I'm not keen on medications in general - I avoid even taking pain killers unless I have to. I was put on valium when I was 11, and first presenting with symptoms of anxiety, and my doctor put me on a high dose of them, basically to shut me up and make me compliant. (This doctor was later struck off - oh, and I didn't actually take them.)
But, I've just started taking Sertraline (another SSRI). I'm going to have a fair wait to see a therapist, there's been a lot of stress lately to do with hub's job and loss of job, and my own work, and college, and I had a few major depressive / mood swinging / suicidal incidents during which I wasn't thinking clearly, so my doctor suggested them as a stop-gap till I'm having proper treatment (though officially I'm on them for anxiety and PTSD, not depression).
I'm also concerned about the idea of them numbing me too much, but I'm giving them a go. It helps me that the doctor has told me that if I don't get on with them, I should just stop taking them, and isn't making me feel pressurised to take them. He's aware of the valium-at-11 incident, and I think understands how distrustful I'd be of anybody forcing me to take pills.
I can't say about coming off them, obviously, as I haven't been taking them long - I don't think they've even taken effect yet fully (I feel no different anyhow).
Side effects-wise, so far I've had quite a bit of nausea, some dizziness, and some blurred vision. I'm leaving it a bit longer to see if they begin to wear off, as I've read often happens. The blurry vision is the one that will make me stop taking them if it doesn't stop, because I'm a dressmaker, so it would have the potential to stop me from working. but I'll give it another week or so.
I did find it interesting though, that when I mentioned in passing to a friend the other day that I was on pills, he suddenly took the fact that I wasn't well seriously, even though he already knew I'd been seeing the doctor about it (and about what)...
Oh, my doc also advised me to get somebody to keep an eye on my mood for the first couple of weeks, because a side effect can be depression - hub was prescribed a different anti depressant when he first started his treatment, and he became much much more depressed, to the point where he had to stop taking them altogether.
But, I've just started taking Sertraline (another SSRI). I'm going to have a fair wait to see a therapist, there's been a lot of stress lately to do with hub's job and loss of job, and my own work, and college, and I had a few major depressive / mood swinging / suicidal incidents during which I wasn't thinking clearly, so my doctor suggested them as a stop-gap till I'm having proper treatment (though officially I'm on them for anxiety and PTSD, not depression).
I'm also concerned about the idea of them numbing me too much, but I'm giving them a go. It helps me that the doctor has told me that if I don't get on with them, I should just stop taking them, and isn't making me feel pressurised to take them. He's aware of the valium-at-11 incident, and I think understands how distrustful I'd be of anybody forcing me to take pills.
I can't say about coming off them, obviously, as I haven't been taking them long - I don't think they've even taken effect yet fully (I feel no different anyhow).
Side effects-wise, so far I've had quite a bit of nausea, some dizziness, and some blurred vision. I'm leaving it a bit longer to see if they begin to wear off, as I've read often happens. The blurry vision is the one that will make me stop taking them if it doesn't stop, because I'm a dressmaker, so it would have the potential to stop me from working. but I'll give it another week or so.
I did find it interesting though, that when I mentioned in passing to a friend the other day that I was on pills, he suddenly took the fact that I wasn't well seriously, even though he already knew I'd been seeing the doctor about it (and about what)...
Oh, my doc also advised me to get somebody to keep an eye on my mood for the first couple of weeks, because a side effect can be depression - hub was prescribed a different anti depressant when he first started his treatment, and he became much much more depressed, to the point where he had to stop taking them altogether.
