Aa
Me again.. Need some encouragement
I am two doses into my increase of zoloft to 200mg and I feel so drugged I don't like it!!!! I don't want to take them again but I would tell someone in my position to keep at it and it will subside soon, but I need someone to tell me!!
Thank you ! It's weird this time because instead of obsessing over physical health I'm obsessing over mental health .. I'm afraid that I'm going crazy or never going to get better.. I miss " me" so much it hurts!!
Also, if you don't mind me asking , do you have kids ? Because I'm struggling with worrying that I will get so bad that it will effect my kids negatively and that breaks my heart! If you have kids how do you deal with that ?
And I guess why I'm having such a hard time this time Is because it is first of all the most severe and of course you are thinking this is the one that is gonna send me over the edge..and this is the only time it's not so cut and dry like my last bout if anxiety were when I had my kids because they had horrible colic and acid reflux and my hormones were out of whack.. This time everything I guess subconsciously built up and I just get scared there something more to it! It's crazy that I can tell someone else that it will get better and it's just anxiety but I can't do it for myself, I actually give great advice haha...
So you think I should def stick with the 150mg for awhile?
I appreciate your time very much!!!
Also, if you don't mind me asking , do you have kids ? Because I'm struggling with worrying that I will get so bad that it will effect my kids negatively and that breaks my heart! If you have kids how do you deal with that ?
And I guess why I'm having such a hard time this time Is because it is first of all the most severe and of course you are thinking this is the one that is gonna send me over the edge..and this is the only time it's not so cut and dry like my last bout if anxiety were when I had my kids because they had horrible colic and acid reflux and my hormones were out of whack.. This time everything I guess subconsciously built up and I just get scared there something more to it! It's crazy that I can tell someone else that it will get better and it's just anxiety but I can't do it for myself, I actually give great advice haha...
So you think I should def stick with the 150mg for awhile?
I appreciate your time very much!!!
"People don't stay like this forever do they? "
Anxiety disorders make for a lifelong battle, but with a lot of ups and downs. Once you find the "right" treatment, you will normalize. There will be times in your life when anxiety and panic will rear its ugly head again, and you'll have to ramp up your efforts. I've never heard of anyone who has stayed in a severe level of anxiety for years on end, so no, don't worry about that.
I've had times in my life when I had panic attacks all day and was basically housebound, then I would get better and enjoy many YEARS of almost NO anxiety. Eventually, it would make a reappearance, but every time it did, I was able to quickly identify it and recognize that the anxiety was getting worse, and would quickly reemploy my coping techniques. That usually managed to get the anxiety back to a tolerable level fairly quickly (within a few months maybe). I can honestly say that as I've gotten older, it has gotten easier. That's not to say that it still doesn't break my heart every time I have a panic attack when I haven't had one in years, but I don't react as harshly as I did when I was younger. It doesn't impact me quite as bad, because I KNOW what to expect, and what it is.
The imnportant thing to hang onto is you're still navigating your way through this...you'll get there. You've had some ups and downs, some good days and bad ones. I truly think you've just gone too fast with this med. Hopefully, once you slow it down a bit, and add an anxiolytic to deal with the anxiey levels, you'll finally start seeing some improvements. Just keep that line of communication open with the doctor. When you ask him about the meds, ask if he can recommend an increase in the frequency of your therapy, until you're feeling better? A lot of people don't realize that's sometimes an option, so rather than going maybe once a month, you could be going once a week. That helped me a LOT. Of course there is insurance to contend with, but there are ways to make it happen. When people are really struggling, it's only normal to expect that they need more support during those times. I would definitely ask about it. Those therapy appointments were SO hugely helpful, I cannot emphasize that enough.
If *I* got better, anyone can. Truly. I have been in a BAD way before with my anxiety. Makes some posters here look like they have NO anxiety. I know it's easy for me to say all of that, but it's harder for you to believe it. When you're smack dab in the middle of that nightmare, you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's coming!!
Anxiety disorders make for a lifelong battle, but with a lot of ups and downs. Once you find the "right" treatment, you will normalize. There will be times in your life when anxiety and panic will rear its ugly head again, and you'll have to ramp up your efforts. I've never heard of anyone who has stayed in a severe level of anxiety for years on end, so no, don't worry about that.
I've had times in my life when I had panic attacks all day and was basically housebound, then I would get better and enjoy many YEARS of almost NO anxiety. Eventually, it would make a reappearance, but every time it did, I was able to quickly identify it and recognize that the anxiety was getting worse, and would quickly reemploy my coping techniques. That usually managed to get the anxiety back to a tolerable level fairly quickly (within a few months maybe). I can honestly say that as I've gotten older, it has gotten easier. That's not to say that it still doesn't break my heart every time I have a panic attack when I haven't had one in years, but I don't react as harshly as I did when I was younger. It doesn't impact me quite as bad, because I KNOW what to expect, and what it is.
The imnportant thing to hang onto is you're still navigating your way through this...you'll get there. You've had some ups and downs, some good days and bad ones. I truly think you've just gone too fast with this med. Hopefully, once you slow it down a bit, and add an anxiolytic to deal with the anxiey levels, you'll finally start seeing some improvements. Just keep that line of communication open with the doctor. When you ask him about the meds, ask if he can recommend an increase in the frequency of your therapy, until you're feeling better? A lot of people don't realize that's sometimes an option, so rather than going maybe once a month, you could be going once a week. That helped me a LOT. Of course there is insurance to contend with, but there are ways to make it happen. When people are really struggling, it's only normal to expect that they need more support during those times. I would definitely ask about it. Those therapy appointments were SO hugely helpful, I cannot emphasize that enough.
If *I* got better, anyone can. Truly. I have been in a BAD way before with my anxiety. Makes some posters here look like they have NO anxiety. I know it's easy for me to say all of that, but it's harder for you to believe it. When you're smack dab in the middle of that nightmare, you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's coming!!
Thank you! I know you could be right with everything you are saying but I really feel this time it is the med increase that has made me feel this way! And also probably of a little but you are talking about! I just feel like I'm slowly going insane.. I'm so scared that I'm never gonna be myself again! I am going to go back down to the 150mg and maybe ask him for a Xanax Xl something we talked about as an option in the past .. But we will see! People don't stay like this forever do they?
Also the depressive symptoms could possibly be frrom the high level of anxiety as well. It's very common to see people develop a secondary depression related to an anxiety disorder, as obviously, the whole situation makes us feel down, sad, depressed and hopeless. Just something to keep in mind.
A lot of what you're feeling very well may be related to the anxiety that isn't well managed yet, versus being related to the Zoloft. It's very common for a person to relate everything they're feeling to the med. Just something to keep in mind.
When was the last time you were actually IN the office with the doc, and when is your next appt? If it's been a while, and you don't have an appt soon, within the next week, I would ask to be seen in the office, versus trying to do all of this over the phone.
A lot of what you're feeling very well may be related to the anxiety that isn't well managed yet, versus being related to the Zoloft. It's very common for a person to relate everything they're feeling to the med. Just something to keep in mind.
When was the last time you were actually IN the office with the doc, and when is your next appt? If it's been a while, and you don't have an appt soon, within the next week, I would ask to be seen in the office, versus trying to do all of this over the phone.
You've been increasing awfully fast, we discussed that before.
I personally think how you feel is probably more related to the level of anxiety you are experiencing, especially because it's common to have an increased level of anxiety (sometimes significantly) when first starting and bumping up...moreso than the med.
High levels of anxiety can be terribly exhausting. I've never experienced a "drugged" feeling with these kinds of meds. Not saying it couldn't happen, but I don't think that's very common. More often, we see people report being more anxious initially, more "keyed up".
As I told you before, these med adjustments take time. I understand the thought process of the doctor thinking you would probably need a higher dose to see results, hence why he sort of "fast tracked" you through the increases, but I think that's just too taxing on the body...you haven't even had a chance to stabilize in between dosage adjustments and really see how you were feeling before bumping up again.
I would recommend you stay where you're at for a while before going any higher again. Like I said before, the dosage increases can also take 4-6 weeks to "work" just like the initial adjustment. If I were you, I would wait at least 4 weeks from the last bump before going any higher. I know you want to feel better, but you just have to try to be patient, as hard as it is. And, keep doing the other things you've been doing to continue working on the anxiety as well.
Hang in there hon, let us know how you're doing.
I personally think how you feel is probably more related to the level of anxiety you are experiencing, especially because it's common to have an increased level of anxiety (sometimes significantly) when first starting and bumping up...moreso than the med.
High levels of anxiety can be terribly exhausting. I've never experienced a "drugged" feeling with these kinds of meds. Not saying it couldn't happen, but I don't think that's very common. More often, we see people report being more anxious initially, more "keyed up".
As I told you before, these med adjustments take time. I understand the thought process of the doctor thinking you would probably need a higher dose to see results, hence why he sort of "fast tracked" you through the increases, but I think that's just too taxing on the body...you haven't even had a chance to stabilize in between dosage adjustments and really see how you were feeling before bumping up again.
I would recommend you stay where you're at for a while before going any higher again. Like I said before, the dosage increases can also take 4-6 weeks to "work" just like the initial adjustment. If I were you, I would wait at least 4 weeks from the last bump before going any higher. I know you want to feel better, but you just have to try to be patient, as hard as it is. And, keep doing the other things you've been doing to continue working on the anxiety as well.
Hang in there hon, let us know how you're doing.
Hi Remar,
Yes I think so too! I'm waiting for the doctor to call me back! The past couple of days I have felt so depressed and hopeless it scared me! I basically just lost it at work! I'm so sad and so scared, I'm afraid my life is over! I'm not even cutting back 25mg I'm cutting back 50mg !!!!!
Yes I think so too! I'm waiting for the doctor to call me back! The past couple of days I have felt so depressed and hopeless it scared me! I basically just lost it at work! I'm so sad and so scared, I'm afraid my life is over! I'm not even cutting back 25mg I'm cutting back 50mg !!!!!
I do think the increase may have been to much. How would you feel about backing down 25 mgs to see how you do on that dose? That would put you at 175 mgs.
Hi Remar
I am absolutely exhausted and my anxiety is so much worse...im also feeling depressed which is unusual for me but i'm also getting sick of being like this. Does the increased dose side effects tend to go away fairly quickly? Do you think this dose is too much for me,,,the doc didn't increase me by 25mg because he knows how ive been suffering and he tends to be pretty aggresive.
I am absolutely exhausted and my anxiety is so much worse...im also feeling depressed which is unusual for me but i'm also getting sick of being like this. Does the increased dose side effects tend to go away fairly quickly? Do you think this dose is too much for me,,,the doc didn't increase me by 25mg because he knows how ive been suffering and he tends to be pretty aggresive.
I'm sorry you're going through this. Med changes are sometimes hard, as you well know. I wonder if your Dr should have increased your dose 25 mgs instead of 50 mgs? You know me by now and you know I think less is better. Baby steps.
Are you feeling tired along with the drugged felling? I really hope this feeling goes away soon and you start feeling better.
Are you feeling tired along with the drugged felling? I really hope this feeling goes away soon and you start feeling better.
Hey Cj
Just spacey and exhausted , I guess this weird slight dizzy feeling, It's hard to explain.. How long will the side effects last?
Just spacey and exhausted , I guess this weird slight dizzy feeling, It's hard to explain.. How long will the side effects last?
What do you mean by you feel so drugged? For me, whenever I switched doses (up or down), I noticed some side effects and increased anxiety. I also remember the first time I was prescribed it, I was absolutely terrified of taking it, so I knew my anxiety would be sky high regardless. Medications like Zoloft will not 'cure' you of your anxiety, but can be a useful tool while confronting your anxiety through counseling in my experience with this.
Plus, keep your head up! Confronting your anxiety is a huge challenge...and that is putting it mildly. You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You are tackeling this head on and are very brave for doing so. I know you are making progress....remember that.
Plus, keep your head up! Confronting your anxiety is a huge challenge...and that is putting it mildly. You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You are tackeling this head on and are very brave for doing so. I know you are making progress....remember that.
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