Restarting SSRI and feeling concerned

[chjb]

I’ve never posted before & trying not to ‘Dr Google’ symptoms so I don’t spiral but just felt I needed some advice.

i have an appointment with my psychologist today and Dr next week so i will seek medical advice but im just feeling really anxious!

after having my son I had terrible sleep deprivation and anxiety. I had insomnia for weeks and would sleep 2 hours at a time and wake feeling burning hot and full of tension and anxiety. I struggled with this for nearly 8 weeks before starting an SSRI. Of course it increased the anxiety ten fold but after about 3 months I felt like myself again. I stayed on the SSRI 10mg until last year when I wanted to loose weight and I stopped in Nov 23 but as Dec rolled around and I was working long hours and weekends I just felt after Christmas (and being away, not sleeping well etc) that I had that impending anxiety doom creep up again and I was irritable with my kids and just feeling flat. I decided that the weightloss wasn’t worth it and started on the SSRI again on 1 Jan 24. 
I titrated up 5mg 1st week

7.5mg 2nd week

10mg third week. I’m on day 11 of 10 mg and suddenly just feeling a surge of panic, anxiety and sleeplessness which I thought was odd second time around and week 4 into starting.

starting to spiral think that the meds aren’t working or something sinister is wrong- all the catastrophic thinking and the physical flushing/skin prickly feelings beyond my control.
I am exhausted and have been taking something to help me sleep (young kids, don’t always get a solid sleep!) but I’m just really scared and down after having a pretty good week last week not needing any sleep meds.  
I’m really scared of changing meds and going through the process all over again but also acknowledging I haven’t been on the 10mg for a fortnight yet. 
I can’t remember how I tolerated it last time but I don’t remember been quite this anxious. I’ve lost more weight starting the SSRI again than stopping lol

[Sophie_M]

Hi chjb, 

Welcome to the forums and thank you for your bravery and openness in sharing here. It’s a really good place to have come to hear from others, many will understand some of what you’re going through. We can hear how difficult the it's been dealing with this anxiety regarding taking your medication and we're sure our fellow coomunity members will be able to relate. 

It sounds like you’ve taken some really good steps in getting some support. It’s incredibly difficult when treatment doesn’t have any quick answers or has side-effects that can make our anxiety worse in the short-term, and it can be a really difficult journey. We understand you are keeping in touch with your doctor and psychologist and we encourage you to keep them updated on what’s going on for you and even seek an appointment with another GP for an earlier appointment if that may be able to set your mind at ease.

If you want to talk through what you’re feeling at any time, the Beyond Blue Support Line is here for you 24/7 on 1300 22 4636. The counsellors can be good to talk to right in the midst of dealing with anxiety, it can help to get the thoughts out. You can also reach them via Online Chat on our website.  

Thanks again for sharing. We’re here to listen and offer support, and you never know how your story might help someone else. 

Kind regards, 

Sophie M 

[Eagle Ray]

Hi chjb,

 I’m just wondering if it may help to ask your GP to look at hormone levels. I’m currently going through perimenopause in which anxiety has really spiked in relation to hormonal changes. I’ve been reading about similar effects that can happen following giving birth in relation to hormones. It may not be linked to hormonal changes for you, but I just thought I’d mention it just in case it is something having an effect on anxiety.

 I hope things start to settle soon and you can feel better 🙏

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear chub,

A very warm and caring welcome to the forums…🤗..

Im really pleased you’re going to your Dr next week and going to talk to them about what your going through….I know that meds have different effects on everyone and it takes around 6-8 weeks before our body adjusts to them enough to help us start feeling better…I also went of my meds to loose weight, but like you I decided it wasn’t worth it…I think our mental health is so important to us because when we’re not mentally healthy it effects our entire life, family, friends, work colleagues, sleep etc…and our physical health as well…

I’m on meds, including something to help me sleep….I also listen to sleep stories once I’m in bed and ready to sleep, they help me, well unwind, with a couple of minutes of breathing exercises followed by a gently spoken beautiful story, I mostly fall asleep before the story finishes…you can find them on YouTube….maybe you might like to give them a go….no pressure lovely…

Sending you a gentle caring hug..with my kind thoughts and care..

Grandy..