Anti-Depressant Help?

[Meara_Brown]

I take 50 mg of Zoloft everyday and I have been for over a year. However I am not doing well right now with severe depression and fear of dying in my sleep and feeling like nothing is real. I am going to the doctor tomorrow and it is a possibility that she might change my meds. Can anti-depressants kill you in your sleep? Can anxiety kill you in your sleep? Can depression kill you in your sleep. Also I am only 13 years old. Please help.

-Meara

[Meara_Brown]

My doctor raised my dosage to 75 mg. a day. I have only been on that amount for 2 days. I seem to be doing a lot better because I have been talking with a couple of my good friends. My doctor also ordered some blood work for: Thyroid- to check something with my hormones, Glucose I think- They think I might have sugar problems, Blood count- Just the normal thing.

[cj29]

I know that this is a scary and tough thing you are going through right now.  The answers to all of your questions is "no."  Being afraid of death comes to us all at some point in my opinion.  I didn't start worrying about it at 13, but I did when I was in my 20's.  

OCD is a compulsive behavior that can manifest itself in a myriad of ways....not just being clean.  It can be any obsessive compulsive thought that takes control in my exprience with it.

As you have been going through this, have you also been seeing a counselor about this?  For me, learning about your anxiety is the way to confront it and learn about it.  As with any challenge we face, "knowledge is power."  Keep us posted and feel free to ask as many questions as you like.  

[Meara_Brown]

I thought OCD was when you needed things to be clean all the time.

[JGF25]

You know...I have OCD and I'm wondering if you have it as well.  You are obsessing over death and anything you do right now...sleep, eat, get blood drawn, has you catastrophizing it to your death.  I would talk to your doctor about that as well.  You ARE NOT going to die from getting your blood drawn.  If you are afraid of passing out, then ask them if you can lie down when it is being done.  

[Meara_Brown]

Well I'm going to the doctor in about an hour and I might need to get blood work done to test my hormones. Apparently imbalances with that kind of stuff can cause anxiety and depression. But I am nervous that if I get my blood drawn that I will pass out and die.

[mele48]

I'm sorry you're struggling right now, that's just hard.

JGF25 is right - none of this can kill you.  It's absolutely the pits to go through, but it won't kill us.  

If you're not in counseling, I'd really encourage you to pursue that.  JGF25 gave some good tips as well.

[JGF25]

Hi Meara.  No none of what you mentioned can kill you in your sleep.  You have to realize that everyone dies at some point.  This is something that is out of our control so you need to learn to let things go.  Hopefully your doctor can help you with these thoughts.  Things that people die of in their sleep are not things that a 13 year old has to worry about.  I'm glad you are seeing your doctor tomorrow.  Why don't you try some meditation videos on YouTube to help you relax.