Depression

Went to the doctor 2 weeks back due to a lack of sleep and mental fog, thought it was related to thyroid issues. He asks how my mood is/was and I pretty much broke down. 2 weeks later, been back to see him and been prescribed Sertraline. I've probably been hiding from it for 3 - 4 years but anxiety cripples me, probably kidded myself being down was just the way I was wired. Got a pretty senior job and that doesn't help I suppose. I'm nervous about taking medicine but anything it throws at me has to be better than being a bag of nerves, wide awake at 3 in the morning, regularly forgetting people's names at work and being a sad, irritable dad...

Just read through dozens of pages here, some very brave and inspiring folk....

Let me know how you get on with the Sertraline mate, I’m 6 weeks in now using it (dosage upped to 100mg two weeks ago) and I’d be interested to see what it does for you.
 


Let me know how you get on with the Sertraline mate, I’m 6 weeks in now using it (dosage upped to 100mg two weeks ago) and I’d be interested to see what it does for you.

Sleeping way better. First week was weird, took the medication in the morning and felt like I was off my tits around lunchtime, thst tapered away. Second week anxiety went through the roof which was nasty but that calmed. Just into third week now and honestly I don’t feel that different to when I wasn’t taking it. Perhaps a little calmer. Sleeping better is the biggest advantage just now. Due back at docs next week.
 
Sleeping way better. First week was weird, took the medication in the morning and felt like I was off my tits around lunchtime, thst tapered away. Second week anxiety went through the roof which was nasty but that calmed. Just into third week now and honestly I don’t feel that different to when I wasn’t taking it. Perhaps a little calmer. Sleeping better is the biggest advantage just now. Due back at docs next week.
I take that and have taken it nigh on 18 months now, for anxiety, and I, like you thought that was my lot, I was wired up like that. But the sertraline has done wonders for me. I still do get the odd anxiety spell, but can process it better, with less fog and I've actually rediscovered my devil may care attitude that I had in my 20s, and have a total 'ah fuck it' vibe, which I don't know if that's a good thing or not ha

It'll get better, persevere with the meds.
 
Sleeping way better. First week was weird, took the medication in the morning and felt like I was off my tits around lunchtime, thst tapered away. Second week anxiety went through the roof which was nasty but that calmed. Just into third week now and honestly I don’t feel that different to when I wasn’t taking it. Perhaps a little calmer. Sleeping better is the biggest advantage just now. Due back at docs next week.

Sounds similar to when I upped my dose to 100mg, anxiety was crippling for a week but that’s passed now thankfully. Anxiety is still there but some days I’m finding it’s really low to non existent which I’m hoping is a good sign. They do say it can take up to 8 weeks for the full therapeutic effect of it to take hold as well so fingers crossed.
 
I'm on prozac 40mg a day, stabilised my mood no end but I can't come whilst f***ing/wanking to save my life, apparently this is quite common but it's a hell of a drawback and I wonder if there are alternatives, anybody?
 
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I've steadily come to the realization after speaking to people at work, mates, family, the way i feel isn't normal and according to the therapist i've been seeing (for an unrelated matter), i've likely been masking depression since i was 13/14 years old.

Whats absolutely kicked the f***ing tits off me is in December i was diagnosed as having ASD, for someone who's known since they were 7 or 8 years old that they just didn't think the same, act the same of behave the same as everybody else it was a f***ing huge relief to finally have an answer to what i've suspected for 24 years of being fobbed off, told i was just attention seeking and being sent to behavioral therapists as i was a 'problem child' for most of my life.

The diagnosis literally floored me, i couldn't get out of bed, rang in sick from work, never moved for 6 days.
the same time i found the courage to go see someone about the autism diagnosis (therapist) because i didn't understand what my body was screaming out to me.
Got to get this month out the way first, then got an appointment with a mental health practitioner to assess my state of mind, funnily in all the time i've supposedly had depression, i've never felt suicidal or had dark thoughts so im lucky in that sense, but im just pissed off that i've needlessly been misled, ignored and deemed a nuisance by even my own family because it was just too much trouble to listen to me telling them i felt broken and abnormal to the rest of society, which exacerbated my Anxiety.
 
I'm on prozac 40mg a day, stabilised my mood no end but I can't come whilst f***ing/wanking to save my life, apparently this is quite common but it's a hell of a drawback and I wonder if there are alternatives, anybody?

I was on Prozac for a year or so, hated the stuff.

Just recently came off it onto duloxetine on a morning and trazadone on a night. Feel off my tits most of the time :lol:
 
Anyone here has experience with occupational health assessments whilst off work with depression?

I’ve been referred for one, as like I do in every situation I am having panic attacks and constant anxiety about them.
 
Anyone here has experience with occupational health assessments whilst off work with depression?

I’ve been referred for one, as like I do in every situation I am having panic attacks and constant anxiety about them.

I haven't but write it all down mate. Everything! How you are feeling, problems with coping, the anxiety, panics attacks, the lot. Take your time and do it over a few days, so you know you've got everything. Take the notes with you. You can either read from the notes in the appointment, or just give them the copy to read themselves. Take care xx
 
I haven't but write it all down mate. Everything! How you are feeling, problems with coping, the anxiety, panics attacks, the lot. Take your time and do it over a few days, so you know you've got everything. Take the notes with you. You can either read from the notes in the appointment, or just give them the copy to read themselves. Take care xx

Thanks mate, your advice on this thread has been so helpful to me and I’m sure many others.
 
Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline are both used in the treatment of premature ejaculation, so yeah, it's a very common side effect
Well neither are licensed for that indication in the UK however some anecdotal evidence in some US studies that it has made some marginal improvements and in the adverse event profile of each drug that side effect is classed as uncommon (>1,10,000)
 

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