Week 7

Treatment and medication
1

This is week 7 for me on Sertraline (first week at 50mg the rest at 100mg). I am not sure Sertraline is for me. I don't think I have seen much progress. My mood might be better but I feel my anxiety has increased. Yesterday morning I actually felt positive and motivated. Today has not been great and just woke up after a nap feeling really panicky. I've seen people post give it 8 weeks but I really feel like coming off them.

2

Hi Andrew,

So sorry you are struggling. What comes to my mind after reading your post is this.

Sertraline does not affect everyone in the same way and each person's a-ha, this really does work, moment arrives for each of us at different lengths of time.

Try not to give up too soon and perhaps begin counting or keeping notes on a calendar or in a diary of the good days. You might be able to see a positive and/or a negative pattern which could help you and your doctor decide if you need to try another medication.

My last thought I wish to share is that no medication in this category can totally fix our complicated problems. We must help ourselves also. Taking our medication faithfully is the first step. The medication begins its job of balancing chemicals in our brain. Then it is up to us to take the ball and run with it.

Therapy is an option, reading self help books, joining a group with similar challenges as ourselves and by doing honest work of our own with better balanced chemicals in our brain, we have the maximum chance of enjoying our lives instead of always being the victim to our beasts.

My beast is depression, and I swear the best way for me to override it is to get outside my own head and do something for someone else. But my base is in place, medication and every manner of self help I could do through the years.

I hope something out of this long message will help you!

💛 Dawn, USA

3

Thanks Dawn for your reply. I have found it helpful. I have actually kept a mood diary over the last week. I am planning to help myself also through the use of CBT techniques and meditation.

4

Agreed with comment above. Go down the mindfulness route, rather than pure CBT....

Loads of web sites, portland paycotherapy being a good starting point.

If you have the money pay to see a counsellor, if not, get referred by GP.

You should give sertraline at least 8 weeks from start of therapy... Works wonders.... Not perfect... But it works...

Don't quit yet...