I've been on Zoloft for almost a month now (started at 25mg and just started 50mg today) and there's been one side effect that has bothered me. I used to have depersonalization before I started on Buspirone a couple years ago, but it eventually went away after I began taking it. Now, it feels like the depersonalization has come back. It's not constant but there are a lot of times throughout the day where I feel totally disconnected to to myself, feeling like I'm dreaming or feeling out of my own body. I can't tell if it's because of the Zoloft itself or because of the extreme fatigue I've been having as well. Has anyone else experienced this while on Zoloft? Has it gone away after a while? I forgot how completely disturbing this feeling was, which also does nothing to help my anxiety.
Hi Alex, yes, I too experienced about a month ago and yes, it was a most disturbing state of being. It was more than feelings or lack thereof, it was like you don't feel like your normal self, like a lack of identity. For me, it lasted for about 2 weeks and eventually went away. Hang in there and give it time. Xx
Thank you for the reply! This may just be me, but did you ever notice a huge increase in your depersonalization/derealization when you were more tired? Specifically in the mornings after waking up and at night? It makes waking up rather difficult unless I have Ativan (0.5mg) after I wake up, it seems to help for some reason.
Yep, every bad thing increases when you are tired. That's why I always try to remind myself not to be H.A.L.T.S. (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Stressed) . And the word Halts! is perfect because it's like a command for me to stop what it is I'm doing and attend to these needs first to regain my composure. I noticed whenever I have any symptoms of Halts, I get more obsessive thought, more anxious, more depressed. I also noticed more around the time of the monthly lady's holiday because of all the hormones acting up.
I am glad Ativan is helping you, but don't take it all the time as it could be habit-forming. Try to ride it out. No feelings last forever. Try to observe your derealization a bit - I know this is hard - but if you do it'll start to diminish in strength.
Recently I became aware that all the Halts are interrelated, if you're tired you're more lonely, or if you're more hungry you're angry, ie the term ha gray, etc. Take care. Xx
I meant, the term hangry
Ugh, I understand about getting that feeling more around the monthly lady's holiday. I feel like maybe that's why my depersonalization has been so bad. If not, it's certainly why I'm so much more emotional and freaked out over it.
I don't know if you suffer from health anxiety as well, but the main issue for me right now is the illogical thoughts that I'm feeling this way because of some sort of random brain tumor. Even though I highly doubt I would have that symptom of a brain tumor at the same exact time I start taking a new SSRI that has depersonalization as a side effect. Ah, anxiety is terribly irrational.
Either way, how did you come to terms with the fact that this was just a temporary depersonalization, that it would go away, it wasn't anything dangerous, etc?
I've just started sertraline a couple days ago and today is better but yesterday I really didn't feel like 100% me, couple that with some really messed up dreams and you know that the sertraline is really changing some things up inside your mind.
What reassures me is that it only medically targets a certain part of the brain therefore I should stay the same person by the end but just with less anxiety. The depersonalisation I'm feeling right now is probably caused by the complicated dulling effects of the drug which is a side effect and should wear off in a few weeks - if you think about it part of who we are, is how we react to the enivronment and others, and the drug targets those points. When you start taking the drug that section becomes unbalanced and hence we get side effects, tireness - insomina - irriatibility etc and so we're bound to feel a bit different personally until we get used to the drug (aka the mind finds a chemical balance to counter/process the chemical correctly). And hopefully after that we'll be pretty much the same just with less extreme reactions like panic attacks or depression etc.
That's my high school educated guess.
Also another problem is if we know the side effects whilst taking a drug we're more likely to get it, and have it worse, than if we didn't know. Same as if you give someone a drug that they believe will help them they're more likely to report improvements. Mind over matter plays a big part.
But I'm rambling on. Gotta get back to work lol.
Hi Alex, I'm confused about something. You're feeling anxiety resulting from a brain tumor??
I am on this med for OCD (no compulsions, only very severe obsessive thought, diagnosed officially about 20 yrs ago) along with GAD and depression.
Regarding depersonalisation, it lasted for 1-2 weeks for me. I didn't fight it. I found it very disturbing and uncomfortable but I just didn't fight it. I figured that since nothing lasts forever, not the human body and not my feelings, I figured this stage, too, would go away eventually.
So stay positive and give it time. Your fears are often much more exagerrated and must worst than reality. Xx.
I've been on Sertraline for 6 days now.even though my anxiety has gone down slightly I feel that I'm not myself anymore and worry I won't come back to myself. 2 weeks ago I was switched on, motivated, social able and for some reason my mind decided it didn't want it and anxiety got the better of me. Now I feel like im controlling a robot and im not in my body. I have no emotions what so ever and i feel life is just passing by. It's effecting work and all parts of my life. I feel totally disconnected from my brain but it's allowing me to do things safely e.g driving but I'm not really thinking about it.hard to explain.anyone know if this will pass?
Did you ever recover from your depersonalisation?
Hi Alex I’ve just seen your forum. I know it’s been 12months but how r u feeling now? Did ure depersonalisation get any better? If so how long did you feel like it. How many mgs r u on❤️
Hi
Just wanted to see how ur doing now.. hoping ur still checking this. I’ve bern geeking like this for a while.
Hope ur better
Thanks
Would love to know how ur feeling now??
I too have constant feelings of depersonalization throughout the day like “ where am I” or “ is this my body” it freaks me out and I want to lay in bed, I am on 75 mg of Zoloft and .25 mg of Xanax everyday, not sure if I should increase Zoloft as My heart still races every morning I wake up
Hey Redsummergal. I'm feeling exactly the same as you. I'm on 100mg and waking up in the morning is the worst part of my day. Have you improved at all?
Hi Alex, I know exactly what you are going through because I’m going through the same right now. I started on sertraline just over a month ago to treat my PMDD pre menstrual dysmorphic disorder. So every time about a week before me period I though I had a brain trumor and had absolutely terrible derealisation and depersonalisation! I lost my dad to brain cancer last year which is probably why. But I started on sertraline 25mg and I was doing great for 3 weeks until I went to 50mg and oh boy was that a mistake I had all the same symptoms you had and just left like I was walking around in a dream all the time it was horrible. My doctor advised me to come off it straight away because it turned out I had serotonin syndrome! Sensitivity to medication is rare but sounds like it happens pretty often. And don’t worry you won’t have a Brain tumor it just the medication messing with your head because as soon as I moved up a dose I had those thoughts as well! I hope you are doing better.
hi! I just read this and let me say i have the same exact issue ! i keep telling myself i have a brain Tumor for no reason !!! it happens to me in the morning when i wake up and around 4oclock itll go away and then come back at night i dont drive because of it and its been about a month now
Yes me to. Ive been taking Zoloft (sertraline) for 12 years now at all different doses and causes bed vision and derealization (almost like being in a dream or glass ball). i hate it and cannot take it anymore. Plus, it does not help with my anxiety/stress. Maybe im to sensitive.
I have the same problem.
Not me. i did not read about the possible side effects of sertraline and my derealization is still there after 14 years of being on it!! It also ruins my vision.