Hi giddy12! Welcome to the board!

Since the Zoloft did not work out, did you let your doctor know that? They could adjust the dose or give you something else to take. I know it is frustrating, but sometimes medication takes some trial and error, and I encourage you to speak to your doctor about it. Since you said it was recent, you could call the doctor's office and leave a message about what happened when you took it. They will call you back. That way, you don't have to wait until your next appointment.

Have you looked into therapy at all?

There is help and hope, out there. Good luck.

Giddy, it is a pleasure to welcome you to this support site. Question: could your emotional situation stem from genetic traits or do you imagine this is a problem linked through hereditary misery? I ask this question because you tell that this thing is ongoing since childhood. And it is true that marriage and child-raising bring on several more different challenges on a daily basis. So, I wonder if there is a history of the crampy type of health issues or are there peculiar emotional types of family memories that are still stalling you to moments of panic and anxiety. Is it possible (at all) that this is a matter of how you were raised? It could be that as a youngster you were very sensitive and vulnerable to not so secure home life. I am sad about this too. Bless you, today you deserve many hugs.

I am leaving you with Online reading material: (the latter is something that may trigger a childhood experience, of which I do this on purpose, something may trigger a memory of so)

https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/motherhood-and-anxiety#1
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/anxiety-in-children-2018081414532

One of the things about zoloft is that you must stay hydrated consistently or you will have some issues with it. I was on it, and the first thing I was told was to keep track of my hydration. It made a huge difference as my anxiety spiked and I made myself drink slowly and within moments I was doing better.

One of the things about experiencing anxiety over a long period is making significant changes in small steps, and writing them in a journal to help you sort through the patterns.

Consider what you want for you. Write out that goal and then look at what you can do to help make it happen.

Best wishes.

Welcome to the anxiety board.

Hello everyone!
Thank you all so much for the support, truly.
I am starting therapy this Thursday. I have been to therapy before but I have never really stuck with it. I'm really going to try this time. Like I said in my earlier post, it is unbearable some days. My anxiety is definitely genetic I have aunts, uncles, and my father that struggles with it. I was really just wired this way. I lost my mom at 11 due to a fire and was a bit neglected. I hate to admit because I know my parents loved me very much but they had a lot of issues of their own (drugs and alcohol) so I did not have the best upbringing. I did how ever have really strong role models and a family who loved me.
As far as taking Zoloft goes I'm not sure if I could even try on lower doses now because I have a hundred percent convinced myself that it is not for me, so taking it again will just trigger more panic attacks for me.

Remiah,
Thank you so much for the links I really enjoyed reading them, thank you for your support it feels good talking to people who truly understand. I feel less crazy this way! haha.

Have you taken other meds before? If not try to stick with it because it will take several weeks to see any benefit but if it does work it’s definitely worth it

...I'm so glad that the links help you, giddy. I enjoyed reading there myself. I hurt for your life story; living without a mom at such a young age is devastating to think of. You deserve love & understanding - supporting you is a pleasure! :-)

I know exactly how you feel. I'm not doing well with medication either so I'm scheduling an appointment with my prescriber to try to figure it out. Maybe talking to your doctor will help sort things out over time. I'm hoping for the best for the both of us.

sc523, This was my first time trying medication for anxiety. I really wanted it to help but having panic attacks if you feel your body changing at all it can be triggered and I think that's what was happening to me. Some of the more common side affects of Zoloft, like dizziness, dry mouth, and trouble sleeping was happening to me and it just caused me to overthink and next thing I know I was in full blown panic mode.

AshaDevi, I hope you can get your medication figured out. I've known people who worship their anti depressants and what they have done for them. Its just not for everyone, for your sake I hope it is for you, what a blessing it would be to finally have your brain balanced out and to function like an average person, am I right?

Remiah, Its difficult for me to admit sometimes how hard it really was losing my mom and being neglected its not something I have been very open with in my life. I never liked the pity I would get from people, it always caused me to shut down so I never really dealt with it. I was so numb when it happened I didn't even cry at moms funeral I ran around and played with my friend and just pretended it wasn't happening. A lot of my over thinking I can see now is caused by this trauma. Me always thinking I am going to die young because it happened to me and I think how horrible it would be for my children to go through this especially because both my kids have such a beautiful bond with me. It breaks my heart to even imagine. That's what I need to get over and deal with so I can stop thinking of these sad scenarios that leave my children motherless the way I was. :(
Thank you all for reading and listening, Like I said before it really feels good to just type this all out.. and feel the love :)

I know what exactly what you mean I have the exact same issues and sometimes it’s all in your head because for me any medication is a trigger for my anxiety but if you can stick with it for 6 weeks it will more than likely help
For me it helped 100 percent I had no anxiety no panic attacks and before I couldn’t even leave my house
I messed by thinking I was fine and I quit taking it then a year later I was back to square one

Maybe I will talk to my doctor again about another medication. I cant even imagine my life without panic attacks at this point. Did you take Xanax or anything else while getting adjusted to your medicine? Maybe that's an option but I don't know I've never taken Xanax before.

Good luck with your therapy this Thursday! I think it will really help you. It will be nice to talk to someone about stuff.

Xanax, and other medications in that class (benzo's) are short term, fast acting anti anxiety medications. It would start to work in about 20 minutes. You would feel kind of drowsy and the anxiety would subside, for about 4 hours.

The medications that are SSRI's, such as Zoloft, are longer lasting and not as strong as a Benzo. Zoloft, and similar ones, are for more long term maintenance of anxiety, depression. I take a Benzo during the day, and an SSRI at night. You could talk to your psychiatrist about it, that kind of doctor knows all about these medications.

I wish you the best of luck! You are not alone. Hang in there. You're going to be okay.

I never took Xanax because I was afraid of it but to my understanding it works well
I would recommend taking Xanax for about 6 weeks until the Zoloft starts kicking in after that I would go without
But I’m no doctor just a patient that went through the same thing

I'm afraid of it too, I feel you there. I just hope if I finally get the courage to take something it will help and I can get through those 6 weeks. I have a bottle of Vistaril and I have been to afraid to take. I'm considering it tonight because I'm having horrible anxiety and keep feeling like my throat is going to close. :(
I swear I just cant win :( No matter how hard I try to fight this it takes me over.

I completely relate to being afraid to try a new medicine. I get that way, too. If you can just get through the first dose, you will see that nothing much happens. For me, it's getting over the fear of taking that first dose.

Is it possible to see a psychiatrist? They are MDs that specialize in anxiety and depression and other mood issues. They can help you with what medications that would help you best.

GirlinCalif, I will talk to my counselor about that Thursday when I see her. Maybe that's something she could help me with. I'm also going to call my doctor today and see about maybe getting my thyroid tested. It might be something medical, I might not be all crazy.