starting antidepressants for anxiety and depression

Hey @daisy1234 ,

I'm sorry to hear things have been tough for you, especially when you are navigating medication changes.

If you continue to feel 'not quite right' with the meds, it may be worth while speaking to your prescribing doctor so they can monitor how things go.

I hope you can go easy on yourself at this time.

From my own experiences, but reducing meds, I had similar symptoms to what you have described. Hence I am so so careful how much I reduce.

Go slow my friend. You are not alone.

Thankyou for your kindness and reassuring words. I hate the fact that others are going through this too but it’s nice knowing you are not alone.My dr suggested that it’s worth persevering with this medication despite the symptoms as she felt they were to be expected. As you have suggested your tapering off very slowly it appears I may need to start the same way.I just want to feel better but obviously can’t rush it. I think I just need to surrender that the next couple of weeks will be hard but hopefully see some improvement. I will take anything!Thanks again and I wish you all the best and peace coming off of your medications.

In fact @daisy1234 , I've been tapering my medication over the course of years. Although I can stop them completely, I feel that life it too great at the moment for me to unset the balance.

Are you able to take some more time off work and just 'let' your body adjust to this change?

We're here if you need a chat.

Thankyou. I love that life is too great for you at the moment, thats a beautiful thing.

Yes I can take some more time off work if needed so that takes that pressure off. My biggest struggle today is the heightened anxiety and barrage of panic attacks mixed with sadness and fear of not getting better and feeling helpless about it all. I know it’s just going to take time. Thankyou for listening.

Hi @daisy1234

Just wanted to say that I know it can be tough, wanting to get back to feeling better and having to try different things. Hope you're starting to feel a little better each day. Take it easy 🌸

Thankyou for your super kind reply I really appreciate it very much. The hug I needed today.🌻

Hey @daisy1234 @8ppleTree ,

Great to see you both!

@daisy1234 , I hope today has turned out better. Hang in there my friend. We are sitting here with you, holding your hand.

@daisy1234 Taking it slowly with increasing the dose sounds like a great plan.

I recently tried to increase my dose of SSRI (I had been taking the meds for 12 years prior). But the symptoms from the change in dosage were just like you described. By about 6 weeks, I could not function at all. The side effects were intolerable. I decreased the dose again, and had 2.5 weeks off work before I was functional again.

Stick with your plan to gradually increase until you are taking the full prescribed dose. I think you have to find the dose that works for your body. If you find the negative effects are long lasting once you reach the prescribed dose, perhaps consider discussing with your doctor whether you need to adjust the dose again.

Hope you start to feel much better soon.