Yes. I have been taking sertraline for over a decade and it has literally saved my life. I was able to become the person I always wanted to be without social anxiety overtaking my life at every corner.
Please don't take any advice from anyone on HN, including me. This community often attracts armchair anecdoctors. Go and speak to a doctor.
Many many summers and a thousand years ago, I went to a pdoc to complain of anxiety issues. I left (after a good hour+ of talking) with a bipolar 2 diagnosis. The diagnosis was correct: at low doses, lamotrigine/Lamictal behaves like an antidepressant (and you have to taper in slowly to prevent bad reactions) and I flipped the fuck out in euphoric mania. I shortly after went on lithium and never regretted it. I started having dreams that seemed to resolve my deeper "psychoanalytical" issues. It really fixed me up.
This has been like 15 years ago. The more I learn, the more it seems I was the textbook case doctors never expect to meet. People are not generally aware that dysphoric mania is a thing. A good diagnosis can change your life.
Anecdotally, yeah. It's worth it. To be frank (I'll comment more on this elsewhere) I think the risk of permanent sexual dysfunction or any other permanent effect is dramatically overblown by articles like this one. The short-term and while-you're-taking-it side effects are real, but for me and many others well worth it.
Everyone in my family has some sort of anxiety issue. Citalopram (with the help of therapy and lifestyle changes) helped me overcome severe anxiety, helped my brother stop throwing up whenever he got in a too-high-pressure situation, and gave my sister the willpower to move out of my parents' house and get a job.
They're good drugs with frustrating downsides. That's life. I'd still recommend them.
Yes. I've been on/off (mostly on) them for around 20 years. It started when I was young and a girl broke my heart. I just couldn't get out of my "funk". I started taking Zoloft and it gave me a life again. I probably have social anxiety and I am def. more comfortable in public and around people I don't know when I'm on an SSRI. I am not as negative and cynical and have hope for the future. I don't want to take them, wish I didn't have too but even with consistent exercise, therapy etc. it just wasn't enough without the medical help.
They can't sleep, can't focus.
Like they are rolling on their bed all the time but no real sleep.
Then on the next day when they have the interview their cognition is exhausted and tired.
Solution: CBD helped them sleep better like in 40 min.
Situation 2. Meeting or having a situation that they will be anxious. (meeting, new job,etc).
CBD before makes the "negative voices" stop.
I talking CBD only.
You will not feel high or anything.
Indeed you will forgot that you use it but then you will not be anxious.
Meaning -> it does not give a "kick" that you feel. suddenly you are relaxed and "forgot" about being anxious.
I was a person that thought the medicinal effects were "exagerated" so the ""hipppies"" could use it. But then once I saw it working I changed my prejudice.
My experience with CBD is that it will knock you out and give you a deep sleep on day 1, but the more you use it the harder it is to sleep without it. Almost like the payday loans of falling asleep.
