Scared to Death

This is my first time posting on this web site and really my first time telling anyone how I feel. I am a 45 year old female and for the first time in my life I feel as though I am falling apart. This is also the first time that I have reached out for help, so please bear with me. Long story short... I have been suffering with anxiety for about the last 4-5 years. Before that, I have always been successful and outgoing.I have lost both parents unexpectedly in the last two years. Just recently my father, if losing mom wasn't enough. My Dr. put me on Zoloft 8 days ago and have been doing okay on it until last night. I had a major anxiety attack/ Hot Flash last night with my heart racing and all. Thought it was going to be yet another trip to the ER thinking I was dying. Finally I was able to calm myself down and go to sleep. Is this a normal side effect of this drug? I am on 50mg/day. Two years ago my Dr. put me on Lexapro and it was horrible. I was on it for five months and it was pure misery. I was very depressed and the anxiety was 10 fold. I am scared of taking any of these drugs, and reading some of the reviews online doesn't help me at all as is scares me even more. Any advice and all suppport is greatly welcomed ! Thanks in advance

Hey Just,

I know how you feel. The first time (and only time) that I got put on medication it was Lexapro and within fifteen minutes of taking half a dose I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life. After that I swore off medication, even though I had been taking a low dose of Ativan for a week and that did help me, I decided to stop taking everything and try whatever else I could. Medication can be a scary thing, but I know that once you find one that works for you, it really does help.

There are, of course, other things you can do to help the anxiety in the meantime. If you don't mind taking herbal supplements, I have found that L-Theanine helps me, though it is not as drastic as an SSRI or Benzo would be. There are also lots of herbal supplements out there to help with anxiety and calm the nerves, it's just a matter of finding what works for you, as it is with all anxiety medications and even lifestyle adjustments.

Just know that we are here for you, and it's great that you're looking for support. This is a wonderful forum and everyone is very helpful and compassionate. I'm proud that you've taken this step to help end your anxiety. =)
If medication is not something you want to try again (and believe me, I completely understand), going to therapy, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, can work wonders. I have heard so many great things about it that hopefully by the end of this month I will have my first appointment. There are also some great resources on the forum, the third link down on the front page where all the threads are listed.

Just remember that not every medication works for everyone, and it really is a trial process to find the right one sometimes. There is still hope, and you are not alone in this.

--Please keep us all updated, and be well,
Em

Wow!!

This is to say thank you God for this site! To KatCar06,Em,and Elen, thank you so much for your advice and comments. It is really nice to know that I'm not alone with my struggles. I will keep you posted on how I'm feeling.... Promise. Elen, I will be in upstate new york for christmas. I live in Colorado and have a ton of family in new york. Take Care and Thanks again !

Hi All,
Just wanted to update you on my progress.... It is now day 12 on the Zoloft and things are starting to level out. I however am not going to give this drug all the credit! This forum and all of you have already helped me in ways I never thought possible. Also my faith in God is seeing me through my issues. I just have to stay strong and learn new ways of coping with life. I know in my heart that God dosen't want any of us to suffer with anxiety and depression, so we have to stick together and stay strong for one another.

Blessings, Michelle

Hi Annie, My Doctor put me on lexapro 2 years ago after my mom died and it was horribile. So starting zoloft after the death of my father had me feeling very uneasy. I am also taking Xanax to counter act the first side effects that anti-depressants can present. The first week was not so much fun. Day eight was the worst. Now on day 13 I am feeling the positive effects of the Zoloft. They say that you have to give these types of drugs a chance to work... some times 6-8 weeks, and, everyone is different from one drug to another. I can tell you that the Zoloft along with the Xanax is a world of difference compared to the way lexapro made me feel. so I guess the key is to give it time, and if one dosen't work for you, there is probably something else that will. Also talking to somebody and this forum is a huge help for me. I wish you health and happiness. Good Luck on your journey.

Blessings, Michelle