Trouble adjusting to my new (old) normal

[faulhallen]

So I wrote a couple of weeks about about how I had to change medications because my new insurance doesn’t cover the newer antidepressant I’ve been on for the last year or so.

Now I’ve been on Zoloft before. It’s no big deal. I’ve been on better and worse antidepressants but it has the benefit of being entirely covered by my insurance. The issue I’m having with it this time though is that I’m having trouble adjusting to my new normal, even though I know that this is how I’ve felt through large sections of my life.

I’m just so tired and unmotivated. I’m having trouble focusing again. I’m lonely and want to connect but finding time to engage meaningfully with people feels like so much work in my already busy life. I’m not sleeping enough because there doesn’t seem to be any point because I blink and my alarm is going off anyway. Any feeling of rest or relief that I might feel upon waking up is gone almost as soon as it starts.

This describes the vast majority of my life and I’ve always managed just fine. I’ve gotten up, done what I need to do, enjoyed myself for the most part as long as things in life are remotely good for a change and engaged in those meaningful relationships. Why is it so much harder this time just because I got used to sleeping better? Overall my outlook on life is better, things are looking up in at least some ways, and I feel like I should be better than I feel.

Does anyone else have these problems sleeping and have found a solution to it that doesn’t involve your antidepressant or sleeping pills? I’ve tried a number of things over the years and nothing seems to help me get that good sleep I’m missing out on again...

[JAYnLA]

Hey Faulhallen - you've probably tried everything I'd suggest (cutting caffeine out after 2PM, a hot bath before bed, don't exercise later in the day, herbal teas, melatonin), but I want to urge you to do whatever you can, even if it's a medication, to get decent sleep. My anxiety issues became overwhelming last year and sleeplessness was the primary culprit. I hope you find the rest you need soon!

[faulhallen in reply to JAYnLA]

I’m not sure if survive cutting caffeine out after 2 pm but I could do a lot better about caffeine than I currently do. Even if I stopped at like 6 or 7 it’d be a vast improvement. Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll see if they work for me 🙂

[Sunnidayz1]

Thanks for posting! Im new to Zoloft too. I came off of Lexapro a few weeks back bc I had gained a lot of weight and feeling unmotivated. Now Im on Zoloft and I feel more motivated but sometimes feel depressed which I never had a problem with but I do feel lonely sometimes. Im a SAHM so that would make sense. Im working on that.

Anyway, I would say to give it more time for it to settle in your system. Thats what Im doing too. It's gotta work into your system before u and dr can evaluate anything. I think it takes about 8 weeks. So hang in there. Im going thru the same thing. I just gotta wait to do what I can do to get by everyday. Patience is a virtue..lol

[faulhallen in reply to Sunnidayz1]

Thank you for the support! I think it’s normal to still be depressed here and there. Everyone I’ve ever known that takes antidepressants is. I’m sorry you’re lonely. It’s an awful feeling.

I’m trying to give it more time. Some nights seem better than others so I’m trying to stay positive. I hope you’re having a good week!

[Sunnidayz1 in reply to faulhallen]

It was definitely the med. I was experiencing some side effects that I no longer feel. I suffer from anxiety so I sometimes do feel anxiety even on the med. I feel great now. I know things will get better for u with time.

[faulhallen in reply to Sunnidayz1]

Thank you 🙂

[Eowyn7]

I just saw an article that recommended wearing amber tinted glasses in the evening to block blue light from all sources. It can't hurt to try if you haven't tried this yet!

[faulhallen in reply to Eowyn7]

That’s my one I have ever heard of.... it sounds interesting at least. If you try it let me know and I’ll look into it either way. I hope you had a great Easter!