Hello Anna,
I am glad to hear that Zoloft is helping you. I have an appointment with a doctor this next week and I am going to see about getting on something most likely Zoloft, since that is what my therapist recommended. I am on my 4 months of being off the pill and this week has been one of the worst weeks yet! I am just so tired, and like you, I feel at my wit's end. I feel like every day I am just surviving and not living.
I am glad to hear that Zoloft is helping you. I have an appointment with a doctor this next week and I am going to see about getting on something most likely Zoloft, since that is what my therapist recommended. I am on my 4 months of being off the pill and this week has been one of the worst weeks yet! I am just so tired, and like you, I feel at my wit's end. I feel like every day I am just surviving and not living.
Hi,
That's good! I would definitely recommend it, just keep in mind it does take a while for it to fully kick in but you should notice small gradual changes (at least I did) within my first week on it. I'm so sorry to hear you had a bad week, I was feeling the same way a little over a month ago - I was very much struggling and not living my life at all, it was hard to get by. You also want your doctor to start you off on a small dose, like 25mg, and if you need more, you will gradually work your way up. I am not a medical professional by any means but I would not suggest starting on a large dose right away especially at this time when you are sensitive to medications and their side effects.
Let me know if you have any questions - I know its really tough making the decision to start a new medication when it was a medication that got us here in the first place (believe me, I struggled so much with taking that first Zoloft), but if it makes you feel better - it is the #1 prescribed SSRI that has the least amount of side effects and most people do very well on it.
Some people on here are able to get through this without medicine, I am not one of them. In the end, it is a very personal decision and one that you need to feel is right for you.
Best of luck - I hope you feel better!!
Anna
That's good! I would definitely recommend it, just keep in mind it does take a while for it to fully kick in but you should notice small gradual changes (at least I did) within my first week on it. I'm so sorry to hear you had a bad week, I was feeling the same way a little over a month ago - I was very much struggling and not living my life at all, it was hard to get by. You also want your doctor to start you off on a small dose, like 25mg, and if you need more, you will gradually work your way up. I am not a medical professional by any means but I would not suggest starting on a large dose right away especially at this time when you are sensitive to medications and their side effects.
Let me know if you have any questions - I know its really tough making the decision to start a new medication when it was a medication that got us here in the first place (believe me, I struggled so much with taking that first Zoloft), but if it makes you feel better - it is the #1 prescribed SSRI that has the least amount of side effects and most people do very well on it.
Some people on here are able to get through this without medicine, I am not one of them. In the end, it is a very personal decision and one that you need to feel is right for you.
Best of luck - I hope you feel better!!
Anna
Hey Anna,
Thank you for your encouragement. I most likely will try the Zoloft. What symptoms do you feel like Zoloft has helped you with the most?
Thank you for your encouragement. I most likely will try the Zoloft. What symptoms do you feel like Zoloft has helped you with the most?
Hey everyone! I thought I was feeling better and normal again and then my period came around and I am on day 4 of it and have a the worst headache as well as intrusive thoughts and feeling emotionally flat.
Anyone else get this ?
Anyone else get this ?
Hi,
It has helped me with being more motivated to go out and do things and took away that weird uncertain scary feeling I used to have about stuff like leaving the house, driving, being out in a crowd, etc... I also used to get very depressed (especially the week before my period) and I have not felt those terrible low feelings since starting it. I can remember before I started it, I would lay in bed for hours just feeling sad and hopeless and scared and like I would never be able to just live a normal life again. I just couldn't really see myself moving forward in my life, but the Zoloft has helped lift all of those feelings so I am able to feel hopeful and live my life. I am definitely also in a better mood more consistently and don't have so many of those ups and downs anymore. I still get anxiety, though not nearly as often, (my anxiety is usually more physical, like shortness of breath, dizziness, etc...) but I've noticed that now when I experience these feelings I just view them as passing feelings and am no longer scared of them and my brain doesn't spin out of control with worry. I also no longer have that awful brain fog I had in the early months of coming off of birth control, where I felt detached from everything and like I was in a constant dream state.
I hope that helped to answer your question. When I first noticed the gradual change in myself after like 2 weeks on the Zoloft things just started feeling right again. You'll know it when you feel it.
It has helped me with being more motivated to go out and do things and took away that weird uncertain scary feeling I used to have about stuff like leaving the house, driving, being out in a crowd, etc... I also used to get very depressed (especially the week before my period) and I have not felt those terrible low feelings since starting it. I can remember before I started it, I would lay in bed for hours just feeling sad and hopeless and scared and like I would never be able to just live a normal life again. I just couldn't really see myself moving forward in my life, but the Zoloft has helped lift all of those feelings so I am able to feel hopeful and live my life. I am definitely also in a better mood more consistently and don't have so many of those ups and downs anymore. I still get anxiety, though not nearly as often, (my anxiety is usually more physical, like shortness of breath, dizziness, etc...) but I've noticed that now when I experience these feelings I just view them as passing feelings and am no longer scared of them and my brain doesn't spin out of control with worry. I also no longer have that awful brain fog I had in the early months of coming off of birth control, where I felt detached from everything and like I was in a constant dream state.
I hope that helped to answer your question. When I first noticed the gradual change in myself after like 2 weeks on the Zoloft things just started feeling right again. You'll know it when you feel it.
Yes, my period just ended and I always just feel back to square one and it’s so frustrating because I feel like it takes a while to pick myself up after my period and then there is only little time where I feel okay. I get really bad ROCD so it stinks when one moment I feel happy and then the next I question everything
That is normal. I always felt WAY worse on the week leading up to and during my period, my doctor said I may have developed PMDD. It sucks, but eventually once hormones begin to even out or if you take an anti-depressant like me it gets better.
I HATE THIS. This year has been jam packed with exciting things, or what should be exciting and I feel like I’m missing out on everything due to feeling flat !! I have a bridal shower today for a wedding I’m in and it seems like I am just trying to get through it instead of having a great time with friends and family. Feels like my life is just wasting away
I’m sorry, how long have you felt like this?
Just wanted to update everyone... Its almost been 6 months off the pill, I have started bio identical hormones a little over a month ago. Towards the end of each period, it gets fairly bad still, this past one I get very bad headaches, brain fog, intrusive thoughts. I am still having them and I am on day 8 of my cycle. I also feel flat emotionally during this time. The good news though is last cycle I felt great day 11 until day 2 of my period.
Its time like these that makes me so sad because I feel like im on the right path and then I get these horrible thoughts and sad feelings back where it feels like I am back to square one and I have rearranging my schedule around my cycle. I have made so many plans and hate having to cancel or go and feel like c**p and not enjoy myself! This is not the person I am and at often times it is hard to remember that this is only temporary and because of hormones.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to cope ? I have ativan but I hate using it all the time, I usually only take it if its 100 percent needed. I have been down the antidepressant route before and it was horrible for me so I will not be trying that again!
Hi! I’m almost a year off and have found chamomille and peppermint tea very helpful, as well as essential oils especially for headaches, a combo of peppermint/lavender/eucalyptus/and rosemary - a drop or two each in the diffuser. I also saw a counselor at my university and she helped break down some of the symptoms for me like the brain fog and how it’s from anxiety etc. which was nice to hear since I’ve never had depression or anxiety before and at first was completely confused because I didn’t know much about either so that was a little relief. I also looked up food good for hormonal imbalance and started incorporating them into my diet. Food is medicine after all :) Other than that I tried finding time to do things that helped me wind down, like getting my nails painted or finding new shows to watch, which are luxuries for me as a working student. Good luck and sorry you’re going through this too. It does actually get better.
- Alicia
- Alicia
Hello Anna,
I went to the doctor today and got prescribed 25mg of Zoloft. I am hoping it helps. I just started taking it today. I tried to tell my doctors that a lot of it is due to coming off the pill, but like most, she didn't think I would still be having an issue with hormonal imbalance. She also took some blood tests to see if my thyroid is out of whack too. It doesn't matter if she believes me about the hormonal imbalance because I know that a lot my issues started after stopping the pill, so I have to trust myself on it. She did say the BC I was on is known to exasperate depression and anxiety in people who already are suffering from it, which I was!!! I am hoping and praying that I will feel better soon and be able to start living my life again.
I went to the doctor today and got prescribed 25mg of Zoloft. I am hoping it helps. I just started taking it today. I tried to tell my doctors that a lot of it is due to coming off the pill, but like most, she didn't think I would still be having an issue with hormonal imbalance. She also took some blood tests to see if my thyroid is out of whack too. It doesn't matter if she believes me about the hormonal imbalance because I know that a lot my issues started after stopping the pill, so I have to trust myself on it. She did say the BC I was on is known to exasperate depression and anxiety in people who already are suffering from it, which I was!!! I am hoping and praying that I will feel better soon and be able to start living my life again.
Hi!
That's good, 25mg is a tiny dose so you shouldn't feel any major side effects. Let me know how you do. Keep in mind it takes a few weeks for it to fully kick in. Believe me, I know what its like to have doctors treat you like that....like they don't believe you that all of your issues started because of coming off of the birth control pill when in your heart you know they are. I had none of those issues prior to the birth control, so for me, I know this is what caused a hormonal imbalance and increased my anxiety and depression. What BC were you on if you don't mind me asking? When this whole thing started I did a lot of research and found that the pill I was on (I had to switch from one that worked well to another kind because my insurance no longer covered my usual one) also had the same effect and made anxiety and depression worse in many of the women who took it (this is based on reviews I read about it). I hope you start to feel better soon too! This is a never ending nightmare it seems....now that my anxiety and depression is under control thanks to the medication, I am now suffering from random cramping when its not my period or ovulation time. It seems like one thing after another. Anyway, hang in there!
Anna
That's good, 25mg is a tiny dose so you shouldn't feel any major side effects. Let me know how you do. Keep in mind it takes a few weeks for it to fully kick in. Believe me, I know what its like to have doctors treat you like that....like they don't believe you that all of your issues started because of coming off of the birth control pill when in your heart you know they are. I had none of those issues prior to the birth control, so for me, I know this is what caused a hormonal imbalance and increased my anxiety and depression. What BC were you on if you don't mind me asking? When this whole thing started I did a lot of research and found that the pill I was on (I had to switch from one that worked well to another kind because my insurance no longer covered my usual one) also had the same effect and made anxiety and depression worse in many of the women who took it (this is based on reviews I read about it). I hope you start to feel better soon too! This is a never ending nightmare it seems....now that my anxiety and depression is under control thanks to the medication, I am now suffering from random cramping when its not my period or ovulation time. It seems like one thing after another. Anyway, hang in there!
Anna
Hello Anna,
I was on Norethindrone (mini pill). My doctor put me on the mini pill because of my high blood pressure, which when I went to the doctor yesterday she said that my blood pressure seemed normal. I also looked up different reviews of my BC and was shocked to see there was another forum like this one of women discussing all of the issues they had while taking Norethindrone. I am really angry that even after I told the doctor I didn't like the pill she insisted on me trying it again!!! I am hoping that this whole experience will be for the better.
I was on Norethindrone (mini pill). My doctor put me on the mini pill because of my high blood pressure, which when I went to the doctor yesterday she said that my blood pressure seemed normal. I also looked up different reviews of my BC and was shocked to see there was another forum like this one of women discussing all of the issues they had while taking Norethindrone. I am really angry that even after I told the doctor I didn't like the pill she insisted on me trying it again!!! I am hoping that this whole experience will be for the better.
Hey Anna,
I forgot to ask you about your PMDD. You said you doctor thinks you might of developed PMDD because of all of this?
I forgot to ask you about your PMDD. You said you doctor thinks you might of developed PMDD because of all of this?