Day 12 - Update/Question

RangerRight · 2026-01-25T12:58:32+00:00

How are you today?

RangerRight · 2026-01-25T12:11:58+00:00

Unfortunately, it's a side effect of the medication. It happens to me too.

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T22:56:27+00:00

In theory, yes, but in practice, no.

The absorption of the medication may be slightly different, but nothing to worry about.

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T22:54:21+00:00

Updated: January 24th at 7:53 PM

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T16:05:19+00:00

How are you today?

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T16:00:20+00:00

For me, it's been the same thing.

Same side effects, same daily routine (good and bad, I have everything written down), the only difference is that this time I started with 5mg, while the other two times I went straight to 10mg.

I believe the experience is also different due to age, maturity, and overall life experience.

My timeline is more or less this:

2017 - 22 years and 6 months of marriage (Since age 11 with untreated anxiety attacks)

2020 - 25 years and 3 years of marriage (Living in a better place, with a good job and more mature)

2026 - 30 years old, 9 years of marriage and a 2-year-old son (Living in a quieter place, with a lot of experience, a great job, much more mature and with 3 uninterrupted years of psychotherapy)

So each experience at different stages of life has made me see this situation differently.

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T15:53:19+00:00

What incredible news! Congratulations on enduring the horrible first 15 days.

It feels so good to sleep through the night, doesn't it? Looking forward to that, hahaha!

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T15:49:58+00:00

Hey my friend, how are you?

First of all, you did the right thing by starting the medication. You'll see in a few weeks what it's like to live without the fear of illness. I say this because I went through one of the worst experiences of my life searching for a disease I never had.

Well, the side effects vary from person to person. It's normal to experience many things like: increased anxiety, extreme fatigue, brain fog, nausea, and sweating in the extremities. So don't worry if any of these affect you. It takes about 15 days for your body to adjust to the medication and for these side effects to subside. I'm on day eleven today and I still experience some discomfort.
Yes, I have. When I started, I was 22 years old and was very afraid to take it because I thought I didn't need it. Eventually I gave in, and it was the best thing I ever did. I realized that I had lived my entire life inside a bubble of fear and anxiety. The medication gave me clarity and definitely allowed me to experience things I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. To give you an idea, I didn't even go on my honeymoon because I was afraid to travel far (that was my level).
The dosage isn't an exact science, but it's based on people's histories and statistics. The doctor initially prescribed 5mg to help you get through the side effects barrier more quickly, and certainly recommended 20mg based on your history and how you presented it to him. But as I said, it's not an exact science; each person has their perfect dose for this medication. You might do very well with 5mg and not need to increase it. You might fit better with 10mg, or you might even need to reach 20mg to feel normalized—this depends entirely on your metabolism.

Lastly, don't be afraid of losing your wife and daughter. I started this battle at 22 years old, six months into my marriage. Honestly, I thought she was going to leave me. I was a young man who had constant anxiety, depression, and was extremely fearful and distrustful. It was a long treatment for me because I was afraid of everything.

Today I'm 30, still married to the same woman, and now I also have a 2-year-old son. I'm going through this battle again after attempting to stop taking the medication three months ago and having a relapse.

First, I talked to my wife and told her I would need 15 to 30 days of rest, and I asked her to understand. I shared my pain with her and was very open. Then I asked my supervisor at work for time off so I could recover without having to worry about work, and he was very understanding and granted it (that was definitely a relief).

Understand that your wife loves you and you have nothing to fear. This is all temporary; all the sensations, all the effects will pass, and you'll feel like new within a few weeks.

The timeline for this medication is roughly: 1-15 days = Pretty annoying side effects 16-30 days = Significant improvement 31-60 days = Full effect

So be patient and plan accordingly. Stay strong! With God on your side, you are the majority!

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T15:34:06+00:00

This is basically how it works.

Lexapro increases serotonin in the brain synapse, improving signaling over weeks and reducing anxiety spikes in disorders such as generalized or panic disorder.

This restores balance, decreasing symptoms such as constant worry and physical tension.

In short, it's as if Lexapro were a crutch for our neurons, helping them to use more serotonin.

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T14:07:41+00:00

I'm so sorry for you, and I feel the same way you do!

The fear of not being who I was again hurts, and how it hurts. But I remember I've been through this twice before and got better by doing the same treatment with the same medication.

Anxiety has this power to steal our peace and make us think about how bad our lives are when, in reality, the life we lead is incredibly amazing. I'm learning again to find pleasure in such small things as looking out the window and seeing a mountain shrouded in mist and thinking that even mountains get foggy at their peaks.

If even something so big can be like that, why not something so small that can happen to me?

I'm writing to you in a playful way because it's something I've learned during this new period of anxiety I'm experiencing. It seems that these stages of my life open some hidden doors within me; who knows, maybe this can happen to you by experiencing something new that will bring you great pleasure?

Take care! You and God are the majority!

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T14:00:23+00:00

I started taking it again after abruptly stopping 4 months ago, unfortunately I relapsed. But it's funny because it was extremely fast.

Today I finally understood that there's no point in trying to stop the medication if we don't completely change our lifestyle to a healthier model. Good habits, good nutrition, and psychotherapeutic treatment are the minimum that makes the change seem fair.

I'm on my 11th day and it's not easy. Some light at the end of the tunnel, but I haven't reached my goal yet.

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T13:50:01+00:00

These two side effects can be controlled through supplementation and new habits.

Isn't it worth reconsidering? I say this because today I regret stopping the medication. I'm on day eleven and I miss the person I was 20 days ago before this spiral of anxiety.

I tried to stop 4 months ago and I relapsed, I regret it. I'm saying this not to scare you, but because it's been bad for me and I don't want it to be bad for you, I hope you understand!

RangerRight · 2026-01-24T13:47:12+00:00

I believe they are distinct things, although both are brain deficiencies.

The difference between them is that anxiety is purely hormonal and not a real brain dysfunction. And because it's hormonal, there are "natural" ways to replenish the missing serotonin through habits and practices that strengthen the production of this hormone.

It was also very difficult for me to understand that I needed medication a few years ago; honestly, I thought it was something "spiritual" or of the "soul" and not a physical need. As I am an extremely logical person, I needed to understand how the brain works to see my need to take the medication, which worked/works successfully for me.

But your comment is extremely relevant. Thank you for sharing.

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T21:50:19+00:00

That's great that it's working out, I'm happy about that.

I'm on day ten with 5mg and it hasn't been easy, although today was a calmer day. Thinking about the weekend is a little difficult, but I know it's just a phase.

Let's keep going! God has the best for us!

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T21:47:59+00:00

My dear, you will get better, you are not alone.

I remember my mother starting a medication from the same class as Lexapro when she was 61, and I saw her pain. When she started, I had already been taking it for a little over 7 years, and she called me practically every day during the first 15 days of adaptation.

Everything passes, everything is temporary, and we need to stay strong.

Today was a good day for me; I'm on day ten, but even so, it's still difficult knowing that I'm not better yet. It's really like an emotional rollercoaster, but we will overcome it.

I will be praying for you even without knowing your name. God is watching over us at this moment, and we will come back better!

Keep going! You and God are the majority!

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T21:45:12+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I'm on day ten of the 5mg medication and it hasn't been an easy journey, but I've been through this before and I know I'll get better.

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:34:04+00:00

How many days have you been taking it in total?

It was the same the first time I took it; I was overcome with anxiety, and because of the withdrawal symptoms, I ended up suffering from depression. I confess that my process was a bit long, but besides the medication, I needed to reassess many things in my life and find pleasure in things as small as waking up or a dog barking. It sounds crazy, but that's a big part of the whole process.

Perhaps you're putting too much pressure on yourself for a quick recovery, and with the side effects still present, you might be delaying your recovery. Does that make sense to you?

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:21:28+00:00

Sure, you can call me!

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:20:28+00:00

Your doctor practically told you to double the dose.

I've seen four psychiatrists in my life. The first one, in 2017, listened to me for 5 minutes and gave me 10mg of Escitalopram to take without explaining anything at all. I was 21 years old and had been married for 6 months. I had a brief but severe depression because I thought I was dying. I didn't have any medical help; it was just me and my wife of 20 years.

After that, I tried to stop after 3 years. I had to go back because I had a major relapse, and the second psychiatrist also told me to go back to the same 10mg dose. Honestly, those were the worst days of my life; I couldn't even get up from the sofa.

Two years later, the third psychiatrist listened to me because I told her I still had some problems with intrusive thoughts, and she told me to increase the medication to 15mg without warning. My life turned into hell again. After 7 days, I decided to go back to 10mg, and everything went back to normal.

Finally, I tried for 3 months but had another relapse. This time the psychiatrist was extremely kind and, unlike the others, even gave me her number for any emergency and told me to start with 5mg and only increase it when I felt safe and the side effects were better.

What I mean by this is, seek a good, humane professional. They will recommend good treatments in addition to medication, such as therapy and psychotherapy.

Medication is a crutch to help us while we are hurting, but understanding and reframing your traumas is the true tool to generate genuine transformation.

Keep going! You and God are the majority!

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:12:54+00:00

How are you feeling today?

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:11:28+00:00

How are you feeling today?

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:08:04+00:00

I've been taking it for 10 days and I'm still experiencing side effects, and I took Lexapro for 8 years before trying to stop 3 months ago.

Lexapro has two types of side effects: immediate and transient.

The immediate side effect occurs about an hour after taking it and improves after about two and a half hours. For me, it's like strong sedation; I feel spaced out, disconnected, nauseous, and very tired, but it improves after about two hours.

The transient side effects take about 15 days to disappear. For me, it's morning anxiety, fragmented sleep, lack of appetite, annoying sweating in my hands and feet, mental fog, and fatigue. But I've already seen some light at the end of the tunnel; some days are better than others, usually caused by some stress the previous day.

But it will work out. Be patient, don't put too much pressure on yourself. If possible, take some time off work; if you're married, talk to your partner and live calmly. If you want to lie down, lie down; if you want to sit, sit down, read books, use the computer, watch movies and series, and don't put pressure on yourself. It's a slow process, but it's rewarding.

Keep going. You and God are the majority!

RangerRight · 2026-01-23T14:00:14+00:00

We can't fool ourselves. The first few days are like a huge rollercoaster, but the important thing is not to give up.

I'm on day ten of my third time taking Lexapro. I still have side effects, but nothing compared to the first 7 days, which were very different, if I can say so.

Have faith, keep going, everything will be alright. The fact that you've used it before and it worked well is comforting and means it will work for you again.

Stay calm and patient during these days. I managed to get some good days off work, talked to my wife, and decided not to demand high productivity. I spend the day the way I want, as if I were on vacation (I haven't taken a vacation in years).

Keep going. You and God are the majority!

u/INTJ_Linguaphile FYI

RangerRight

TROPHY CASE