Hey guys 😊 would love advice ❤️

[Shelley24]

So I'm on day 13 of sertaraline and it seems to helping I think as I'm more happy and can get on with things and more calmer but I still get intrusive thoughts that I can't seem to let go which I end up questioning everything! If I control one then another one comes then so on, I've still got 2 weeks till therapy but got doctors Thursday and Monday, don't understand why I'm getting all these thoughts it's so confusing. I just want to go back to how I was before these thoughts break my heart so much 😔

[Matt3013]

Try and believe it will get easier. I've been on sertraline for a while, and it can have funny symptoms and some days are better than others. I think you just need to give your mind as much of a rest as you can and just trust that it's part of the anxiety

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

Thank you for the reply! And I know just hard to accept it's all anxiety x

[Matt3013]

It's crazy, it is the hardest thing. I don't even see it anxiety, just something we are going through, a process I guess. But it won't define you forever, you just need to give yourself a bit of space and not expect to much of yourself

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

I think that's what I'm going working to hard to fight it all, just wanna get better for my children x

[Matt3013]

I get that, I've got a daughter I've missed enjoying for the last 3-4 years. I just think the more you pressure it the more it seems to take hold. Please keep the sertraline going

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

Awe bless you, it's hard isn't it when your a parent... and yeah definitely so maybe I should stop fighting against it and let it do its thing 🤷‍♀️ and yeah I am as it's giving me some improvements so far x

[Matt3013]

How do you find it most effects your day? X

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

What do you mean?x

[Matt3013]

I guess I mean do you find it hard to talk and socialise, or do you struggle with physical symptoms, or do you think the worst about stuff lots? X

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

Pretty much all of them x

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

And the intrusive thoughts I hate x

[Matt3013]

What kind of thoughts? Be honest? Xc

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

I even get images as well x

[Shelley24]

Horrible scary thoughts towards myself, others, animals ect stuff that's against my nature or character x

[Matt3013]

You mean like bad things are going to happen to you? Like nightmares? Do you know if there is a reason X

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

It's thoughts like any harm coming to me like death ect caused by myself and harm towards others or doing bad things that I'm against and all I can think of it's I'm scared of dying but I've read up on intrusive thoughts and found stuff to do but it's hard x

[Matt3013]

I am also so scared of dying, I have truly thought I have been at times... because you feel so bad you think it must be something major. You aren't alone, I promise. Have you started your CBT yet? I reckon that might give you some good help with managing these thoughts and feelings. I had about 20 sessions not so long ago and they create a different thought path and process so you can see things in a more realistic way X

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

I'm always scared I'm losing my mind or going crazy at times and I start in 2 weeks and that's good, I can deal with my anxiety it's just the thoughts that are really hard x

[Matt3013]

It's all linked... how long have you been suffering x

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

Yeah I know and 7 weeks x

[Matt3013]

Just give it time, what triggered it all off? Can you tell me x

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

I will do, like I can be fine some days then some days it can be hard... well I went for blood tests as was feeling tiered all the time and come back abnormal so on folic acid and low on vitamin d also I had a toe infection so another one popped up but I searched it online and it come up with heart disease ect so I started checking my pulse all the time ect so i told the doctor and he put on citalopram which heightened my anxiety and that's when all the intrusive thoughts come so went back to the doctors and stopped the citalopram and was giving diazepam and a beta blocker but started sertraline 13 days ago which seems to be better x

[Matt3013]

So it was triggered by a kinda health anxiety and then google. Do you know what... as much as google is totally crap for anxiety and feeds into it, website and forums like this are the opposite and amazingly reassuring, because you don't feel alone or crazy or like your dying, you see similar minded people struggling in the same or similar way. Stay with the sertraline, Keep this app or website as a little comfort blanket and trust that you will improve. Also the CBT I think will help, will you be open and honest with them? X

[Shelley24 in reply to Matt3013]

Yeah pretty much and yeah I have found that out I do like this place... and yeah that's what I'm planning on doing and yeah I will be x

[Bb53 in reply to Matt3013]

Great post Matt.CBT helps a lot.ive been prescribed sertraline but won't take it .i have chronic health anxiety following a stroke last year.had anxiety long before the stroke took sertraline for 5 months felt better then had stroke and would not take it silly as was not connected!!some days are a terrible struggle.😳

[SW25]

I am a male but I am just adding this. It has really affected my sex life over the past 2 years. Not able to have a climax at all. Don't have to answer this and it may not be your problem. Just letting you know it could happen. Have a great day. Good luck

[Shelley24 in reply to SW25]

So far so good for me, sorry to hear its effected you, have a great day 2 and thank you

[Doug1847]

Try to fight through it. It took a full 5 weeks before all my sertraline side effects went away. Just be sure and tell your doctor what all you are feeling.

[Shelley24 in reply to Doug1847]

I will dw and yeah I have been thank you 😊

[SW25]

You sound like a very nice young lady, hope you get on the recovery road soon.

[Shelley24 in reply to SW25]

Thank you very much

[Ada-1]

HiThe thoughts does not easily go away, you have to work on it, don't try to stop it otherwise it will get worse. All you have to do is just let the thoughts come and go and keep telling yourself that the thoughts you have are not true

[Shelley24 in reply to Ada-1]

I think that's where I'm going wrong I'm constantly fighting against them x

[Ada-1 in reply to Shelley24]

No don't, let it come and go just like someone watching the traffic go by but not in the traffic. I had that problem, I have got a son and my baby was my trigger I kept thinking he is gonna die and I can't take care of him but as day passes I begin to understand. Go to YouTube there are a lot of videos on anxiety. Always remember you are not alone

[Shelley24 in reply to Ada-1]

Some thoughts I can just let go of but it's the most horrible ones that I keep holding on to as they are really horrible so it scares me but I am waiting on therapy so hoping that will teach me better and ok thank you 😊