in the am, most days it improves pm.

But i am scared that this will not go, i get a real feeling of dread. I don't feel much like socialising as it feels too much. My husband has been brilliant and stayed with me when i have felt really wobbly. I guess i am looking to see how everyone else is doing, what their experiences are with sertraline, how long before you noticed a different, what side effects etc. I am having yet another wobbly day and I need some reassurance please.

Thanks Sue

xxxxxxx:scared15:

[nanny]

Hi Sue

I am not surprised you started suffering with anxiety after all that you had gone through, I am sorry to hear that.
I haven't been on those particular tabs but I know someone who has.
I think it all depends how you are in yourself, if you worry about having attacks that alone will bring them on but honestly they will wear off again and you will feel heaps better.
Those tablets are meant to be a great help and they do help my friend
although they did take a while to kick in.
Don't be hard on yourself by thinking it will never go, because it will.

Goodluck
:)

[bottleblond]

Hi Sue

Welcome along to NMP :flowers:

I am sorry to hear things have been so difficult for you!
Remember when you up your meds, this can bring some temporary side effects and again when you lower them again, your body has to re-adjust. It seemed like a very short space of time that the doze had been adjusted rather than a gradual process. This may have contributed to the difference in your mood too.

I really hope we can be a good support to you and i also hope things improve for you real soon.

Take care
Lisa
x

[sue.b]

Thanks Nanny and thank Lisa for your posts. Its good to know there are others out there that understand. Depression and anxiety are quite isolating, as though i am the only one who can't quite get my head around these horrible conditions. I am sooooo glad I have found this site.

Hope you are both doing well.

Thanks again

Sue
xx

[chantelle]

Hi Sue

welcome to NMP and I'm sure that you will get and be a lot of support from and to others on here.

But i am scared that this will not go, THIS WILL GO. I get a real feeling of dread. KEEP TELLING YOURSELF POSITIVE MESSAGES AND THIS WILL 'MELLOW'. I don't feel much like socialising as it feels too much. YOU WILL FEEL BETTER IF YOU GO OUT AS YOU WILL BE DISTRACTED. My husband has been brilliant and stayed with me when i have felt really wobbly. THAT IS GREAT - WE ALL NEED EXTRA SUPPORT.

I guess i am looking to see how everyone else is doing, what their experiences are with sertraline, how long before you noticed a different, what side effects etc. I am having yet another wobbly day and I need some reassurance please.

I HAVEN'T ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS MEDICATION BUT I WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT EVERYONE HAS THE POTENTIAL WITHIN THEM TO GET BETTER. I HAVE BEEN ON CIPRALEX SINCE MAR 14 AND AM HAVING MORE GOOD DAYS THAN BAD NOW - BUT AM STILL HAVING SOME 'WOBBLY DAYS' BUT I AM GETTING BETTER!!!!!!!!!! YOU WILL TOO.

Sending you a big hug and take care

Chantelle

[ilovetoast]

I read your post initially and didn't reply out of sense, because I can't comment on the drugs and their side effects or your situation exactly, that would have been wrong - besides it would seem I'm posting like crazy since I've joined (appologies everyone if you think this).

Now other folk have posted I thought I'd add my bit.

I know (as most of us here do) that anxiety, combined with depression, is a horrible thing to endure when you know that nobody can see an actual physical problem, and you fear because it's so personal and internal that nobody could ever understand you, and this leaves you feeling either like you are odd or you are totally alone.

YOU ARE NOT!

Look around here, there are lots of people who are intelligent, funny, supportive and caring. Sometimes society pigeon-holes you, but more often because of the depression and anxiety you pgieon hole yourself whilst everyone else is unaware.

I don't have answers for everyone/anyone unfortunately, but I do know this...you *ARE* a normal human being and you *DO* have a normal place in the world like everyone else. You are neither odd nor bonkers or worth less than anyone else.

The only thing I need to do now is listen to my own words! lol :D

[rich303]

:welcome: Sue, a lot of good advice already posted on here, you've certainly had a very stressful time, but you are not alone and it will get better believe me, the support on here is amazing everyone is fantastic, just take it one day at a time.

Take care.

Love Rich xx :hugs:

[jill]

:welcome: to the site Sue.

As you can see, there are lots of nice people here who will help and support you.

TAKE CARE

LOVE JILL XXX

[sue.b]

Hi everyone, thank you all so much for your replies, they are very supportive.

I can relate to feeling "odd" as though i have a sign on my head saying "look,depressed anxious person, keep away"lol!!

I do have some good news, I had a bad day yesterday until around 6 pm, I noticed my mood had lifted a bit and i wasn't quite as anxious so I took the plunge and went to my friends birthday bbq, only about 12 people there (but at the moment one other person seems daunting), some of the people i did not know, but i was ok. I didn't rush in and feel the need to rush out. I tried to distract myself by chatting to people and really listening to what they were saying. We stayed for around 5 hrs. Yeeeesss!!!:yesyes:

Woke early againg today with the nagging anxiety and dep, but feel more positive as i felt fairly okay last night. A break in the clouds so to speak.

Again thank you all for your responses. It is really appreciated knowing I am not alone with this.

Hope you are all having a good day.

Luv Sue xxxxxxx

[Thumbelina]

I hope you feel better soon

I am curently recoverign from the blip myself and it not a piknick

I know how much it kills the confidence after a long stable perios.

But lets not worry - we will be ok very soon

take care

[ilovetoast]

Sue! Well played!

I've found that by taking the plunge when you've got the courage and of your own free will, 9 times out of 10 you get through it and it feels brilliant afterwards.

Achievement.

:yahoo: