Breaking point

Mental health
1

So since starting Sertraline (on saturday) my anxiety has reached breaking point. I can't sleep, and when I do, it's only for 2 hours max and I wake up feeling very anxious and not knowing why. I'm worried sick about having to go to work. I have constant tension headaches from how tensed I am. I feel like if I let myself relax for a second I'll slip into panic mode. Paradoxical, I know, but anyone who has experienced anxiety will know what I mean. After a year of treatment, I was fine. I built up coping mechanisms, and regained a strong mental stance which allowed me to just say "no" to my anxiety when it started to creep up. But now it feels like back to square one. I feel like all the recovery I have done up until this point has been meaningless.

I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. I know that this is just the initial effect of starting sertraline that is making me so anxious and that it will get better if I push through, but I really feel unable to continue treatment without help. I have never been prescribed benzos or any sort of tranquiliser before, but I have taken them before and I know they help. I'm going to ask my doctor to prescribe me one tomorrow, but I fear that he will say no, because they only prescribe them in severe cases nowadays from what I know due to their addictive qualities. I really feel I need them now though, just to get me to the point where the sertraline starts to work. Does anyone have any advice on getting these type of drugs prescribed? I wouldn't be asking for them unless I really needed them. All the doctors seem willing to prescribe me are beta-blockers, which I have been on before and don't like. They only stop the physical effects of panic, but it goes so much deeper than that. The mental effects far outweigh the physical ones for me, and I have had panic attacks on beta-blockers before which were all the mental effects but just not the physical ones. 

Also, if he does say no, I've seen a lot of posts on here about pregablin? something I hadn't heard of before, but after some research seems to be pretty useful. Anyone have any experience with this drug?

2

Hey there.

I can relate to you.

I know it might not be what you want to hear, but sometimes taking medication for anxiety DOES infact make the symptoms worse. For example, when I was taking meds, I felt as though my heart palpatations worsened and I could not sleep because I think the drugs were making me feel as though I had too many side effects, when infact it was all in my mind.

Misty

3

a wonder drug   for some.  but a killer for me, trying to withdraw, side effects, withdrawal very painful..be very careful, you won't know you're addicted until you stop it I  only took 28 x 25mg caps over 21 days and  addicted. never felt so ill in my life. good luck with whatever you decide to take. rosie

4

Hi. Unfortunately this is not a drug of choice for me, as no matter what I did or when I took it I could not sleep for weeks. Its odd as u must take same time. Too much serotonin. It messed me up big time. I'm happily back on cymbalta recently. Good luck.