Need encouragement

Hi all,

I've been on sertraline and Ativan as needed since July 11. I've been making really good progress, using coping techniques so I don't need to take Ativan as much and only take 1/4 of a pill before bed now(I was taking 2 pills every day for the first 3 weeks).

My problem is the last few mornings I've woken up with awful anxiety. Mornings have been tough since I started meds but the last few weeks they've been ok, either no anxiety or I can work through it quickly with breathing, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, etc. The last few days I just cry randomly and have a hard time doing anything until after noon.

Now I'm scared that there's something wrong with my meds. I know I'm going to have a bad day here and there but several days in a row waking up with anxiety is making me worry.

Thanks for listening and any response would help.

Hi

Sorry to hear you are having high anxiety at the moment it sounds like you are going through a tough patch for what ever reason. I would suggest you go and speak with your doctor re your medication and he may feel a dose increase may be of benefit? It's good to read that you do mindfulness I have found that to be a life savour and would suggest you use all the techniques you have learned and try and stay in the moment the best you can.

Hibee

I hear ya on this one! My bad streak has been going on for nearly a week and a half now and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am praying tomorrow will be a renewed day! The motto I have been sticking with is, "Rejoice on the good days, and ride out the bad days." They're definitely not easy, but keep in mind, so many others are going through the same stuff! Wouldn't it be great if there was a magical healing button we could press!!! Hopefully you get to feeling better real soon! Not sure what other encouragement I could add, but just hang in there!! Oh, and maybe journal... that seems to help me when I've been down for a bit!! Hmmm...maybe I should take my own advice! LOL!

I talked to my doctor and he said I can come in and we can talk about any issues I'm having. My anxiety was triggered by an extremely stressful school year last year (I teacher elementary school) and I go back next week. I know I'm going to have increased anxiety from that. But I can't handle switching meds/increasing meds right now either.

I was doing good for a few weeks and then this darn morning anxiety came back. I know it's common but will it always be like this? I guess I can deal with it if I know this is how it's supposed to be.

SarahJ

Oh my goodness, I just read the initial post over again and realized I went through the same thing when taking Ativan. That drug is terribly controlling, for me at least. The only way that I was able to stop taking it was to take 1/4 of a pill every 30 hours to start, then try and prolong it as much as my body could tolerate. Eventually (over the course of 2 months) I ended up at 1/4 of a pill every 52 hours and then one day I just decided to try and not take it. I drank a beer, relaxed and it's been almost two months since I have had to take it. I still have some around just in case my body freaks out again, but I am wondering if what you're dealing with might be a benzo withdrawl.

I remember that my chest had this heavy warm feeling on it in the mornings, and the anxiety wouldn't stop until I had taken the medicine again. This is not to say that I have never felt the symptom of chest tightness again, but it has been few and far between. I truly believe that Ativan was causing most of what was happening to my body at that time. Just wanted to share my experience in case it can help you!

Oh, and another thing I found with Ativan is that the manufacturer does make a difference. I had a terrible experience with the manufacturer Milan and had to search high and low to find the manufacturer Sandoz.