Hi all. Chris here. I’ve been on Zoloft for 12 years.
Got up to 150mg over last few years.
Recently I split from my wife and 2 young kids. We lived overseas. They returned to the UK and I stayed on here alone in Asia.
I thought I was doing fine ( felt relief) so reduced my dose of ADs…thinking my unhappy marriage was the source of my stress and depression and anxiety.
I gradually settled on 125mg after 4 months of careful tapering.
I recently visited the UK to see my kids and other family/ friends. I returned here 10 days ago and have been crying every day since and feeling huge waves of anxiety, depression, grief. Im off my food and its hard to sleep. Doc prescribed me xanax and some other anti anxiety pills. Also suggested I increase ADs. I feel like its a back ward step but must realise im in a crisis and have been feeling suicidal so today I increased to 137.5mg. I pray it helps.
Ive also been exercising and attending church/ support groups. God help me.
Thanks for reading guys. Appreciate any feedback.
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I can’t speak for your life circumstances, but I have been on Sertraline, at the gradually increased dose of 200mg for about 25 years. During that time, I have occasionally sought to lower the dose, but have been reduced back to the gibbering wreck that I was.
Finally, I’ve concluded that I take my blood pressure and other other tablets necessary for my physical health with no shame, trusting my doctors to ensure that I’m on the best doses. Sertraline is clearly necessary for my mental health.
I too attend church every week (several times a week for different reasons!). I’m in the worship team, and about to attend my first pastoral team meeting. I didn’t put myself forward for either team, but was asked to join by the respective leaders, who are all aware of my dépressive illness. It’s like being diabetic: one of my organs needs chemicals in order to function effectively. No harm, no foul.
So, Sertraline allows me to be “myself” of decades ago, with life long severe, crippling depression held in check. I (genuinely) pray that you soon start to feel steadier, but in my opinion, there’s no rush, need or urge to reduce the dosage of a medicine that your body needs. All the best 
.
Thank you. I cant tell you enough how much your message helped. You can feel so alone with this illness and it can really help when others relate.
What you said is so true about taking the medication for this just as you would take medication for another illness.
I still have that ego thinking that I need to get off this medication to be normal at times but like you said, this medication has helped me to feel normal.
Guess I find it hard to accept being mentally ill. I just want to be perfect…
Anyway, appreciate you reaching out so much.
Chris