Hi,
I'm new here, both to the site and to taking Sertraline. Unfortunately I'm not new to anxiety! I've had it all my life but recently pressures have become a bit too much to cope with. It was affecting my new marriage and I decided enough was enough, I wasn't getting better on my own so I'd better step up and do something about it.
I've been taking the pills for six days now and the side-effects have been pretty bad, I'm sticking with it. I think surely if I'm getting all the side-effects then in time I'll be getting all the benefits of the medication, too? I've felt a lot better in myself because I know I'm doing something to help myself, and also the side-effects mean I'm focusing on the now instead of constantly panicking about the future. I can't see beyond "how am I going to feel today", which actually helps!
The first day was pretty scary - I had an awful stomach about half an hour after my first pill (I have stress-induced IBS anyway) which has thankfully now settled, but I spent the first day at work shaking almost uncontrollably. I was dizzy, tense, anxious to the point of having panic attacks over tiny things. I have no idea why I kept taking them after the first day! Since then the shakes have been less and less, but I haven't been driving because of the dizziness, restless legs and potential for panic attacks.
Yesterday was a good day - a little dizziness and tiredness but I felt really good all day. Today has been hard so far - I was too dizzy to get out of bed until mid-day. I've been through a restless phase and I'm now just tense all over (physically can't relax my muscles) which is utterly exhausting. I have a stressful week ahead of me at work, which I'm worried about.
Despite it all, I will stick with it and I look forward to finding my feet soon (ish!) and leading a more "normal" life.
Anyway, I just needed to write it all down really! Thanks for reading