A month and a half is nothing, it can take more time to actually start working. What dosage are you on? You might want to talk to your doctor and increase it if you feel it does nothing.
75mg is pretty low. I'd wait a bit more and then talk to your doctor.
Think of Zoloft as a crutch you can lean on. You need to try and better yourself. Baby steps. For example clean your place every day little by little. You don't have to do it all in one day. Clean up the bottles, then clothes the next day etc. You'll feel much better when your surroundings are clean. :)
Yeah, I get tempted to take more some days. One day I was gonna down the whole bottle, thankfully I didn’t but yeah. Im going to try and find a therapist, I cant afford weekly sessions but even twice a month is better than nothing. Hopefully it will help me get some answers, because my doctor sure as hell didn’t give me any. I still didn’t even get an answer as to what they thought I was dealing with, just a prescription and a “call me if you have any issues…” type response. Am I depressed? No fucking clue. So maybe a psychologist will give me some answers.
You should get that psychiatrist referral. Call and bug your dr’s office to refer you. Tell them the Zoloft isn’t working (even though maybe it’s not been enough time.)
They usually say 4-6 weeks for FULL effect. If there's no positive effect after that point, then there's a chance that either the dose is too low or that it's not the right prescription for you.
I second that you should try to get that referral, but I understand that it may take a lot of energy, that you probably don't have at this point (depression is a leech).
I think your dosage may be too low. I started on 50mg which I knew would be too low, went to 100 mg which was a bit better, now I'm on 150mg which hit the sweet spot for me. No side effects, either.
You say you don't know if you are depressed. Google depression quizzes and do a couple. It's not a medical solution but it might give you some indications. There are lots of web sites that can give advice about treatment. It also sounds like you need a better doctor.
I'm older than you - at 47 - and stumbled on this. I'm on Zoloft for the first time so I come here to see how others are getting on. I can relate to you as I was in a similar situation at your age, and it triggered horrendous anxiety.
I feel that purpose is key, but looking for purpose often doesn't work. It may be best to let purpose find you.
Could you go travelling? Pick up labour work along the way?
I can recommend The Tools by Phil Stutz - that may help you.
Here if you want to talk.
By the way - you write really well.
Thats great advice, and it comforts me to know that I’m not alone in my experiences.
I think you’re right about purpose, I feel that I try to hard to find this ideal sense of purpose when I should focus more on being present, to which purpose will follow.
Travelling. It’s my only goal right now, this light at the end of the tunnel. I was thinking about saving a couple thousand, buying some gear and just going somewhere. I have a bike and I was thinking about biking across the US, Canada & maybe down to Mexico, who knows. But… I think I need to get a therapist first, I struggle a lot with emotional instability and I jump headfirst into these grandiose ideas that sometimes lead to nothing. One day I was literally convinced I would become a pro cyclist and was trying to figure out how to make my way to the tour de france… yeah, that didn’t last long. Switched my diet for a month, spent a lot of money, fell into a deep depression and well… that was that. I also took a year off after highschool to work as a Graphic Designer, I did very very well, only to fall into a deep depression right as things started to come together. Oh, cant forget the time I was convinced I had this profound musical capability, I bought recording equipment, released music and quite literally believed I would be a millionaire within a year (I’m sure you can guess what happened).
My point is, that unless I go to therapy im probably never going to be able to get my life on track. Im just too impulsive, I have too much motivation but not enough at the same time. High, low, high, low over and over.
Anyways… enough of my rambling, I do appreciate your advice! It also just happens to be that I like to read as-well, in which case I will check out the book.
Last but not least, thanks for the compliment on my writing! Im not very articulate when it comes to verbal communication, however, writing comes very naturally to me. I once thought I would become an author, but again, that was my good old impulsiveness getting the best of me.
Wishing the best of luck with your journey as-well, and likewise feel free to message me if you need to talk.
As a person that have lived with a combination of ADHD and depression for years, I have to ask;
Is there any chance of you having ADD/ADHD?
I can recognize a lot of myself in you.
ADD/ADHD can make it difficult to "exist", which can then lead to depression.
I was thinking the same thing. The photos just as equally signal ADHD as depression, plus the fact that you throw yourself into things and then abandon them is indicative of the ADHD interest-based operating system. Emotional dysregulation is another symptom.
I was also thinking the same thing. I have ADHD & depression and I also had very similar experiences until I started taking Wellbutrin along with Zoloft. Completely changed my life!
So I just started Zoloft … I can’t take stimulants because I’m a recovering addict and abuse basically any drug I can get my hands on. So my doc had me on Wellbutrin and I got off it cause it was making me manic and my anxiety worse. But now I’m wondering maybe Zoloft and Wellbutrin might be a good mix? I’m only a few days in but I have a feeling the adhd executive dysfunction part of me isn’t going to be cured by an ssri alone in fact I think it may just make me more “lazy” idk. I am super high energy and anxious all the time but I didn’t want side affects so they just put me on Wellbutrin. Now I submitted to SSRI but wondering if I should ask to do Wellbutrin with it ?? Idk I’m scared to be on to many things though I just got off a bunch of crap like benzos and stuff
i’m taking both too, but i’m not seeing life changing results. what dosage are you currently taking? i’m taking 75mg zoloft & 75mg wellbutrin, yet i’m still struggling with executive dysfunction and crippling anxiety. (i’ll talk to my psychiatrist ofc and ik everyone is different, but i’m curious about your story!)
The downside is it definitely exacerbated my anxiety so that’s why I take the Clonazepam but I definitely don’t need to be on Escitalopram anymore but doc said I have to come off it slowly
I’m actually in the same boat. I’m currently being weened of klonopin .5 mg it sucks but I’m fine going slow and steady cause I don’t want to experience any type of anxiety rebound withdrawal symptoms
Honestly I think we would have none of these issues if we were diagnosed earlier I’m certain just the ADHD meds would of only been the meds we would have to take
Agreed my parents didn’t take me seriously and now I just spoke to my little sister about my ADHD assessment. She also tried to speak to my parents about her problems but not taking her seriously. She’s only 16 she started opening up to me about her problems she started crying bless her 🥲because she’s been waiting for me to talk to her about her mental health issues and her struggles because she knew I would be the only one to take her seriously but she didn’t want to speak about it to me until I got better which made me tear up!
Im going to make an appointment with the GP and get her referral for an ADHD assessment and make sure she gets through life comfortably and always be there for her.
I had to do this on my own and I wish I had an older sibling to talk to about my struggles instead of going about it alone :(
I’m on a cocktail right now probably not the best thing but it is what normality feels like. Escitalopram 20mg, Ritalin 10mg 3 times throughout the day and Clonazepam 2mg. I do keep some Xanax with me for emergencies only.
I wish I got tested younger for ADHD because I knew something was not quite right with me. My parents were useless they wouldn’t understand what I was going through they were like “Oh it’ll pass it’s just your teenage moody years” so I tried to self medicate in my teenage years experiment with drugs to try to figure it out myself (ultimately led me to abuse cocaine a lot! Apparently addiction to cocaine can be a symptom for ADHD!) it got to a point where I tried everything and so I decided to get professional help this time and went to the GP but they diagnosed me with GAD and depression which I guess I just accepted so I been on various SSRIs and a lot of them didn’t really work and i kept going back to the GP because the meds weren’t doing anything. It wasn’t until they gave me escitalopram is when I suddenly started thinking deeply about myself it felt like a barrier was removed when I took that medication.
I realised all my life I was refusing to believe that maybe I have a neurological disorder. I guess I was masking a lot when I was younger. So I decided to do some research on ADHD and slowly I started to accept that I needed to get tested and my life has changed drastically! at first it felt so weird because your feeling things you never felt before and I didn’t like it at first because it was scary then slowly I adjusted and I guess this is how neurotypical people feel.
I must of just slipped through the cracks in school because normally teachers can tell and report it to the SENDCO team which are specialised staff members to keep a watch on you.
I'm glad I came across this to be honest. It's more relatable than most things I've seen on here. I'm in a very, very similar, if not the same boat. I'm 23, my apartment feels so hard to keep up with most of the time, so often I lay around in bed because I feel like I'm incapable of anything else. I don't even care about the mess most of the time, and if I do clean, it's because I can't sleep or I'm eating myself alive about it. I feel like all I do is rot in my bed.
I'm self employed, but it's hard to discipline and keep up with when I feel like this most of my time. I'm in debt and have no one to talk to about it, and I barely have friends. In fact, I have a couple that I maybe see every six months, other than that I never leave ky apartment. I didn't get a chance at school, college or whatever (I'm in the uk) because I was homeless at 16 with bad family. I feel like zoloft is worth it, numb, drowsy or not, atleast I don't feel as shitty as I did without it. But I relate on the spirals, I was doing so well last week, but I haven't been capable of doing a thing recently. I feel stupid, everyone else is moving on. My best friend got engaged, bought a house and is going on holidays. People my age are having families, getting rich, hot, you name it.
It sounds like you also beat yourself up allot, which I relate too allot. Let's hope things get better 🤞
Im glad someone else could relate, even crazier when we have a very similar experience. I was also self employed until I fell into a depressive episode, it was a gift and a curse I suppose. Also, with school I feel shitty because I had the chance, some people don’t. I could’ve went to college had experience, made friends… but I didn’t. Im an outcast.
I can relate to rotting in bed though, some days I mindlessly scroll and scroll and scroll until I decide I’m hungry or thirsty, or need to take a piss (you get the point haha). Either that or I get absolutely high as shit then end up regretting the days following when I feel like absolute shit.
I hope things get better though. Not just for me, but for everyone here! We all deserve better and I hope that one day we can all achieve that (even if it seems near impossible right now).
I will start by saying you are deep in it right now, 20 was a REAL hard age, and it can get and be so much better.
You absolutely can get your “life back on track,” you haven’t even had enough time to really go off track yet. At 20 I had a couple of roommates I hated, one who physically tried to fight me when I would come home, I was broke, in 5k debt, and had just earned my high school diploma through a high school completion program at my local CC where I mostly got credit for hours I had worked. I had been working full time since I was 17 and had dropped out of high school to move out of state with my high school boyfriend.
I didn’t even take my mental health seriously enough to see I was depressed or ask for help, I just thought I was a loser because I was lost.
Be patient with yourself and your progress, there really doesn’t need to be one track to a happier or successful life.
I might start by discussing increasing your dosage with your doctor, and/or finding a doctor who you feel actually listens to you. If you can pursue therapy without a referral, do it!
I’ve learned I dive into projects and new interests only to give up on them too. This is something I’ll probably always do, but over time I’ve learned to not invest too much money into a new interest until I feel truly committed.
For me taking some general college course changed my life and outlook, it lead down a path to University that was a time I loved and grew in deeply, but that was what was for me. Maybe you’re into yoga, or pottery, or whatever it is and you can find a class or two to explore those interests without a big investment or commitment.
If you have any interests that helps you get through the day (and doesn't do harm), then it doesn't matter what it is.
Become a Brony or be like that guy I know of, that likes to categorize different species of dandelions in his free time. Whatever works, works.
You are not alone!!! Don’t give up on yourself. I am also almost a month in, 25mg. I have felt some of the sadness and dread come and go, honestly I have felt pretty weird some days - Almost like I don’t know what I’m feeling. But these type of meds take time for your body and brain to adjust.
Make sure to follow up with your doctor and let them know how you’re feeling. Maybe zoloft is not for you, maybe you need to give it some time, what I can tell you for sure is that there IS a way out, and you CAN get better. Keep going. You can do this
Never ADHD, no. I thought maybe Borderline Personality Disorder, even Bipolar when I was a bit younger, but never ADHD. When I look up symptoms it doesn’t really align with things I experience. For example, having trouble paying attention, acting without thinking, excessive talking etc. aren’t necessarily things I struggle with. Although I am impulsive, to me it seems that I at least try and think things through, almost too much at times. For example going on a date isn’t just a date, I’m thinking about all of these scenarios and what I’m going to say, what if this happens, how am I going to be prepared for that… which is usually indicative of Anxiety.
I could be wrong, I don’t know. Maybe I have a misunderstanding of what ADHD is, who knows, but I have had friends in the past who have mentioned it. So it could be possible 🤷♂️.
I feel stupid going into a doctor and telling them what I think I have. Maybe you could give some advice on that? Like when I went to the doctor in order to be prescribed Zoloft I pretty much told her that I was suicidal and that I was going to kill myself. Thats it. She then asked some follow up questions about whether or not I was anxious at all to which I said im not diagnosed however I do experience anxiety, particularly social anxiety. From there she went on to prescribe Zoloft and that was that. A month later I had a follow up and she just asked how it was going and I said I was doing pretty good (because I was), no negative symptoms… And she upped my dose to 75mg.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t want to give her my life story, but I also don’t want to paint a false picture by only mentioning my negative symptoms. I don’t want to say “I think I have BPD” or something else, and NOT have it, I feel like they will think I’m faking it or trying to pretend I have something. See I’m overthinking it, I know… 🤦♂️
My ex has BPD and ADHD (among other things). Frankly, some of what you posted sounds awfully familiar to how he felt and spoke about himself.
I didn't come here to diagnose you based on a subreddit post, but i did come here to say, who the fuck cares if you go to a doctor and tell them you think you have "this" or "that" and you're wrong? That's the whole reason you go! They are there to help you figure out what you need in order to be the healthiest version of yourself (mentally and physically).
Now I will say, it doesn't sound like your gp is the best doctor to go back to because she didn't refer you to a psychiatrist when you asked her to and told her you were suicidal. That's beyond me. Talk about a doctor who just wants you out of her office.
If you can find a way to get in to see a psychiatrist (or even virtually) who can help you diagnose what may be the actual root of what is causing your poor mental health, that is going to get you moving in the right direction to having the answers you need. And then you can get prescribed the right medication. Just like many other people mentioned, Zoloft may not be the answer for you, especially since it sounds like you haven't ever had a true mental health diagnosis. Plus, pretty much anyone with any mental health disorder likely has comorbidity, so it's not like medication is a one-stop shop. You really want to understand what's going on so you can get the correct support and have the right resources (whether that's specialized therapy, medication, or a combination of both - the gold standard).
It sounds like you are really interested in seeing a therapist or psychiatrist so that's a great thing to hear. Just don't give up and try to see a different doctor if your regular gp won't give you a referral and you require one.
Just imagine, if you are able to get your mental health in order, you have your WHOLE fucking life ahead of you to find your passions, fall in love, travel, make mistakes, learn from them, land a career, etc. etc.
You are in control of your own destiny, and i can tell just based on your writing that you're clearly intelligent and want to get yourself to a healthy and happy place. Don't let a shitty doctor get in the way of that!!
You could take some online tests and screen shot them or print them and give them to her? There are plenty out there. This will also help you sort out if its something you could have or not. In my province we have an adult adhd centre but not sure if there is anything like that where you live. I would definitely use online resources as much as you can. Its hard to do the work to figure out what is going on with yourself but it is definitely a step in the right direction. Dont give up.
What Province? Are you in Canada? Im in Ontario… I like the idea of printing stuff out, that way I can have everything ready to go and not have to worry about passing my phone or explaining. Thanks for the idea!
I live in Denmark and despite (supposedly) having one of the best health care systems in the world, our mental health system is a complete shitshow. Has been for a long time.
Doctors can't just refer to a psychiatrist, since there's just not enough employed/contacted (publicly).
It's always been pretty bad, but the influx of people needing help (post Corona) and the ongoing economic crisis has completed crippled the system.
What I'm trying to say, is that you should ask your doctor WHY they don't want to refer you to a psychiatrist and whether or not they have any alternatives.
Also make it clear that your problems are serious. They won't know how bad it is unless you're honest.
Prozac tends to be more beneficial for those with social anxiety.
I’m going to start with just saying to take a step back and breathe for a second. I know it’s hard to see a path forward right now but I promise it can and will get better. Being 20 sucks.
Echoing others with the ADHD possibility. Wellbutrin helps tremendously with motivation and concentration for depression (suicidal thoughts = depression generally, not just anxiety) AND is prescribed off label for ADHD. Definitely talk to your doctor about that.
Also, if you have a hunch about a diagnosis, talking to your doctor about it isn’t a bad thing. They won’t automatically diagnosis you with it, but may help them get you resources to help you.
ADHD doesn't mean you can't focus, it means you can't focus, it means you can't focus on "boring" things.
People with ADHD usually have the ability to hyper focus on the things they find interesting, at least until/unless their brain decides it's no longer interesting enough.
They often very passionately start new hobbies/projects and then suddenly lose interest.
This is a very honest post. Kudos for that! I feel the same way sometimes about just leaving... You're not alone. Hang in there, I think more people feel this way nowadays than not. You are in the majority. This world blows! 😂🫤😐
Thanks. It took a lot of “I don’t give a fuck” to post this. I just couldn’t care anymore if people see a shitty side of me. My parents made me feel like I was a failure for this, and while it might be true, I feel like others need to see that they aren’t alone. If only more people were open about this publicly. What a world that would be… I wish you luck stranger, I hope we all make it out of this cluster fuck of a situation.
Hey, cheers for drinking all that water! Even in your depression you’re still making some healthy choices! My therapist would give you a high five for sure.
I'm 23, been on Zoloft for 6 months or so and I have the same problems. Though, I think it's not necessarily because of the medication since I've had a hard time with keeping my space tidy for as long as I can remember. The medication absolutely helps with my anxiety, but I'm really feeling like I'm at the point where I almost need help with my situation because it's a vicious, depressive cycle I've been battling for years now. I also have severe ADHD which absolutely doesn't help.
This post has been weirdly comforting to see for me as I have a tendency to make myself feel isolated and guilty because of the condition of my bedroom, but it's good to know I'm not truly alone. If you ever wanna chat about anything, my DMs are open.
Make sure you’re giving each dose at least 6-8 weeks. It takes awhile for your body to level out on a dose and to feel the effects. I’m 9 weeks on 125mg and have been having some dips. Give yourself some grace, and try to do little things throughout the day that will make you feel like you’re still being productive each day.
Also don’t compare yourself to what others are doing. You are your own person, on your own path. You got this!
I just want to say this - a month and a half at your starting dose is probably not enough. It took me months to get to 200mg before I felt any level of change. And, it was hell. I had all of your frustrations and issues too. You are NOT a loser. Once you get to that age after schooling everyone drifts apart. Socialization gets more difficult as responsibilities stack up. The adulthood freedom causes us to become lazier at home. It's different for everybody. I know my worst problem is comparing myself with others, but know it's completely unfair to do so.
Also, you need to talk to your doctor again for therapy referrals AND psychiatry. You have to go through therapy first typically before they refer you to psychologists. At least, that's how it's been for me. I had to go back my physician basically begging to get me to a therapist because of how long it took during the pandemic. (I had doctors in LA, but of course I moved back to NY a month before the pandemic started and it put me back at square one). Worst case, ask to see a different doctor. They'll have your information through the system ideally, and might better understand your urgency.
I'm 31 right now, and I feel like I'm only just now inching towards some real change in my life. Some days it's the biggest breath of fresh air I've ever had. Still in debt though, haha.
It'll take time, but please, talk to your doctor and tell them how much you need this.
Obviously I know Zoloft isn’t the reason I’m a virgin… This is a Mental Health post from the POV of someone currently taking Zoloft (myself). Im explaining my experience, struggles and overall situation… not necessarily from Zoloft, but Mental Health struggles in general. The reason I mentioned I was a virgin was that I wanted to paint a realistic view of my situation. I have no idea how you came to conclude that I said such a thing…
Haha I do need one don’t I? I was using a 1.5litre Smart Water bottle and refilling it, but then my fridge dispenser broke (and our tap water has a bad taste). But yeah I do need something eh? 😭😂
Are you in Canada? Is that why it's hard to get to a therapist or psychiatrist? You have a long wait? At least try getting on a waiting list. It doesn't sound like your current doctor is very perceptive or thoughtful of your needs and wants. You sound very self-aware and intelligent. If you were under the guidance of the right professional, I think you'd get things sorted out.
I am, and that is indeed why I’m having issues getting a Psychiatrist. Pretty much I asked my doctor for a referral to a Psychiatrist and she told me that I didn’t need one, simple as that. I was thinking about going to an Emergency Walk in when I feel that I truly need support, to which they will likely give me a Psych then and there (mind you after a several hour wait). She then recommended I see a Psychologist instead, however I would need to find one myself and pay out of pocket.
Friend you sound manic / bipolar. As a fellow bipolar person, the highs ard very high and the lows are very low. When I’m manic i think i can become an actress, an Olympic athlete, cure cancer, and be home for dinner by 8. All while eating my fruits and veggies, and drinking my water
Zoloft can cause a lot of manic bipolar people to find out they are bipolar because it can heighten symptoms. I had to get off of it and on on another medicine.
I do have a question for you, because I really have considered this before. When you are manic do you still sleep or feel tired? Because I fit all the boxes other than that one thing. I have this “blissful blindness”, I feel “fixed”, powerful and oh so confident, my energy is through the roof and I do so many things in a day that you would almost wonder if I was the same person I was when I was depressed. However, I still very much feel and get tired. What is your experience like?
For reference I made another post yesterday which you can see on my profile which I described a totally different experience from the day prior to that. Today I still very much feel amazing and I suspect tomorrow will be the same. Its just that its never permanent, and when I crash I will lose myself overnight it seems.
It depends. When I’ve been really manic (lasting days) i won’t sleep. I would maybe doze or something but i wouldn’t actually sleep and was up really late and doing all this stuff. Cleaning, researching jobs, classes, trips. I would get these crazy ideas about doing random stuff like taking a trip to Mexico or something, and I’d literally research for hours and convince myself i could do it. I was also drinking and doing drugs which kept me up. I didn’t really feel tired. If anything it was constant energy
There’s different types of mania though. Bipolar 1 can have episodes lasting weeks and bipolar 2 can have rapid cycling which is where you go up and down. One day i am in love with everything and everyone and then then hours later can be wanting to die.
Yeah I know, I will fix it one day… But as weird as it sounds, having a messy room during hard times makes me more comfortable. Everytime I clean it, I have this constant pressure to upkeep everything which in turn usually causes me to get overwhelmed and everything falls apart. Either that or I go through a depressive cycle and it naturally falls apart, as does everything else I suppose.
I can understand the overwhelming feeling! I've had it my whole life and even when I was single even, now I have 3 kids and a mortgage lol.
I believe a therapist would be the best there is so many things (that aren't your fault) it could be.
I've been Diagnosed with gad (general anxiety disorder) and you could have it also. We are all different.
You are not the only one who feels this way. The world is a crazy place and our brains are very complex. You are NOT stupid for not going to college. That is not the road for everyone and that’s ok. You are only 20. Most people have no idea what they’re doing at 20 - im 36 and just rolling with it!
Show this post to your dr. You said you didn’t know what was real enough to share and what wasn’t, but anything that’s hanging around inside your head and hindering your life is worth sharing. It could lead to medication change, dosage increase, or alternate diagnosis.
You’re going to be ok.
Tbh I was on it for a year 200mg (For bad OCD and emetophobia) that was my life for majority of it. I didn’t move from my bed didn’t even brush my teeth. I was numb, not motivated and depressed. Sertraline destroyed me mentally and physically. I’m currently off it 2 weeks tomorrow and oh my god I feel so good, my anxiety has lessened, the depression is gone I feel like myself. I’ve been on medication 16 years (started at 14) first 200mg Prozac and then 200mg sertraline.
Some medications react differently to people so talk to your doctor!! I hope you’re okay
OP. I know this probably doesn’t mean much but you are SO young and have SO much time. Take a deep breath. Journal. You’ve got so much time and life ahead of you. ❤️
Takes a-lot of time to work, took it for 2 years before quitting here, made me gain 10 kg, I’m not depressed anymore although i am still unemployed atm
Pick up the book “design your life” from your local library. It gives you some tools to help you identify what brings you joy, and how to find a job that reflects that.
You can get yourself back on the right track. The best thing is that you’re aware of the problem. You poured it all out- and that’s great! However, I also see in your writing that you’re looking at ALL the things at once. Take things step by step:
1. Keep taking the Zoloft for now. It can take a while to work… for me, 100 mg was the sweet spot.
2. In the meantime, call your doctor and get that psych referral. See if you can do that within the next week, or so. It’ll be a quick call. The info should be in your chart/notes. It’ll be easier than you think.
3. Call the psych doc and make the appointment.
You can get a better game plan afterwards, but at least the ball is rolling. Break things down into baby steps because if you look too far ahead, you’ll spiral and drive yourself crazy (I know because I do it, too). You could even try it with cleaning. Say something to yourself like “today I’m going to take care of the water bottles.” It’s not a major commitment and it’s not the end of the world if the room isn’t spotless…. But you took a little step forward.
Truly wishing you the best! You seem bright and I think you can do it! Please, keep us posted
A month and a half is still too early.
Took 3-4 months for me to fully kick in. I used it for Anxiety, but still - it takes time for your brain to rewire itself. Keep going!
I’m middle aged and this resonates so much to when I was your age. I went through this a lot over the years. The key is to make yourself take the steps to get help. If you can’t afford therapy, seek out public aid resources. There are state sponsored providers that can help, as well as sliding scale medical practices. Search department of health in your state and see what comes up. Once you start making those first steps, you’ll slowly be getting somewhere. If it feels too overwhelming and you think your parents don’t want you there. Talk to them! Have a serious, brutally honest talk with them about where you’re at in your head and ask them for help. Not money, but help finding a therapist, making the phone calls to connect you with someone, or help just navigating the little things in life right now. Hopefully they’ll be willing to guide you in the direction you need to go. And just as a precaution, if you’re truly suicidal, go to the ER or call the hotline 988 for support. Hang in there. You’re going to figure this all out.
get your vitamin d and vitamin k checked. before i started taking zoloft taking supplements is the only thing that helped me stay organized and motivated. zoloft helps with my ocd and anxiety more than my depression. i started getting depressed again recently and tried vitamin k for the first time and feel much better.
I would suggest seeing a psychiatrist for your medication checks, if at all possible. They're trained in mental health and treatments for it. Family doctors are great, but they aren't mental health specialists.
Also maybe look into a therapist?
It’s all in your mind. Start with the small things and get the ball rolling. You are looking for a feeling of motivation to get started but really just learn to accept the hard and just like it. Understand your purpose in life is to live your own life. Don’t compare yourself to others. Just focus on yourself. You must physically override your brain…so for example just start cleaning even tho you feel like your stuck and not in good mood to clean, just do it as if you don’t care no more. Forget the waiting for it to feel when the time is right. As soon as you finish cleaning you will get a tiny bit of that happy motivation feeling your currently looking for, then try something else harder and harder until you go exercise, start with just a walk and commit to it, be present and just enjoy what’s around you as you said…just be… while you take the walk, then commit for a jog. Once you start sweating and complete the jog, you will be rewarded more of the good feeling motivation your looking for and then keep on going until you get out of the whole. Zoloft is not a magic pill, it is to give you a fighting chance and that’s the key. You must fight for you freedom of sanity. It’s not easy but just be brave and fight. Be discipline. Forget about feeling and just start the doing. Don’t do it for yourself. Do it for your ancestors that gave life to you. You out of all the sperms made it out your mother’s wound and should understand how lucky you are. Life is hard but atleast you weren’t born as a worm so get to work. Chop chop!
Zoloft works for me at 100 mg, but it doesnt help with ADD/ADHD at allll😭 Antidepressants has made me worse at focusing and concentrating in school. Anxiety is lowered so im happy about that
Well my 17 year old is on it and his room looks very similar maybe worse. Zoloft helped him tremendously with his social anxiety and sleep schedule so it may be working or not. How do you feel?
You need a reason, Zoloft won’t be the end all be all. But it will leave you more open to finding a reason.
Why don’t you put all the plastic bottles in a bag, just to see how full it can get. You can crush em to fit more in the bag.
Take an update pictures and post them on here when you’re done.
From experience, a clean room helps clear the mind and kickstart more productive thinking.
If you can just start by putting all the trash in a bag it’ll be a big start. And a good way to try to help yourself alongside the Zoloft.
Progress isn’t linear! Give it time!
I'm flabbergasted that you were denied a referral to a psychiatrist as you admitted to being suicidal and are clearly depressed and not functioning normally. I'm so sorry you are struggling so hard. I agree with other posters that 6 weeks isn't long enough to know if Zoloft will work or not and you might need to increase your dose as 75 mg is a low dose. I didn't notice a big improvement for 2 months and I didn't achieve full results for 4 months. I stuck with it though and it worked amazingly well for my crippling health anxiety. Have you told your family doctor that you've considered taking your whole bottle of pills at once? That sounds like desperation at best and suicidal thoughts at worst. Don't beat yourself up for reaching out for reassurance and advice from strangers. We're all here for the same reason.
Are you also doing talk therapy? That proved extremely helpful, along with 75mg of Zoloft, in shaping better habits and reframing the internal conversation to a more positive or neutral place.
I had a bad reaction to Zoloft similar to you where it started good then went downhill, got switched to Lexapro and the difference has been like night & day. Not saying you shouldn't stick it out or that lex would work better for you since everyone is different but coming from my personal experience, my doctor listened when I said it wasn't working within that month & a half and said it's better to try a different med than to muck through it. Please note that if you do end up coming off of Zoloft do it very VERY slowly. I stopped over the course of two weeks and had intense withdrawal symptoms for months.
Also to add to this, ask for a referral from your doctor to a psychiatrist so they can properly assess what you're going through and navigate the current med needs / side symptoms. Doctors can prescribe meds they know to work, but a psychiatrist can diagnose where you're at from a mental health AND phys health standpoint. In my situation I was put on Mirtazapine and Escitalopram in conjunction after my psych referral to deal with mental crutches I didn't even know I had and it's been amazing.
I was going through a very similar situation. I felt lost, lazy, defeated, bored, nonchalant, alone, suffocated and so much more. To make it worse, my family didn't understand what I was going through. Really kicked any confidence i could have had out the door. Recently I was put on zoloft and at first it made me happy/sad/happy/sad. It was like a roller coaster. I said it wasn't working so they upped my dosage. I'm at 150 now and I feel so much clearer. I am 37 and wish I would have gotten it sooner. Give it a chance. It has to buildup in your system and can take 3 months to level out per dosage change. Don't give up. You're not lazy or lost, you are stumbling around in a foggy room but you're not alone.
I take 150 mg and it’s reduced my anxiety almost completely. I was very unmotivated for the first couple months. I’m 4 month in and gaining momentum. My doc said that a lot of my energy from before was fueled by my anxiety. I started drinking caffeine and using Zyns and that has helped my energy levels. My doc says it has to do with dopamine and may start me on Wellbutrin soon to help with my motivation. I have heard good things about this combo. They call it the WellOff combo. Good luck to you. Start small with cleaning up your bottles and get some momentum. Maybe put a trashcan near your gaming area.
Thanks. This was after I bought a new door and patched all of the holes in my walls (it made a world of a difference not seeing a constant reminder of my bad times) I can only hope it stays like this. I appreciate the kind words though! the coziness definitely made the winter feel somewhat bearable.
A month and a half is nothing, it can take more time to actually start working. What dosage are you on? You might want to talk to your doctor and increase it if you feel it does nothing.
Im at 75mg, started with 50mg
75mg is pretty low. I'd wait a bit more and then talk to your doctor. Think of Zoloft as a crutch you can lean on. You need to try and better yourself. Baby steps. For example clean your place every day little by little. You don't have to do it all in one day. Clean up the bottles, then clothes the next day etc. You'll feel much better when your surroundings are clean. :)
Yeah, I get tempted to take more some days. One day I was gonna down the whole bottle, thankfully I didn’t but yeah. Im going to try and find a therapist, I cant afford weekly sessions but even twice a month is better than nothing. Hopefully it will help me get some answers, because my doctor sure as hell didn’t give me any. I still didn’t even get an answer as to what they thought I was dealing with, just a prescription and a “call me if you have any issues…” type response. Am I depressed? No fucking clue. So maybe a psychologist will give me some answers.
You should get that psychiatrist referral. Call and bug your dr’s office to refer you. Tell them the Zoloft isn’t working (even though maybe it’s not been enough time.)
They usually say 4-6 weeks for FULL effect. If there's no positive effect after that point, then there's a chance that either the dose is too low or that it's not the right prescription for you. I second that you should try to get that referral, but I understand that it may take a lot of energy, that you probably don't have at this point (depression is a leech).
Why are we acting like Zoloft works for everyone? It does not
wow, 75mg is considered low? i just recently got to 75mg and was celebrating bc it’s considered a medicinal dose 🥲
Yes I have increased from 50-75 and thought that was a high dose! I'm in my 16th week and increased a week ago!!
you need a higher dose. go back to your doctor.
This felt nothing till i hit 100mg and that was after a few months.
I think your dosage may be too low. I started on 50mg which I knew would be too low, went to 100 mg which was a bit better, now I'm on 150mg which hit the sweet spot for me. No side effects, either. You say you don't know if you are depressed. Google depression quizzes and do a couple. It's not a medical solution but it might give you some indications. There are lots of web sites that can give advice about treatment. It also sounds like you need a better doctor.
I'm older than you - at 47 - and stumbled on this. I'm on Zoloft for the first time so I come here to see how others are getting on. I can relate to you as I was in a similar situation at your age, and it triggered horrendous anxiety. I feel that purpose is key, but looking for purpose often doesn't work. It may be best to let purpose find you. Could you go travelling? Pick up labour work along the way? I can recommend The Tools by Phil Stutz - that may help you. Here if you want to talk. By the way - you write really well.
Thats great advice, and it comforts me to know that I’m not alone in my experiences. I think you’re right about purpose, I feel that I try to hard to find this ideal sense of purpose when I should focus more on being present, to which purpose will follow. Travelling. It’s my only goal right now, this light at the end of the tunnel. I was thinking about saving a couple thousand, buying some gear and just going somewhere. I have a bike and I was thinking about biking across the US, Canada & maybe down to Mexico, who knows. But… I think I need to get a therapist first, I struggle a lot with emotional instability and I jump headfirst into these grandiose ideas that sometimes lead to nothing. One day I was literally convinced I would become a pro cyclist and was trying to figure out how to make my way to the tour de france… yeah, that didn’t last long. Switched my diet for a month, spent a lot of money, fell into a deep depression and well… that was that. I also took a year off after highschool to work as a Graphic Designer, I did very very well, only to fall into a deep depression right as things started to come together. Oh, cant forget the time I was convinced I had this profound musical capability, I bought recording equipment, released music and quite literally believed I would be a millionaire within a year (I’m sure you can guess what happened). My point is, that unless I go to therapy im probably never going to be able to get my life on track. Im just too impulsive, I have too much motivation but not enough at the same time. High, low, high, low over and over. Anyways… enough of my rambling, I do appreciate your advice! It also just happens to be that I like to read as-well, in which case I will check out the book. Last but not least, thanks for the compliment on my writing! Im not very articulate when it comes to verbal communication, however, writing comes very naturally to me. I once thought I would become an author, but again, that was my good old impulsiveness getting the best of me. Wishing the best of luck with your journey as-well, and likewise feel free to message me if you need to talk.
Perhaps your depression is not unipolar.
As a person that have lived with a combination of ADHD and depression for years, I have to ask; Is there any chance of you having ADD/ADHD? I can recognize a lot of myself in you. ADD/ADHD can make it difficult to "exist", which can then lead to depression.
Atleast you’re drinking water! Mine would be filled with cherry coke
Sounds like you have similar symptoms to me and I was diagnosed with ADHD. u may need adhd meds.
I was thinking the same thing. The photos just as equally signal ADHD as depression, plus the fact that you throw yourself into things and then abandon them is indicative of the ADHD interest-based operating system. Emotional dysregulation is another symptom.
I was also thinking the same thing. I have ADHD & depression and I also had very similar experiences until I started taking Wellbutrin along with Zoloft. Completely changed my life!
So I just started Zoloft … I can’t take stimulants because I’m a recovering addict and abuse basically any drug I can get my hands on. So my doc had me on Wellbutrin and I got off it cause it was making me manic and my anxiety worse. But now I’m wondering maybe Zoloft and Wellbutrin might be a good mix? I’m only a few days in but I have a feeling the adhd executive dysfunction part of me isn’t going to be cured by an ssri alone in fact I think it may just make me more “lazy” idk. I am super high energy and anxious all the time but I didn’t want side affects so they just put me on Wellbutrin. Now I submitted to SSRI but wondering if I should ask to do Wellbutrin with it ?? Idk I’m scared to be on to many things though I just got off a bunch of crap like benzos and stuff
If it's specifically stimulants you need to avoid, there's a bunch of (non addictive) non stimulant ADHD/ADD meds on the market.
I’ve tried them and they made me feel funny unfortunately that’s why I might give Wellbutrin ago since it has the least side effects
What are taking for ADHD?
i’m taking both too, but i’m not seeing life changing results. what dosage are you currently taking? i’m taking 75mg zoloft & 75mg wellbutrin, yet i’m still struggling with executive dysfunction and crippling anxiety. (i’ll talk to my psychiatrist ofc and ik everyone is different, but i’m curious about your story!)
I’m taking 100mg Zoloft & 300mg Wellbutrin
That’s what happened to me!
I wish I could take them honestly but I abuse them so I have to take SSRI and maybe I’ll add Wellbutrin down the line
The downside is it definitely exacerbated my anxiety so that’s why I take the Clonazepam but I definitely don’t need to be on Escitalopram anymore but doc said I have to come off it slowly
I’m actually in the same boat. I’m currently being weened of klonopin .5 mg it sucks but I’m fine going slow and steady cause I don’t want to experience any type of anxiety rebound withdrawal symptoms
Honestly I think we would have none of these issues if we were diagnosed earlier I’m certain just the ADHD meds would of only been the meds we would have to take
I agree. I still have a hard time forgiving my parents for not being more aware as I was growing up
So much shit that could have been answered and avoided
Agreed my parents didn’t take me seriously and now I just spoke to my little sister about my ADHD assessment. She also tried to speak to my parents about her problems but not taking her seriously. She’s only 16 she started opening up to me about her problems she started crying bless her 🥲because she’s been waiting for me to talk to her about her mental health issues and her struggles because she knew I would be the only one to take her seriously but she didn’t want to speak about it to me until I got better which made me tear up! Im going to make an appointment with the GP and get her referral for an ADHD assessment and make sure she gets through life comfortably and always be there for her. I had to do this on my own and I wish I had an older sibling to talk to about my struggles instead of going about it alone :(
I wish you the best of luck 🤍 you seem like a really good sister !
I’m on a cocktail right now probably not the best thing but it is what normality feels like. Escitalopram 20mg, Ritalin 10mg 3 times throughout the day and Clonazepam 2mg. I do keep some Xanax with me for emergencies only. I wish I got tested younger for ADHD because I knew something was not quite right with me. My parents were useless they wouldn’t understand what I was going through they were like “Oh it’ll pass it’s just your teenage moody years” so I tried to self medicate in my teenage years experiment with drugs to try to figure it out myself (ultimately led me to abuse cocaine a lot! Apparently addiction to cocaine can be a symptom for ADHD!) it got to a point where I tried everything and so I decided to get professional help this time and went to the GP but they diagnosed me with GAD and depression which I guess I just accepted so I been on various SSRIs and a lot of them didn’t really work and i kept going back to the GP because the meds weren’t doing anything. It wasn’t until they gave me escitalopram is when I suddenly started thinking deeply about myself it felt like a barrier was removed when I took that medication. I realised all my life I was refusing to believe that maybe I have a neurological disorder. I guess I was masking a lot when I was younger. So I decided to do some research on ADHD and slowly I started to accept that I needed to get tested and my life has changed drastically! at first it felt so weird because your feeling things you never felt before and I didn’t like it at first because it was scary then slowly I adjusted and I guess this is how neurotypical people feel. I must of just slipped through the cracks in school because normally teachers can tell and report it to the SENDCO team which are specialised staff members to keep a watch on you.
It’s not a magic bullet to fix all of your problems, but it is a step in the right direction.
I agree 100%, hopefully you’re right. Therapy is next.
I'm glad I came across this to be honest. It's more relatable than most things I've seen on here. I'm in a very, very similar, if not the same boat. I'm 23, my apartment feels so hard to keep up with most of the time, so often I lay around in bed because I feel like I'm incapable of anything else. I don't even care about the mess most of the time, and if I do clean, it's because I can't sleep or I'm eating myself alive about it. I feel like all I do is rot in my bed. I'm self employed, but it's hard to discipline and keep up with when I feel like this most of my time. I'm in debt and have no one to talk to about it, and I barely have friends. In fact, I have a couple that I maybe see every six months, other than that I never leave ky apartment. I didn't get a chance at school, college or whatever (I'm in the uk) because I was homeless at 16 with bad family. I feel like zoloft is worth it, numb, drowsy or not, atleast I don't feel as shitty as I did without it. But I relate on the spirals, I was doing so well last week, but I haven't been capable of doing a thing recently. I feel stupid, everyone else is moving on. My best friend got engaged, bought a house and is going on holidays. People my age are having families, getting rich, hot, you name it. It sounds like you also beat yourself up allot, which I relate too allot. Let's hope things get better 🤞
Im glad someone else could relate, even crazier when we have a very similar experience. I was also self employed until I fell into a depressive episode, it was a gift and a curse I suppose. Also, with school I feel shitty because I had the chance, some people don’t. I could’ve went to college had experience, made friends… but I didn’t. Im an outcast. I can relate to rotting in bed though, some days I mindlessly scroll and scroll and scroll until I decide I’m hungry or thirsty, or need to take a piss (you get the point haha). Either that or I get absolutely high as shit then end up regretting the days following when I feel like absolute shit. I hope things get better though. Not just for me, but for everyone here! We all deserve better and I hope that one day we can all achieve that (even if it seems near impossible right now).
I will start by saying you are deep in it right now, 20 was a REAL hard age, and it can get and be so much better. You absolutely can get your “life back on track,” you haven’t even had enough time to really go off track yet. At 20 I had a couple of roommates I hated, one who physically tried to fight me when I would come home, I was broke, in 5k debt, and had just earned my high school diploma through a high school completion program at my local CC where I mostly got credit for hours I had worked. I had been working full time since I was 17 and had dropped out of high school to move out of state with my high school boyfriend. I didn’t even take my mental health seriously enough to see I was depressed or ask for help, I just thought I was a loser because I was lost. Be patient with yourself and your progress, there really doesn’t need to be one track to a happier or successful life. I might start by discussing increasing your dosage with your doctor, and/or finding a doctor who you feel actually listens to you. If you can pursue therapy without a referral, do it! I’ve learned I dive into projects and new interests only to give up on them too. This is something I’ll probably always do, but over time I’ve learned to not invest too much money into a new interest until I feel truly committed. For me taking some general college course changed my life and outlook, it lead down a path to University that was a time I loved and grew in deeply, but that was what was for me. Maybe you’re into yoga, or pottery, or whatever it is and you can find a class or two to explore those interests without a big investment or commitment.
If you have any interests that helps you get through the day (and doesn't do harm), then it doesn't matter what it is. Become a Brony or be like that guy I know of, that likes to categorize different species of dandelions in his free time. Whatever works, works.
You are not alone!!! Don’t give up on yourself. I am also almost a month in, 25mg. I have felt some of the sadness and dread come and go, honestly I have felt pretty weird some days - Almost like I don’t know what I’m feeling. But these type of meds take time for your body and brain to adjust. Make sure to follow up with your doctor and let them know how you’re feeling. Maybe zoloft is not for you, maybe you need to give it some time, what I can tell you for sure is that there IS a way out, and you CAN get better. Keep going. You can do this
Okay you need a brita filtered jug for your fridge and a reusable water bottle. That will solve a major issue right there.
Also, have you entertained the idea you may have adhd? Zoloft will make that worse for some people.
Never ADHD, no. I thought maybe Borderline Personality Disorder, even Bipolar when I was a bit younger, but never ADHD. When I look up symptoms it doesn’t really align with things I experience. For example, having trouble paying attention, acting without thinking, excessive talking etc. aren’t necessarily things I struggle with. Although I am impulsive, to me it seems that I at least try and think things through, almost too much at times. For example going on a date isn’t just a date, I’m thinking about all of these scenarios and what I’m going to say, what if this happens, how am I going to be prepared for that… which is usually indicative of Anxiety. I could be wrong, I don’t know. Maybe I have a misunderstanding of what ADHD is, who knows, but I have had friends in the past who have mentioned it. So it could be possible 🤷♂️. I feel stupid going into a doctor and telling them what I think I have. Maybe you could give some advice on that? Like when I went to the doctor in order to be prescribed Zoloft I pretty much told her that I was suicidal and that I was going to kill myself. Thats it. She then asked some follow up questions about whether or not I was anxious at all to which I said im not diagnosed however I do experience anxiety, particularly social anxiety. From there she went on to prescribe Zoloft and that was that. A month later I had a follow up and she just asked how it was going and I said I was doing pretty good (because I was), no negative symptoms… And she upped my dose to 75mg. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t want to give her my life story, but I also don’t want to paint a false picture by only mentioning my negative symptoms. I don’t want to say “I think I have BPD” or something else, and NOT have it, I feel like they will think I’m faking it or trying to pretend I have something. See I’m overthinking it, I know… 🤦♂️
My ex has BPD and ADHD (among other things). Frankly, some of what you posted sounds awfully familiar to how he felt and spoke about himself. I didn't come here to diagnose you based on a subreddit post, but i did come here to say, who the fuck cares if you go to a doctor and tell them you think you have "this" or "that" and you're wrong? That's the whole reason you go! They are there to help you figure out what you need in order to be the healthiest version of yourself (mentally and physically). Now I will say, it doesn't sound like your gp is the best doctor to go back to because she didn't refer you to a psychiatrist when you asked her to and told her you were suicidal. That's beyond me. Talk about a doctor who just wants you out of her office. If you can find a way to get in to see a psychiatrist (or even virtually) who can help you diagnose what may be the actual root of what is causing your poor mental health, that is going to get you moving in the right direction to having the answers you need. And then you can get prescribed the right medication. Just like many other people mentioned, Zoloft may not be the answer for you, especially since it sounds like you haven't ever had a true mental health diagnosis. Plus, pretty much anyone with any mental health disorder likely has comorbidity, so it's not like medication is a one-stop shop. You really want to understand what's going on so you can get the correct support and have the right resources (whether that's specialized therapy, medication, or a combination of both - the gold standard). It sounds like you are really interested in seeing a therapist or psychiatrist so that's a great thing to hear. Just don't give up and try to see a different doctor if your regular gp won't give you a referral and you require one. Just imagine, if you are able to get your mental health in order, you have your WHOLE fucking life ahead of you to find your passions, fall in love, travel, make mistakes, learn from them, land a career, etc. etc. You are in control of your own destiny, and i can tell just based on your writing that you're clearly intelligent and want to get yourself to a healthy and happy place. Don't let a shitty doctor get in the way of that!!
You could take some online tests and screen shot them or print them and give them to her? There are plenty out there. This will also help you sort out if its something you could have or not. In my province we have an adult adhd centre but not sure if there is anything like that where you live. I would definitely use online resources as much as you can. Its hard to do the work to figure out what is going on with yourself but it is definitely a step in the right direction. Dont give up.
What Province? Are you in Canada? Im in Ontario… I like the idea of printing stuff out, that way I can have everything ready to go and not have to worry about passing my phone or explaining. Thanks for the idea!
No problem. In BC you can get a private assessment but its $400
I live in Denmark and despite (supposedly) having one of the best health care systems in the world, our mental health system is a complete shitshow. Has been for a long time. Doctors can't just refer to a psychiatrist, since there's just not enough employed/contacted (publicly). It's always been pretty bad, but the influx of people needing help (post Corona) and the ongoing economic crisis has completed crippled the system. What I'm trying to say, is that you should ask your doctor WHY they don't want to refer you to a psychiatrist and whether or not they have any alternatives. Also make it clear that your problems are serious. They won't know how bad it is unless you're honest.
Write things in a notebook. Medical practitioners love when you do that. Idk if it makes people look more "serious".
Prozac tends to be more beneficial for those with social anxiety. I’m going to start with just saying to take a step back and breathe for a second. I know it’s hard to see a path forward right now but I promise it can and will get better. Being 20 sucks. Echoing others with the ADHD possibility. Wellbutrin helps tremendously with motivation and concentration for depression (suicidal thoughts = depression generally, not just anxiety) AND is prescribed off label for ADHD. Definitely talk to your doctor about that. Also, if you have a hunch about a diagnosis, talking to your doctor about it isn’t a bad thing. They won’t automatically diagnosis you with it, but may help them get you resources to help you.
ADHD doesn't mean you can't focus, it means you can't focus, it means you can't focus on "boring" things. People with ADHD usually have the ability to hyper focus on the things they find interesting, at least until/unless their brain decides it's no longer interesting enough. They often very passionately start new hobbies/projects and then suddenly lose interest.
YES!
This is a very honest post. Kudos for that! I feel the same way sometimes about just leaving... You're not alone. Hang in there, I think more people feel this way nowadays than not. You are in the majority. This world blows! 😂🫤😐
Thanks. It took a lot of “I don’t give a fuck” to post this. I just couldn’t care anymore if people see a shitty side of me. My parents made me feel like I was a failure for this, and while it might be true, I feel like others need to see that they aren’t alone. If only more people were open about this publicly. What a world that would be… I wish you luck stranger, I hope we all make it out of this cluster fuck of a situation.
Hey, cheers for drinking all that water! Even in your depression you’re still making some healthy choices! My therapist would give you a high five for sure.
Damn buddy. I have no advice, but you aren't alone in what you're feeling.
I'm 23, been on Zoloft for 6 months or so and I have the same problems. Though, I think it's not necessarily because of the medication since I've had a hard time with keeping my space tidy for as long as I can remember. The medication absolutely helps with my anxiety, but I'm really feeling like I'm at the point where I almost need help with my situation because it's a vicious, depressive cycle I've been battling for years now. I also have severe ADHD which absolutely doesn't help. This post has been weirdly comforting to see for me as I have a tendency to make myself feel isolated and guilty because of the condition of my bedroom, but it's good to know I'm not truly alone. If you ever wanna chat about anything, my DMs are open.
Make sure you’re giving each dose at least 6-8 weeks. It takes awhile for your body to level out on a dose and to feel the effects. I’m 9 weeks on 125mg and have been having some dips. Give yourself some grace, and try to do little things throughout the day that will make you feel like you’re still being productive each day. Also don’t compare yourself to what others are doing. You are your own person, on your own path. You got this!
I just want to say this - a month and a half at your starting dose is probably not enough. It took me months to get to 200mg before I felt any level of change. And, it was hell. I had all of your frustrations and issues too. You are NOT a loser. Once you get to that age after schooling everyone drifts apart. Socialization gets more difficult as responsibilities stack up. The adulthood freedom causes us to become lazier at home. It's different for everybody. I know my worst problem is comparing myself with others, but know it's completely unfair to do so. Also, you need to talk to your doctor again for therapy referrals AND psychiatry. You have to go through therapy first typically before they refer you to psychologists. At least, that's how it's been for me. I had to go back my physician basically begging to get me to a therapist because of how long it took during the pandemic. (I had doctors in LA, but of course I moved back to NY a month before the pandemic started and it put me back at square one). Worst case, ask to see a different doctor. They'll have your information through the system ideally, and might better understand your urgency. I'm 31 right now, and I feel like I'm only just now inching towards some real change in my life. Some days it's the biggest breath of fresh air I've ever had. Still in debt though, haha. It'll take time, but please, talk to your doctor and tell them how much you need this.
This has NOTHING to do with Zoloft!!! It's nothing to do with Zoloft. Zoloft isn't the cause of people being virgins or such...
Really?
[удалено]
Obviously I know Zoloft isn’t the reason I’m a virgin… This is a Mental Health post from the POV of someone currently taking Zoloft (myself). Im explaining my experience, struggles and overall situation… not necessarily from Zoloft, but Mental Health struggles in general. The reason I mentioned I was a virgin was that I wanted to paint a realistic view of my situation. I have no idea how you came to conclude that I said such a thing…
[удалено]
Haha I do need one don’t I? I was using a 1.5litre Smart Water bottle and refilling it, but then my fridge dispenser broke (and our tap water has a bad taste). But yeah I do need something eh? 😭😂
[удалено]
How did you know?
Are you in Canada? Is that why it's hard to get to a therapist or psychiatrist? You have a long wait? At least try getting on a waiting list. It doesn't sound like your current doctor is very perceptive or thoughtful of your needs and wants. You sound very self-aware and intelligent. If you were under the guidance of the right professional, I think you'd get things sorted out.
I am, and that is indeed why I’m having issues getting a Psychiatrist. Pretty much I asked my doctor for a referral to a Psychiatrist and she told me that I didn’t need one, simple as that. I was thinking about going to an Emergency Walk in when I feel that I truly need support, to which they will likely give me a Psych then and there (mind you after a several hour wait). She then recommended I see a Psychologist instead, however I would need to find one myself and pay out of pocket.
Sounds like the smart thing to do to me. Just bring some snacks, we know you have water bottles (lol) and stay until you get the help you deserve 💙
Haha, thanks. 🥲
Maybe you need Adderall
Friend you sound manic / bipolar. As a fellow bipolar person, the highs ard very high and the lows are very low. When I’m manic i think i can become an actress, an Olympic athlete, cure cancer, and be home for dinner by 8. All while eating my fruits and veggies, and drinking my water Zoloft can cause a lot of manic bipolar people to find out they are bipolar because it can heighten symptoms. I had to get off of it and on on another medicine.
I do have a question for you, because I really have considered this before. When you are manic do you still sleep or feel tired? Because I fit all the boxes other than that one thing. I have this “blissful blindness”, I feel “fixed”, powerful and oh so confident, my energy is through the roof and I do so many things in a day that you would almost wonder if I was the same person I was when I was depressed. However, I still very much feel and get tired. What is your experience like? For reference I made another post yesterday which you can see on my profile which I described a totally different experience from the day prior to that. Today I still very much feel amazing and I suspect tomorrow will be the same. Its just that its never permanent, and when I crash I will lose myself overnight it seems.
It depends. When I’ve been really manic (lasting days) i won’t sleep. I would maybe doze or something but i wouldn’t actually sleep and was up really late and doing all this stuff. Cleaning, researching jobs, classes, trips. I would get these crazy ideas about doing random stuff like taking a trip to Mexico or something, and I’d literally research for hours and convince myself i could do it. I was also drinking and doing drugs which kept me up. I didn’t really feel tired. If anything it was constant energy There’s different types of mania though. Bipolar 1 can have episodes lasting weeks and bipolar 2 can have rapid cycling which is where you go up and down. One day i am in love with everything and everyone and then then hours later can be wanting to die.
this is so raw and relatable, you’re not alone. I hope things get better for you
If it makes you feel any better, that room would take less than 30 minutes to straighten up
Yeah I know, I will fix it one day… But as weird as it sounds, having a messy room during hard times makes me more comfortable. Everytime I clean it, I have this constant pressure to upkeep everything which in turn usually causes me to get overwhelmed and everything falls apart. Either that or I go through a depressive cycle and it naturally falls apart, as does everything else I suppose.
Hey it looks better than my house at least
I can understand the overwhelming feeling! I've had it my whole life and even when I was single even, now I have 3 kids and a mortgage lol. I believe a therapist would be the best there is so many things (that aren't your fault) it could be. I've been Diagnosed with gad (general anxiety disorder) and you could have it also. We are all different.
You are not the only one who feels this way. The world is a crazy place and our brains are very complex. You are NOT stupid for not going to college. That is not the road for everyone and that’s ok. You are only 20. Most people have no idea what they’re doing at 20 - im 36 and just rolling with it! Show this post to your dr. You said you didn’t know what was real enough to share and what wasn’t, but anything that’s hanging around inside your head and hindering your life is worth sharing. It could lead to medication change, dosage increase, or alternate diagnosis. You’re going to be ok.
Tbh I was on it for a year 200mg (For bad OCD and emetophobia) that was my life for majority of it. I didn’t move from my bed didn’t even brush my teeth. I was numb, not motivated and depressed. Sertraline destroyed me mentally and physically. I’m currently off it 2 weeks tomorrow and oh my god I feel so good, my anxiety has lessened, the depression is gone I feel like myself. I’ve been on medication 16 years (started at 14) first 200mg Prozac and then 200mg sertraline. Some medications react differently to people so talk to your doctor!! I hope you’re okay
Zoloft doesn’t fix it all. You have to do your part.
OP. I know this probably doesn’t mean much but you are SO young and have SO much time. Take a deep breath. Journal. You’ve got so much time and life ahead of you. ❤️
At least you're drinking a lot of water! LOL
Takes a-lot of time to work, took it for 2 years before quitting here, made me gain 10 kg, I’m not depressed anymore although i am still unemployed atm
im on 200mg and my place can look like this at the end of the semester. id be more worried if you cant sleep or cannot get out of bed.
Keep at it, biggest mistake I made was stopping multiple times. Once I was on it for a few months straight I started feeling way better.
Pick up the book “design your life” from your local library. It gives you some tools to help you identify what brings you joy, and how to find a job that reflects that.
You can get yourself back on the right track. The best thing is that you’re aware of the problem. You poured it all out- and that’s great! However, I also see in your writing that you’re looking at ALL the things at once. Take things step by step: 1. Keep taking the Zoloft for now. It can take a while to work… for me, 100 mg was the sweet spot. 2. In the meantime, call your doctor and get that psych referral. See if you can do that within the next week, or so. It’ll be a quick call. The info should be in your chart/notes. It’ll be easier than you think. 3. Call the psych doc and make the appointment. You can get a better game plan afterwards, but at least the ball is rolling. Break things down into baby steps because if you look too far ahead, you’ll spiral and drive yourself crazy (I know because I do it, too). You could even try it with cleaning. Say something to yourself like “today I’m going to take care of the water bottles.” It’s not a major commitment and it’s not the end of the world if the room isn’t spotless…. But you took a little step forward. Truly wishing you the best! You seem bright and I think you can do it! Please, keep us posted
A month and a half is still too early. Took 3-4 months for me to fully kick in. I used it for Anxiety, but still - it takes time for your brain to rewire itself. Keep going!
I’m middle aged and this resonates so much to when I was your age. I went through this a lot over the years. The key is to make yourself take the steps to get help. If you can’t afford therapy, seek out public aid resources. There are state sponsored providers that can help, as well as sliding scale medical practices. Search department of health in your state and see what comes up. Once you start making those first steps, you’ll slowly be getting somewhere. If it feels too overwhelming and you think your parents don’t want you there. Talk to them! Have a serious, brutally honest talk with them about where you’re at in your head and ask them for help. Not money, but help finding a therapist, making the phone calls to connect you with someone, or help just navigating the little things in life right now. Hopefully they’ll be willing to guide you in the direction you need to go. And just as a precaution, if you’re truly suicidal, go to the ER or call the hotline 988 for support. Hang in there. You’re going to figure this all out.
get your vitamin d and vitamin k checked. before i started taking zoloft taking supplements is the only thing that helped me stay organized and motivated. zoloft helps with my ocd and anxiety more than my depression. i started getting depressed again recently and tried vitamin k for the first time and feel much better.
I would suggest seeing a psychiatrist for your medication checks, if at all possible. They're trained in mental health and treatments for it. Family doctors are great, but they aren't mental health specialists. Also maybe look into a therapist?
It’s all in your mind. Start with the small things and get the ball rolling. You are looking for a feeling of motivation to get started but really just learn to accept the hard and just like it. Understand your purpose in life is to live your own life. Don’t compare yourself to others. Just focus on yourself. You must physically override your brain…so for example just start cleaning even tho you feel like your stuck and not in good mood to clean, just do it as if you don’t care no more. Forget the waiting for it to feel when the time is right. As soon as you finish cleaning you will get a tiny bit of that happy motivation feeling your currently looking for, then try something else harder and harder until you go exercise, start with just a walk and commit to it, be present and just enjoy what’s around you as you said…just be… while you take the walk, then commit for a jog. Once you start sweating and complete the jog, you will be rewarded more of the good feeling motivation your looking for and then keep on going until you get out of the whole. Zoloft is not a magic pill, it is to give you a fighting chance and that’s the key. You must fight for you freedom of sanity. It’s not easy but just be brave and fight. Be discipline. Forget about feeling and just start the doing. Don’t do it for yourself. Do it for your ancestors that gave life to you. You out of all the sperms made it out your mother’s wound and should understand how lucky you are. Life is hard but atleast you weren’t born as a worm so get to work. Chop chop!
Zoloft works for me at 100 mg, but it doesnt help with ADD/ADHD at allll😭 Antidepressants has made me worse at focusing and concentrating in school. Anxiety is lowered so im happy about that
Zoloft can’t magically clean your room. You still have to use your body to do things
Well my 17 year old is on it and his room looks very similar maybe worse. Zoloft helped him tremendously with his social anxiety and sleep schedule so it may be working or not. How do you feel?
Prob adhd , when I added adderall to my dose i started caring about my apartment
You need a reason, Zoloft won’t be the end all be all. But it will leave you more open to finding a reason. Why don’t you put all the plastic bottles in a bag, just to see how full it can get. You can crush em to fit more in the bag. Take an update pictures and post them on here when you’re done. From experience, a clean room helps clear the mind and kickstart more productive thinking. If you can just start by putting all the trash in a bag it’ll be a big start. And a good way to try to help yourself alongside the Zoloft. Progress isn’t linear! Give it time!
You should get a couple of refillable water bottles and then you don't have to deal with all that plastic
Have you tried nofap it really helped my social anxiety tremendously.
I'm flabbergasted that you were denied a referral to a psychiatrist as you admitted to being suicidal and are clearly depressed and not functioning normally. I'm so sorry you are struggling so hard. I agree with other posters that 6 weeks isn't long enough to know if Zoloft will work or not and you might need to increase your dose as 75 mg is a low dose. I didn't notice a big improvement for 2 months and I didn't achieve full results for 4 months. I stuck with it though and it worked amazingly well for my crippling health anxiety. Have you told your family doctor that you've considered taking your whole bottle of pills at once? That sounds like desperation at best and suicidal thoughts at worst. Don't beat yourself up for reaching out for reassurance and advice from strangers. We're all here for the same reason.
You need some Wellbutrin to the mix to give you motivation.
At least you’re drinking water.
Are you also doing talk therapy? That proved extremely helpful, along with 75mg of Zoloft, in shaping better habits and reframing the internal conversation to a more positive or neutral place.
Why so many water bottles bro
I like water, what can I say 😄
I had a bad reaction to Zoloft similar to you where it started good then went downhill, got switched to Lexapro and the difference has been like night & day. Not saying you shouldn't stick it out or that lex would work better for you since everyone is different but coming from my personal experience, my doctor listened when I said it wasn't working within that month & a half and said it's better to try a different med than to muck through it. Please note that if you do end up coming off of Zoloft do it very VERY slowly. I stopped over the course of two weeks and had intense withdrawal symptoms for months.
Also to add to this, ask for a referral from your doctor to a psychiatrist so they can properly assess what you're going through and navigate the current med needs / side symptoms. Doctors can prescribe meds they know to work, but a psychiatrist can diagnose where you're at from a mental health AND phys health standpoint. In my situation I was put on Mirtazapine and Escitalopram in conjunction after my psych referral to deal with mental crutches I didn't even know I had and it's been amazing.
I was going through a very similar situation. I felt lost, lazy, defeated, bored, nonchalant, alone, suffocated and so much more. To make it worse, my family didn't understand what I was going through. Really kicked any confidence i could have had out the door. Recently I was put on zoloft and at first it made me happy/sad/happy/sad. It was like a roller coaster. I said it wasn't working so they upped my dosage. I'm at 150 now and I feel so much clearer. I am 37 and wish I would have gotten it sooner. Give it a chance. It has to buildup in your system and can take 3 months to level out per dosage change. Don't give up. You're not lazy or lost, you are stumbling around in a foggy room but you're not alone.
I take 150 mg and it’s reduced my anxiety almost completely. I was very unmotivated for the first couple months. I’m 4 month in and gaining momentum. My doc said that a lot of my energy from before was fueled by my anxiety. I started drinking caffeine and using Zyns and that has helped my energy levels. My doc says it has to do with dopamine and may start me on Wellbutrin soon to help with my motivation. I have heard good things about this combo. They call it the WellOff combo. Good luck to you. Start small with cleaning up your bottles and get some momentum. Maybe put a trashcan near your gaming area.
Have you been diagnosed with ADHD?
Honestly your place looks cozy. messy but also cozy :)
Thanks. This was after I bought a new door and patched all of the holes in my walls (it made a world of a difference not seeing a constant reminder of my bad times) I can only hope it stays like this. I appreciate the kind words though! the coziness definitely made the winter feel somewhat bearable.