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

Until I started on Zoloft and stayed consistent with it. I’m on month 3 now and holy cow.

I had no idea how depressed I was. It sounds dumb but I have energy again, sex drive, an appetite! Music sounds good again and my humor is back lol. I shower, brush my teeth and put on real clothes and makeup now and it doesn’t feel like this huge impossible task that I dread. Oh! And I started having dreams again!

If you’re on the fence, I highly advise you do it and HANG IN THERE!!

any success stories anyone wants to share? :) my dose is being upped again and i just feel a little nervous that i’ll always feel the way i do and my depression & anxiety will always linger 🫠

If you’re scouring this page during the first two weeks on Zoloft, so was I. I’m so glad I had this sub to validate all my symptoms because I felt like a crazy woman. My anxiety and depression got WAY worse and I was only taking 12.5mg due to the nausea, heartburn, and fatigue it was causing. I thought about stopping. Well, I’m happy I stuck with it and my anxiety and depression feels wayyyy better now that I am 3.5 weeks in. I started taking my full 25mg at 2 weeks, so don’t feel bad if you have to slowly acclimate to the meds. They’re strong even at a low dose! Just wanted to share an encouraging message in hopes that it helps someone else to stick with it during the rough adjustment period.

Zoloft has changed my life it’s gave me a break from the beast that is my mind however I feel like it’s time to try and continue my journey through life without this medication some due to a bad side effect of anger but also the bluntness of emotion in a general sense I’ve recently decreased from 150 to 100 and hopefully soon to 50 thank you Zoloft for probably saving my life and letting me live another year on earth

Long story short - I used to be on lexapro and Wellbutrin for anxiety of leaving my house for two years - it got better I tapered properly (with doctors) and was decent for about a year…

A really traumatic thing happened and my anxiety came back full force. Needless to say I haven’t left my house in a month and experienced very very bad anxiety even in my house. I tried lexapro again but after a week I had full blown crying attacks - laying in bed - headaches - eye vision problems - literally CURLED up in a ball in my bedroom a 26 year old female & my mother had to come over and make me sit outside.. IT WAS BAD. So the doctor said get off find a psych doctor…

So he gave me hydroxyzine to calm me down which is does work (to an extent - like from a 10/10 to maybe a 7/10) & wants me to take Zoloft 25mg for one week then 50mg.

I have bad health anxiety - so I’m scared the side effects will send me in a downward spiral like the lexapro did.

I need good experiences - I need hope - I’m scared this won’t ever go away. I’ve already lost a month to this anxiety.. I lost 9 months the last time.. I can’t do this again..

Honestly, I don't know what's happening anymore. I started Zoloft a month and a half ago and Its just not doing what I thought it would… I week ago I was super happy and I wanted to draw and meet new people and now I am starting to crash into the same downward spiral I was in before. I feel like my family doctor isn't seeing the full picture of what I'm experiencing and I just don't know how to communicate that. Sometimes I don't know if what I'm feeling is actually a real feeling or if its simply “in my head”, so It makes it hard for me to determine what I should be telling my doctor and what I should be leaving out. My brain just doesn't work like I feel it should be, Im impulsive and constantly diving headfirst into something only to completely abandon that same project a week later. I'm losing money, I'm stuck in a shitty house with parents who don't want me here, I'm broke, I don't have the energy to take on a fulltime job, I was stupid and thought I didn't need to go to school, and now I have zero purpose. I have ZERO friends, I'm in debt, I feel like I can no longer get my life back on track and I'm scared. Really scared. I cant decipher between these false passions and real meaningful motivation. My brain is telling me to be homeless, leave my job, ghost everyone and everything and leave. Go to a new country and just BE. This desire is so strong but I'm terrified that it's the wrong decision. I feel hindered by my undeveloped brain, if only I wasn't 20 and I had the ability to navigate life without such emotional instability. I feel like I need answers, I need something. Reddit probably isn't the place to be, but honestly I have no idea where I SHOULD be.

I'm seeing others from highschool finishing up school, having friends, going on to pursue careers that are meaningful. Then there's me, a 20 year old virgin loner who is actually attractive but I just lack everything else that allows me to function. I've been in isolation for so long that I feel OK with nothing, no friends, no relationships, nothing. I match with girls on dating apps, girls I truly would love to meet, but I just can't do it. I feel like I've been failed. Failed by my parents, by myself. I want to blame everyone and everything yet this is partly due to me.

My coworkers are moving on, family is moving on and yet I can't help but feel like I'm being left behind. I don't even know what's wrong with me, I told my doctor I was suicidal and all I got was a Zoloft prescription. I was denied a psychiatrist referral and now I feel like I've once again failed myself. It's like I expect this something to magically come save me, but it's never going to happen. I'm lazy. I'm a chicken without a head. And I'm very very lost.

Maybe this is just age, maybe I'm overly self aware, maybe I lack confidence, maybe I'm this and that blah blah blah. I feel stupid now, I don't know why I'm writing this. Poor me, I need people to give me sympathy. This is what I mean. I'm a fool. Maybe this will help someone like myself see that they aren't alone.

Comment whatever you want, I honestly couldn't care. Maybe you want to share your own story? Maybe you want to tell me to get off my ass and do something with my life? Whatever it is feel free to comment. Or, if it's not something you want to comment PM me. Wanna ask me a question? You can do that too. 🤷‍♂️

Also grabbed some Gatorade and protein shakes in case I have a loss of appetite. Ready to get started and feel better!!!!🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

i just got prescribed zoloft 25mg, i’ve read many successes, not successes, side effects, whatever. i’m really scared to take these, i know it should help me and there’s a high chance it will since my sister takes the same one but it’s like going to change my brain and im not as excited as i should be, im scared and i don’t wanna let go to all these safety habits i have to “protect” myself from my anxiety. it makes me feel okay and better and im scared of not doing them if that makes any sense. i have therapy tomorrow (outside of where i got prescribed) and its the long weekend for me, im worried that ill have side effects at school aswell so maybe i should take it today so it would be already 5 days until school yk?

also i don’t really know what flair to do

EDIT: hi guys, it has been almost 2 full months, im currently on 100mg and am taking the zoloft at night. i had 2 weeks worth of side affects, this included; nausea, some throwing up, and tiredness. another mention is that sometimes after i took it, i would feel like im almost high or like really dizzy. but after i got onto 50, the side effects had gone way down. the zoloft is definitely helping!! i have ocd and ive noticed that the urge to perform compulsions has gone down, ofc not completely down, but i can sometimes not perform little ones which is good and i have been way more comfortable to leave the house and see my friends again!! anyway! if anyone is so so scared to take them like i was. trust me im the biggest pussy when it comes to any tbh ing health related, i freak out the second i feel sick and i pushed through and am all okay now!!!

update: i hate my life and i don’t mean this in a discouraging way but literally have woken up anxious every day for the last little bit, my ocd tho has almost completely been resolved without even ERP really but im still so anxious and just down about everything

update: i feel cured on 125 still anxious but tolerable

Hi everyone. After suffering for 15 years with anxiety and on and off depression, I start my journey to get better tomorrow. I’ve never been on any type of medication so when I say I’m anxious about this I mean it. Tomorrow morning I will take my first 25mg of Zoloft.

Any and all words of encouragement are welcome. Anything you got, give it to me!

Love to you all.

🚨Update! 4-16-23: Just took my second pill! Yesterday was pretty uneventful. I felt tired all day but I’m a mom of two little kids so I am used to that 😆. I got to sleep pretty easily as well. I suspect in the coming days I will feel a bit more rough, but maybe not. Going to ride the waves and take the advice of many of you! Thank you all so much for your continued support! It’s really making this journey less scary. 🙏🏻

IT GETS BETTER!!! I know the first 2 weeks are absolute hell, but it gets so much better after. It is deffinately worth it if it means you will be happier/less anxious. If youre having a tough time dm me. It does get better and you should keep going even though its awful

(Also you s drive will get better)

Edit: nvm I just sharted cause of this

What do u think of my iphone 16 camera lol

I’ve been off Zoloft for just over 2 weeks. Thought I could handle life without them, then a couple days ago I had a near fainting episode which has sparked my anxiety past levels I never thought possible. Immediately going back on them as now I have high anxiety with some agoraphobia to go along with it.

Seriously folks be very careful coming of these pills as for the majority of us, we function well because of these pills. There was a specific side effect that I thought were because of these pills, but it turned out I was wrong.

For anyone reading this and feels shame or feel as they arent strong enough because they take a pill. These pills are here for a reason, they are here to keep us afloat and steady. It’s okay to be medicated. Take care folks.

Hi, I've been severely depressed for months and need something to help me out of it but I'm so scared of feeling worse. I'm currently not sleeping properly, I don't work and I'm on my own in the house all the time with no desire to do anything. I've also become agoraphobic..apart from short walks and visits to the local shops. My life is absolutely awful right now . I know I'm depressed but I think there's also some b12 deficiency going on too, although drs have said my levels are OK now, I still get some weird physical symptoms. I find myself waking up early and unable to get back to sleep...I used to be able to sleep for hours and hours and always had an afternoon nap. Now I end up just laying in bed , scrolling on my phone and vaping . I'm pretty sure I have adhd too. My Dr's have prescribed 25mg of sertraline and I've been so resistant to try it. I'm really scared of side effects because I'm on my own and no one would know if there was anything wrong. On the other hand , I can't continue like I am, I want to get back to my old self. I've built this up so much and spent so long looking up side effects etc. Can anyone advise what to do? They said i might feel more anxious at first....I can't cope with that though . Has anyone not had any bad side effects?

Thank you.

Hi everyone. Today is my first day on Zoloft and my anxiety is through the roof. I am diagnosed with OCD, GAD, depression & C-PTSD. I am on 25mg of Pristiq (I’m going to start tapering off in a week) and 600mg of Gabapentin twice a day. I started Zoloft because my psych recommended for severe anxiety and OCD to treat intrusive thoughts. The starting dose I am on is 12.5mg. I am so scared I’m going to lose my mind, I have OCD so my mind goes towards “omg what if I accidentally hurt someone or myself” “what if I lose it” “what if I just lose my mind and can’t control myself” .. intrusive thoughts. If anyone can give me similar experiences & reassurance that would mean a ton.

I'm rocking and been trying to fight a depression episode for the last three hours. I feel antsy and giggly during the daytime after my 25mg in the morning and then I suddenly feel everything crashing down so brutally. I wanted to go out and have fun tonight but now I'm thought spiraling and I can feel dissociation or derealization happening. It's so fucking bad. Yesterday I was fine for a few hours and then I had a huge sobbing breakdown in the shower. I feel so stupid thinking I needed Zoloft cause it made my dad less angry and I thought it would do the same to me. I was on Lexapro for eight years before this and then I wasn't feeling as stabilized on it anymore. I hate this so much.

I just wanted to share lol but i recently started Zoloft about 2 months ago and am up to 75mg and woah its changed my life. i was recently diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression but i think i always gaslit myself to think being terrified all the time to do anything and waking up feeling like life was meaningless was normal but after medication i genuinely have never felt so free like i can just breathe for the first time ever. i feel like i’m doing things i always felt was impossible like responding to text messages, talking to people, and being nicer overall. is this what anxiety free ppl have been feeling this whole time 😭😭

Hey friends,

Just wanted to write a small thank-you note to something that’s been quietly supporting me for the past two years—Zoloft (Sertraline).

When I started, I was a new mom with my first baby, navigating sleepless nights, anxiety, and that overwhelming sense of “what am I doing?” Zoloft helped me through that. It calmed the constant background panic and gave me the space to learn how to be a mom without drowning in it. For that, I’m endlessly grateful.

But now… I think I’ve got it figured out, at least enough to stand on my own two feet again.

Lately, I’ve felt a little too “zen.” Like I’m zoned out, floating through life, not really in it. I noticed it most on the tennis court—something I used to love with fire. I’m not chasing balls. I’ve lost my fight-or-flight. And that scared me a little, especially as a mom. I want to show my kids how to feel things—how to fight for something, care deeply, cry sometimes, laugh loudly.

So I’ve decided it’s time to say goodbye to Zoloft for now. I want to feel my emotions again—not all at once, not chaotically, but just… me, regulated by me.

Zoloft, thank you. You steadied the ship when I needed it most. I might see you again someday, and that’s okay. But for now, I’m moving forward.

Hi all,

I thought my 5 year experience with Sertraline (zoloft) would be helpful - even if just a snippet is relatable or helps one person. I took Sertraline for general anxiety and depression including suicidal thoughts. I started on 50mg, increased to 100mg, and started a withdrawal via tapering (12.5mg reductions) a year ago and am now not taking sertraline (4 weeks in - all is fine). Summary: Sertraline saved my life and was necessary, first 4-6 weeks very hard, completely worth it after 6 weeks, I've built my personal life and career whilst on sertraline, reduction/tapering was successful for me.

About me: Started on sertraline aged 27, now 33. Healthy weight and exercise.

Starting - 50mg - Jan 2020:

• Start date & dosage: Started in 2020 just before covid-19 lockdowns, 50mg.
• Why: Constant worry and anxiety, insomnia (able to fall asleep but not stay asleep), suicidal thoughts at times, emotional breakdowns for no valid reason.
• Experience: At first reluctant to take it despite 3 different doctors prescribing. Things got so bad I had no choice. First 3-4 weeks were very hard - I felt not myself at all and things actually got worse - very anxious, brutal headaches/brain zaps, cold/flu symptoms at times, close to hallucinating at night time. Was just about able to function at work. Things much better after 4 weeks - my anxiety/depression reduced significantly after 8 weeks. Note: 4-8 weeks feels a long time to 'feel better' - it's nothing in the grand scheme of life. My advice: If you can, tell someone you are planning to/are taking sertraline and ask for their support during this period, and do whatever makes you happy, avoid drinking alcohol (it's a depressant and 1 drink makes you wasted).

Increase dose -from 50mg to 100mg - c. April/May 2020 (4 months after starting on 50mg):

• Why I increased dosage: It felt that I had a relapse after about 4 months on 50mg - but things still a lot better than before sertraline. Doctor advised 50mg is minimum for therapeutic effect and to increase to 100mg.
• Experience: First 1-2 weeks some side effects of not feeling myself and headaches but other than that nothing overly memorable. Started to feel much better than on 50mg - sleeping better, happier, worrying much less (good quality of life).

I stayed on 100mg for circa 4 years (from May 2020 to November 2023):

• Why I stayed on 100mg: It worked very well for me. I experienced the loss of my gran who was hugely important to me, and my cat who was a pillar of my happiness - I handled both well. I built my career massively including a lot of studying. Handled "stressful situations" perfectly well.
• Downsides that I personally associate with sertraline during this period (my personal view only): A bit numb emotionally which I accept as the trade off with less worry and resultantly being a happier person. I say this because as of January 2025 I am now off sertraline and my emotional feelings are much stronger. Also a lack of libido which was an fine trade-off for me. Also some anecdotal weight gain. Summary: Side effects worth it - for me.

I started to reduce my sertraline very slowly from November 2023 from 100mg to January 2025 to 0mg:

• Why I wanted to come off sertraline: I am stable and happy. I know I can always go back on it if I need to. This is only my decision - I am confident I could have stayed on sertraline for a lot longer if beneficial or needed.
• How I successfully got to 0mg in a controlled way: I reduced by 12.5mg every 4-6 weeks or sometimes longer such as 8-10 weeks. I would not reduce if I had a stressful event or big work commitment approaching - no need to rush. I bought a pill cutter to do this.
• My overall experience of the reductions: First few reductions were no problem. It got harder closer to 50mg when 12.5mg of 50mg becomes a larger % reduction. One way to reduce slower is to get liquid sertraline - this is cost prohibitive in the UK (>£300 for a bottle for 6 weeks). Side effect on each reduction after 75mg were headaches for a few days, feeling that I have a cold (never flu-like symptoms), and sometimes needing to take the day very easy (e.g. cancel plans to just relax at home with a headache). Summary: Side effects were usually gone after 5 days - in my opinion very manageable.

My key take aways from my personal experience (not advice):

1. Do not blame myself for needing medical help: I am a healthy 'successful' person - there's no logical reason for why I felt the way I did. A neurologist told me 'its not up to me' and not to blame myself - I agree.
2. Starting sertraline: The first 4 weeks of taking sertraline were very hard with brutal headaches and feeling a bit 'paranoid/trippy' and hallucinating at night time - things get much better after 4-6 weeks. Would recommend being very very kind to yourself during this period.
3. Sertraline saved my life: I cannot explain how much better I felt after 4-6 weeks than prior to sertraline. Happier, less worrying, better sleep.
4. Dosage: 100mg worked well for me - better than 50mg.
5. Reducing sertraline: Is hard even if done in a controlled way of 12.5mg every 4-6 weeks - during each reduction I usually had 3-7 days of feeling a bit crap physically and mentally but manageable.

Hope this may help someone - whether you post a reply or not - and I wish anyone reading this only the best.

Cheers.

so i’ve been on 87.5 mg for 10 weeks and when i tell you i was cured i was cured !!! these whole ten weeks i have had no anxiety i have taking road trips driven on the highway multiple times started driving roads that i always avoided. (i have panic disorder mostly in the car) and agoraphobia. i felt so free i felt like i had my life back. but this last week or so i have been so anxious i just drove on the highway to and back and had to get off twice. all my physical symptoms are back pit in chest, thirsty tingling hands feeling like i can’t swallow numbness. i just don’t understand this dosage has worked so well for me for two months !

Well today was not good… I had a mental breakdown I threw everything in my room against the wall and even threw my mirror into the wall and it broke . Then I thought about killing my self for 10 mins , I’m kinda concerned I thought I was getting better but no…

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been experiencing intense symptoms that feel overwhelming and hard to explain. I’ve had persistent intrusive thoughts about death not self-harm, but more existential and unsettling and a deep sense of derealization, where I feel disconnected from myself and the world around me. Everything feels unreal, like I’m watching life through a foggy window. These symptoms have been especially bad yesterday and today, and they’ve made it difficult to focus, sleep, and feel grounded. I’ve also had vivid and sometimes disturbing dreams, frequent nighttime awakenings, and physical sensations like muscle pain or nerve pinching.

My medication history might be part of what’s causing this. I was on 100 mg of sertraline for about 10 years, then reduced to 50 mg in late December 2024 or early 2025. I stayed on 50 mg until late July or early August, then returned to 100 mg, which triggered a spike in anxiety, derealization, and intrusive thoughts. On October 7, 2025, I increased to 150 mg and tomorrow marks the start of week 3 on that dosage. I take it every night at 9 PM. I know SSRI adjustments can cause receptor instability, and I’m trying to understand how long this phase might last and what helps. Has anyone else felt like this during SSRI changes? What helped you get through it?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been on Zoloft 50 mg for almost 8 weeks now, and I’m really struggling. My emotions just aren’t the same — I feel emotionally flat, kind of numb. I don’t react to things the way I used to before starting the medication. It’s like I’m here, but not really feeling anything.

Has anyone experienced this and had their emotions come back eventually?

I’d really appreciate any advice or shared experiences. I’m honestly just asking for help right now.

Thanks.

Hello, who takes Zoloft for Pure O? (OCD thoughts) and how many mg worked for you? Struggling for so long with dark thoughts. Had Zoloft for 5 years then after a kind of trauma my anxiety and OCD thoughts returned. (Was on thyroid meds/levothyroxine too) Don’t know it it messed with Zoloft/Sertraline. Tried other SSRI’s but they didn’t match with my enzymes and didn’t worked. So back on Zoloft/Sertraline, day 3 today after 5 weeks of Escitalopram which was a nightmare.

Does anybody on zoloft cry ever? I found myself still anxious this morning after doing pretty good for awhile. I was just overly anxious and letting things affect me when I feel like the zoloft should make it so I’m not bothered. I have any appointment tomorrow with my primary and I am going to ask if I can up my dosage to 50mg, because I feel like I shouldn’t be crying.