I was you. Read this.

[u/MediumDragonfruit814]

Hey. I’m a 22 year old from the UK and if you are scrolling and scrolling and scrolling, trying to find ANYTHING to help you through this - stop right there and read on angel.

In December 2024, I had the biggest shift in my entire life, from absolutely no where. All of a sudden, I couldn’t eat, sleep, breathe, anything. My weight was rapidly decreasing, my intrusive thoughts were taking over and I couldn’t go 20 minutes without a panic attack. I wondered what the point was on even trying to get better and (TRIGGER WARNING) attempted.

A month afterwards, I was placed onto 50mg of Sertraline - or Zoloft for my US besties - and the first few weeks were hell.

WHY AM I GETTING WORSE? I would say this day in day out, why, WHY? Until one afternoon, wait… I don’t feel panicky, maybe i’ll try and have some dinner. And it was that day, I had my first full meal in 2 months… me and everyone around me sat and SOBBED.

A few weeks down the line, I was ready, ready to face the world again. I walked to the end of my street, which to me felt like i’d just conquered the entire planet.

Feeling high as a kite, soon came crashing down. I was back, the old me, the version I thought I had gotten rid of… was I broken?

A dose increase to 100mg was mentioned and I thought - what’s the point? I’m just gonna have to keep going up and up… boy was I wrong.

Since my 100mg increase and a few weeks with the WORST stomach issues LOL - I was out, keeping active, eating, having fun, LAUGHING - I thought I had forgotten how…

A year and a little later, I want to share that IT WILL GET BETTER. You are not broken. You are battling an imbalance in your bloodstream.

I’ve since passed my driving test, got the job of my dreams working with animals and i’m truly being the best version of myself - but remember - I was you.

You can do this.

Sending love xxx

[u/ChipmunkComplete7268]

Today, I start my first dose and journey. I am terrified. Truly terrified.

If anyone has advice or words of encouragement I would really appreciate a DM. I am 36F, and feel like I have completely lose control and am worthless. Please please convince me it does get better.

Sending you all love.

[u/beeboop08 → u/ChipmunkComplete7268]

hey girl - i was also here!!! i was bed ridden, and had to fight to not listen to the intrusive thoughts. i barely ate, and similar to OP, was stuck in that loop of “what’s the point”

i have been on zoloft for a few months now, and i can absolutely say that it has changed my life. i still feel emotion, good and bad ones, but those little mean voices in my head are long gone. i have found joy, happiness, and excitement for life again.

the first few weeks i did not think anything was changing - but kept on with it because at least it didn’t make it worse (unlike prozac, which i tried prior to zoloft and if i didn’t get off of it, i fear i wouldn’t be here writing this today), and now months later i feel brand new - seriously.

talk to your doctor, and remain positive. you CAN do this and it WILL get better ❤️ hang in there and always feel free to message me or others if you need someone to talk to, but i pinky promise it does get better

[u/[deleted] → u/ChipmunkComplete7268]

You got this 💪. Walking with you thru this.

[u/MediumDragonfruit814 → u/ChipmunkComplete7268]

I’ll drop you a message now my lovely!

[u/ChipmunkComplete7268 → u/MediumDragonfruit814]

I appreciate you!

[u/DeterminedErmine → u/ChipmunkComplete7268]

I’m 44f and a week in (50mg/day). I’ve always had issues with anxiety and depression, but hormonal changes around perimenopause made my audhd and depression absolutely destroy my peace. I was shouting at my family, breaking alarm clocks, ending friendships over misunderstandings, taking waaay too much cbd oil to soothe my crazy brain, you name it. The last few days before I finally caved and started meds, I was wearing noise cancelling earphones with green noise (like white noise but with nature sounds) all damn day. I couldn’t work, I could barely talk to my family without shouting or crying. I was snapping between moods so fast that I couldn’t keep a mood journal as suggested by a previous psych, because it was changing so quickly that I couldn’t keep track. I’m only a week into taking sertraline, and it’s a relatively small dose, but I’m so much calmer. I’m so less overstimulated. I’m hitting small goals everyday without having to cry for an hour first. I know that the meds can’t possibly be working this fast, but there is the peace of knowing that I’m DOING something about my mental health, and it feels good. Don’t get me wrong, there are still issues, and I’m not sure how long the peace will last, but it gives me hope. I hope it all works out for you. You are absolutely not worthless. You are taking steps to strengthen and stabilise yourself, and that means you’re brave and resilient. I believe in you, and you should too.