[Miss Stressed]

...is what I was just diagnosed with today. Feels like a great weight lifted from my shoulders. All along I felt I had so many problems and all these unrelated symptoms, but it was all this one disorder; I'm normal and not crazy or a hypochondriac, just have some serious anxiety. Now I just wonder where I go from here. I'm a senior in college, trying to get into a Masters program (but my grades have been slipping so my application was differed), doing interviews for an internship next spring (no wonder I've noticed my anxiety more), working a high-stress job... so I guess I'm wondering if the anxiety has been the cause of my grades dropping and me finding any way to get out of work and that medicine will help with that? I used to be a straight A student and was doing great things, but now I feel like I'm barely keeping up now a days and I want to go back to my old self. My doctor wants to put me on Zoloft, anyone have experience with it?

[InkHeart]

I've had a little experience with zoloft, and I found that it actually increased my anxiety, while helping my depression. The good effects of it only lasted for about a month with me, and if I didn't take it at the exact same time during the day, everyday, then I couldn't function at all. So, for me, it didn't work. But it could be good for you!

[benson123]

I recently was diagnosed with gad as well. In the past I used Prozac and a few weeks ago I was put on paxil. I had good results for several years with Prozac but had some side effects but it helped with depression. Now that my anxiety is more of the problem paxil seems to be helping with almost no side effects. I have not used zoloft. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. Sounds like you have a lot going on....Sounds like me a few years back....full time job...part time job...full time school....My advice is try not to be too hard on yourself and talk to your doctor. I wish you well with your schooling and decision.

Clonazepam works wonders but it's highly addictive and apparently can be really terrible to go off of (I haven't tried) so there's pros and cons to that. Add cymbalta to that and I have almost no anxiety…but I have what I consider a bad side effect from it, but since it won't hurt me physically (only mentally), the doctor doesn't care.

So…meds can work, but to find the cocktail that works without too much of a tradeoff is difficult.

I used to take Zoloft a long time ago, but I don't remember it much so I'm thinking it didn't help much, but didn't have any horrible side effects either.