Here’s my story
In college, I developed severe social anxiety. I was popular, outgoing, and a bit of a party girl in college. So when this social anxiety took over, it completely changed me. I felt my personality was trapped, and I suddenly became shy and closed off. Talking to people who weren’t my close friends, or family, or little kids would put me in panic mode. It was as if everyone intimidated me and made me feel nervous and insecure. I would sweat and my face would flush like I just ran 2 miles. My mind would race and I would lose my train of thought and not be able to listen to anything anyone was saying to me. It was embarrassing, and made me not want to interact with people. I would avoid going to things so I wouldn’t have to talk to people or face that fear. I had trouble participating in class, talking with my professors, dating, interviews, holding a job, and just having a normal social life. At one point, I took a shot before a job interview, and it was at this point I realized I needed to get help.
I was prescribed Ativan, and it changed my life! I would take it every day at first, and then just days I thought I would need it. I noticed my anxiety would be more apparent the closer I got to my menstrual cycle. I continued taking the Ativan for years. However, my anxiety started to appear less as social anxiety and more as generalized anxiety later on.
After college, I began to worry about other things such as money, my career, my health, and my body image. These four things were always on my mind constantly. I developed IBS-C and my life came to a complete pause because of it. I was in a lot of pain from it, I always felt uncomfortable, and it made me gain weight which made me not want to be around people because I was ashamed. I was always someone who could lose weight easily, but with IBS-C, it was like my metabolism didn’t matter anymore. I was stuck! Not only did I have IBS, but before going places, like to a wedding, or to a party, or to a show, I would get nervous stomach and nervous knots so badly! I was nervous about seeing people and having them judge me. This is when I realized, Ativan was not enough to treat this form of my anxiety.
My psychiatric NP decided to put me on Zoloft/Sertraline. This would treat my social and generalized anxiety, my ibs-c and also any lingering depression I may have.
Now here is where I’d like to give you daily/weekly updates on how sertraline is effecting me. I’m hoping my experience is something some of you can relate to and my feedback can help you and you can rely on my posts to help you through starting this medication...
By day 8, I had a great poop followed by some diarrhea. Not ideal, but at least I'm not constipated! I'm told this will balance out! I haven't noticed much change in my mood. I'm still pretty tired, and lacking energy. My social anxiety seems to be improving, but I still have the generalized anxiety, the over worrying and constant thoughts about life and my struggles. I still get the nervous knots in my gut. Although, I'm not where I want to be, I have already noticed so much progress in just a week! Suffering through those first few days when the side effects were awful were definitely worth it. Can't wait to see what this next week brings.