Hi guys just after some advice.. I’ve been in for the past 3 years I suffer terrible with dizziness forever feeling lightheaded and woozy I’m physically and mentally exhausted the days I actually feel I’m that ill I’m dying sounds crazy but yes.. I’ve had all types of tests done they all come back clear so I knows w I’m healthy in that way with nothing major to worry about the doctor thinks it could be anxiety so he’s put me on 100mg sertraline I’ve been on them for 2 months and feel worse 😩 I’m having palpitations my chest gets tight struggling to get my breath hot sweats severe dizziness feeling sick it’s terrible I have to young children and I’m off work sick at the moment cause I can’t do much at all and it’s a struggle to look after my kids and do any day to day things! Please help!!
Hi Kelly,
Due to chronic Anxiety I too have suffered all the symptoms you listed, sweats palpitations, dizzy, feeling sick, chest aches etc so fully understand.
I really struggled to get any benefit from SSRI's however re your meds I would suggest you have 3 options on the Medication.
1: See your Doctor and discuss whether a raised dose may help
2: Ask doc if you can try an alternative med, for me Trazodone worked the best (but everyone is different and meds have different effects and side effects from person to person).
3. Ask your doc if you can try tapering off the Sertraline and try to manage the anxiety tablet free. ( I have done this all 2018 so far, some days are tough but there are no side effects from the meds).
Your options to manage anxiety through strength of mind and knowledge include..
1: Ask your Doc about CBT Cognative Behavioural Therapy. Generally done 1-1 over a period of weeks. It will help you understand and manage what is going on in your mind and may help find the root cause if there is one.
2: try some Self Help books, many are available but my fav is Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now' which in a nutshell explains how to live in the present moment not worrying about future events that may never happen (Anxiety).
For you from you...
1: Try to relax more and do things you want to for for you.
2: Try meditation and / or yoga to focus the mind (It works, meditation has helped me a lot).
3: Try to accept that life has 'grey' areas, 'the unknown' and that you dont need to be in control of everything you think about.
As a final note:
I like to imagine thoughts as leaves floating by on a mountain stream, you can reach in and pick a leaf (thought) out but how long you hold on to it is up to you.
Peace...
Hi
I feel sorry that you have to go through what I am going through too . I have diagnosed with panic disorder and depression for 17 years and I have all the symptoms that you have mentioned . If the SSRI you are on doesn’t help you you should talk to your dr. I tried Sertraline before too but not very good effect. For me, I am now on Lexapro which really helps with anxiety and depression. I am also taking diazepam (a type of benzodiazepines.
You should try to see a therapist for cognitive behaviour therapy and also mindfulness .
Hope you will feel better soon . I understand how bad anxiety could be. You are not alone .
All the best wishes to you
Do you take benzo everyday
Yes I do
Doea it seem.to help you
Is my life saver !!! I couldn’t function without them . I am taking a few doses in a day at different intervals of the day. It helps me to get through the day. I was first started with 5 mg in 2014 and up to now I am taking 15mg. That’s why it is the addiction issue .
I been diagnosed w gad and I been having panic attack’s but she gave me ssri Paxil it gave me horrible side effects so she switched it to lexapro and I barely get sleep and I’m feeling down and I’ve not been depressed before . I don’t want to call her again and tell her but I need something that works . In the past I been on Prozac and Zoloft n I didn’t like how it made me feel . What should I do ? How did you get them to give you something else bc obviously the ssri don’t work for me....I kno sge suggested maybe a therapist along w what I’m taking .
If SSRI don’t work on you then you can try to ask the dr for SNRI, They are not antidepressant but it helps with the depression and anxiety .
Actually there are many SSRI out there, I have been on paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft ) and fluoxetine (Prozac ) and all of them didn’t work . I tried citalopram, it was ok but Lexapro is indeed a newer version of that and has fewer side effects.
Hi You have just described all of the side effects of benzos.
Did you read in the paper today Mon Sept 18 2018 that GPs are campaigning to stop prescribing so many unnecessary drgs and instead encourage people to lead a healthier lifestyle etc? xf
why push drugs with so many side effects it does not make sense.
I am just attending to the question and share my personal experience . I am not a doctor so I think the best is to consult a psychaitrist. I guess everyone who posted on this forum just want some advice or reassurance . I don’t mesm to push drugs .
There are some people who needs to take antidepressant or other kinds of psychaitric drugs in order to feel better. Don’t feel offended. Peace 🙏🏻
No I did not. Which country’s newspaper are you referring to
There is alot of side effects to all the drugs just not Benzos !!seems like alot of people are having side effects to ssri drugs to