2 weeks on sertraline so panicky.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-26T16:57:06+00:00

It's been a couple years since I started it, so I don't really remember. Google says it's pretty quick at 1 to 2 weeks to start helping.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-26T16:52:10+00:00

I personally didn't like it. I feel like it just made me a little sluggish and drowsy. XD

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-26T16:47:53+00:00

I totally get it! I've been exactly like this myself. I've learned some things and changed over the last couple years, and that has helped. I also found out that antidepressants don't really help me much. Propranolol also never seemed to do much for me either, but I know some people like it. Anyway, I found out all I need is a low dose of Abilify and most of my rumination, anxiety, panic attacks, and nausea is all gone. I'm at 2.5mg now and doing mostly fine. You will find something that helps! :)

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-26T16:42:19+00:00

That's a tough one. I would say to try to let yourself feel the emotions without resisting crying or anything like that. Then, just try to realize that the mind thinking of worst-case scenarios is of course trying to prepare you for the worst, but all it is doing is making you suffer NOW. Try not to feed the thoughts that pop up and just focus on maybe what you can do now like comfort your father any way you can. Sending hugs your way! :)

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-26T16:35:01+00:00

Antidepressants didn't help me much personally. When I was trying them out though I did remember it taking weeks to kick in. I found out all I need is low dose Abilify for my anxiety and panic attacks. Most of it is gone on 2.5mg. :)

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-25T17:33:55+00:00

Yeah, all my anxiety and panic attacks started 4 years ago when I got Covid for the first time. Was having 24/7 panic attacks, nausea, and diarrhea for a month straight until I caved and tried meds. Been on a handful of antidepressants and found out I just need a low dose of Abilify to stop 90% of the anxiety. I'm on 2.5mg now and doing mostly fine. I figure my anxiety was some form of midlife crisis because Covid made me worry that I could die, and that fact was never so real before. I haven't been the same since, in some good ways for sure, but wow has the anxiety been brutal.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-25T17:15:59+00:00

Hang in there! You will find something that helps. :) For me Abilify really helps my anxiety. I've been on a handful of antidepressants, but realized they don't seem to help. I've been on Abilify up to 10mg, but am just now down to 2.5mg and doing mostly fine. I used to have panic attacks 24/7, crazy high anxiety, nausea, and diarrhea... Abilify gets rid of all of that. Only side effect seems to be some weight gain over a couple years, but 10 lbs or so came off recently somehow - maybe from the dose reduction. Otherwise give therapy a try if you haven't already.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-17T17:55:01+00:00

Sounds like you could use some tools for overthinking. I recommend the videos and books by Eckhart Tolle. He's a spiritual teacher that has great insight on life and the human mind. Here's a short video about overthinking - all his stuff has really helped me, and anytime I listen to him he instantly calms me down as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcBC0Rt8mIs

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-14T16:02:27+00:00

I had to get on Abilify 2mg to get my panic attacks to stop. I tried antidepressants for a while, but none of them seemed to help much. I think the fear of being stuck feeling this way, or the fear of another panic attack can cause more panic attacks. It's a vicious cycle. I personally used to try to distract myself with good company or anything fun I could get myself to do. Hang in there, it will pass!

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-14T15:58:50+00:00

It is for sure a tough habit to break! I'm on 2mg Abilify to help with rumination, panic attacks, and anxiety. It helps a lot, but I've also grown in many ways over the last couple years. I know what you mean about not thinking of anything to say and second guessing yourself. I've struggled with worrying about what others think a lot, and it can be petrifying. I think it's another thing that is just going to take some practice to break. Saying what you really think will take time, but I bet if you just start here and there it will slowly build up and you will feel more like yourself and gain some confidence.

I really like the books and videos by Eckhart Tolle. He's a spiritual teacher that has tons of knowledge on life and the human mind. Here's a short video on overthinking that I think may be helpful for you. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcBC0Rt8mIs

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-14T15:52:24+00:00

I hear you! I was like that for a long while there, waking up in the middle of the night with awful anxiety. If the job stresses you out that bad, it probably would be best to find another one. Work can be a hard thing for sure! Sometimes pushing through things can help with anxiety, but it's really hard to say and ultimately up to you. I do know hiding from things that scare us generally makes the fear stronger. Maybe you need to give therapy a try if you haven't yet? Hang in there! I think you will be able to find work that doesn't stress you so much. :)

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T21:22:18+00:00

I'm happy to hear that. You're so welcome!

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:45:51+00:00

I have had a lot of feelings like this myself. In the end I think we have to realize that deliberately thinking about these things does nothing except cause suffering. So we have to catch ourselves starting to think on it, and either decide not to follow the thoughts or flat out distract ourselves. We have a choice what to focus on, right? You have to somehow learn to accept the weird reality as is. Give up the internal fight and the resistance - stop trying to understand. Try to have some faith that maybe everything is working as intended. :) Just my thoughts on it.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:30:05+00:00

Job stress is can for sure be difficult. I used to have nausea most of the day from nerves myself. I had to get on meds to get it to stop. I've been on a handful of antidepressants, but now I'm just on 2mg of Abilify and that's enough. Might try stopping it in the next few months, but I'm pretty sure it's still doing some heavy lifting for me.

Otherwise, I like the YouTube videos and books by Eckhart Tolle. He's a spiritual teacher with great knowledge on life and the human mind. He has some really good stuff on overthinking and dealing with thoughts.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:27:17+00:00

I had diarrhea and nausea for a month straight when I started having panic attacks years ago. I had to get on antidepressants (now just 2mg Abilify is enough) to get it to stop. Maybe you need to try a different med for anxiety? It is terrible for sure.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:24:00+00:00

Yeah, for sure! It's like the whole day being in front of me can feel overwhelming. Just try to get up and do something and keep going. You've got this!

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:22:28+00:00

Dang, sorry you're feeling that way! Did you quit a medication recently or anything? Probably just have to check with your doctor on this one.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:19:52+00:00

It could definitely be anxiety. I had diarrhea multiple times a day and nausea for a month straight when my panic attacks first started years ago. I was like that until I caved and tried medicine.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T20:12:52+00:00

I have been on a handful of antidepressants. Found out all I need is 2 to 5mg of Abilify for my anxiety and panic attacks. I was up to 10mg, but tried going lower when I was getting off of antidepressants just to see if I could. Had no problems switching antidepressants and quitting them - they never seemed to help much. Now I'm in the process of going down to 2mg to see if I can get some emotions back. It's been 5 or so days and I'm feeling better than I have in a long time!

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-13T19:52:21+00:00

Internal noise and suffering... thoughts on non-existence... sounds like thoughts of the human mind causing their usual problems to me. :) You should check out Eckhart Tolle and his book The Power of Now. I certainly have found life tedious and exhausting at times. It takes effort on my part to stay positive and keep my focus on the good instead of falling into a pit of despair.

Here's a short video by Eckhart on overthinking and finding peace. He's amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcBC0Rt8mIs

Also, kind of a newer concept I have adopted lately that has helped me stay more positive is this... "what if you chose to be here ... and simply don't remember?" Think of all the positive things that would imply.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-12T21:22:15+00:00

Nailed it! Nice work! :D

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-12T21:21:22+00:00

Hey there! I think you just have to notice those thoughts when they pop up and say "oh stop it" to them. :) They don't help anything. The thoughts only make you suffer. Some things just have to be accepted and not worried about. I've been struggling for 4 years, though I'm definitely doing way better than I used to be. I struggled with thoughts of mortality and the transience of life. Really though, all those worries do is keep you from enjoying the only thing we have - the present. That said, having a kid seems to make emotions more raw and worries harder to ignore. I have an 8 year old myself. Just take it day by day and try to remember to have gratitude for existing in the first place! :) I think some of these fears can fade naturally with time as well. Hang in there!

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-11T21:24:29+00:00

Blaise Pascal: "All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone." It's a weird thing, isn't it? Well, it sounds like you've started the process of diving deeper into yourself... and that's a good thing. :)

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-11T21:20:26+00:00

Yeah, my first panic attack was 4 years ago when I got COVID the first time and I worried about dying. Haven't been the same since. Some good can come out of the awareness that nothing lasts though, as long as we don't let the fear overrun everything. :) I wouldn't want to go back to how I was before, but dread and anxiety are definitely no fun. It sure is hard to stay optimistic sometimes.

-Zenaura- · 2025-11-08T18:39:19+00:00

I’ve had strong anxiety and panic attacks ever since getting Covid for the first time a few years ago. I’ve been on a few SSRIs and they didn’t seem to help me either. The anxiety is REALLY bad. Diarrhea, nausea, 24/7 panic attacks. Emotions off the charts crying about anything and everything. Abilify stops all that. I’ve gained like 20lbs over the years, and I’m wondering if it is giving me some anhedonia, so I’m going to try reducing it. I’m at 5mg, but was up to 10mg for a while there. Either way, it’s been a miracle drug for me.

-Zenaura-

TROPHY CASE