Hi,
I though I would post how things are going for me after 11 weeks on Sertraline (6 weeks on 50mg, 5 weeks on 100mg).
Background
Im 31 and have always been quite shy. I developed full on Social Anxiety when I started uni in 1999. Uni was very difficult to get through and after finishing in 2002 I had a couple of part time jobs for a year or two. Since then I havent worked. I have pushed all my friends away and rarely leave the house (only doing so with parents). I literally have no life. Ive only had one relationship 6 years ago which lasted 3 months. Over the past ten years I have been on 4 medications (Venlafaxine, Citalopram, Clomipramine and now Sertraline). Venlafaxine was the most effective so far at 225mg but the side effects were too harsh.
I suffer with Social Anxiety, General Anxiety Disorder, OCD and Depression. Most of these run through my mums mum side of the family.
Sertraline Experience
On 50mg the first thing I noticed was that my mind wasn't racing as much and I wasn't going over and over the same negative thoughts quite as much. OCD was no different. At about 5 1/2 weeks I did feel a little more confident about myself and my anxiety improved slightly.
Since being on 100mg my thoughts have slowed down even more and are on the whole more neutral (which is much better than how negative they were). Im not as jealous of other people either. My anxiety has improved slightly due to developing almost a tunnel vision, so that I don't notice people as much around me when im in the garden or care that they are there. I'm definitely more tired and am going for rests in the afternoon, but I think a lot of this has to do with depression, which hasn't improved and I guess wont until I get out of the house etc. I feel lethargic and cant be bothered doing much.
I can be very tired and down until I eat and then become jittery afterwards.
I have found that I have started to watch more documentaries and films which might be a sign that my concentration is improving.
To sum up. I feel more neutral than how I was. I was at a very low point so its been a blessing, especially the slowing of recurring thoughts. My anxiety and depression still rule my life and I am not leaving the house area at all really. I still spend some days in bed.
I hope to see improvement in the next couple of weeks and will update this soon.