[brsapp]

Has anyone taken this for intrusive thoughts/anxiety? Experience?? Just started 25 mg today

[*Laurie*]

Yes, I take Zoloft for depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts. I'm on 150mg. When I tried to go up to 200mg. I became very anxious - but that is probably an odd reaction. Zoloft has helped my depression, unfortunately I can't say it's done much for anxiety and intrusive thoughts. It's helped a bit, but not remarkably. Zoloft is supposed to treat those problems, though.

[triplewater11]

Originally Posted by brsapp

Has anyone taken this for intrusive thoughts/anxiety? Experience?? Just started 25 mg today

Hi there!

I currently just re-started zoloft for the 3rd time. I have had great success with it in the past and am hoping I will again soon, too. I had generalized anxiety and health anxiety (I always thought I was developing a scary illness). Lately the health anxiety skyrocketing, probably due to life transitions, and I am back on. My side effects this time around seem worse, probably because the Dr didn't start me at 25mg first before raising to 50mg. He jumped to 50mg because I had been on it before and because he felt like I needed it. I started it last Friday (and also went back on a beta blocker, and have been taking a benzo for insomnia which I am trying to stop so I think my body misses it) so I'm having a weird combo of symptoms. For the zoloft, the biggest symptoms I notice are acid reflux, loss of appetite, and perhaps contributing to the insomnia a bit. But, in the daytime, my mood is greatly improved. I don't ruminate on stuff as much, and I have moments of clarity when I can literally just admire a flower or be happy to be walking outside when its sunny, little stuff. I had intrusive thoughts about health issues, I know yours might be different, but it just takes the edge off, and also helps me catch my tendency to get caught in perseverative/ruminating loops.

I hope you have a positive experience too! It is worth a try. Are you in therapy too? I have an ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) psychologist, and she's going to start doing exposure therapy with me for panic, as well as tie in biofeedback. I am optimistic this will help.

[brsapp]

Originally Posted by triplewater11

Hi there!

I currently just re-started zoloft for the 3rd time. I have had great success with it in the past and am hoping I will again soon, too. I had generalized anxiety and health anxiety (I always thought I was developing a scary illness). Lately the health anxiety skyrocketing, probably due to life transitions, and I am back on. My side effects this time around seem worse, probably because the Dr didn't start me at 25mg first before raising to 50mg. He jumped to 50mg because I had been on it before and because he felt like I needed it. I started it last Friday (and also went back on a beta blocker, and have been taking a benzo for insomnia which I am trying to stop so I think my body misses it) so I'm having a weird combo of symptoms. For the zoloft, the biggest symptoms I notice are acid reflux, loss of appetite, and perhaps contributing to the insomnia a bit. But, in the daytime, my mood is greatly improved. I don't ruminate on stuff as much, and I have moments of clarity when I can literally just admire a flower or be happy to be walking outside when its sunny, little stuff. I had intrusive thoughts about health issues, I know yours might be different, but it just takes the edge off, and also helps me catch my tendency to get caught in perseverative/ruminating loops.

I hope you have a positive experience too! It is worth a try. Are you in therapy too? I have an ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) psychologist, and she's going to start doing exposure therapy with me for panic, as well as tie in biofeedback. I am optimistic this will help.

Hi! I started the 25 mg yesterday and it made me feel like warm and tingly in my ears and arms and hands and pretty energized but still had the thoughts. I woke up in the middle of the night with worse thoughts but it was like I had no emotion to them..almost like I wasn't me. Pretty scary. I'm so scared to take the second pill this morning. Is this normal?

[triplewater11]

Originally Posted by brsapp

Hi! I started the 25 mg yesterday and it made me feel like warm and tingly in my ears and arms and hands and pretty energized but still had the thoughts. I woke up in the middle of the night with worse thoughts but it was like I had no emotion to them..almost like I wasn't me. Pretty scary. I'm so scared to take the second pill this morning. Is this normal?

Yes, I would say it's normal. It does initially exacerbate anxiety and can cause other issues, like stomach problems. They say that the initial side affects take at least 2 weeks before they resolve, however, I have had luck in feeling better after less than that. Perhaps understanding that the increase in your symptoms is a temporary side affect might help normalize it a bit, but I understand worsening thoughts and anxiety can be scary and frustrating.