I’m taking Zoloft, an SSRI, for mental illness from PTSD. My doctor said it takes about two weeks for SSRIs to work, so I should take it daily to stay stable.
But when I started, instead of stabilizing, my mood swings got intense. Some days, I couldn’t stop crying all day.
I’d feel happy and laugh during the day, but when I got home, I’d fall into a bad depressive state and lose my appetite most of the time.
I looked it up and found that SSRI side effects can make you feel unstable until they start working.
After about two weeks, when the meds kicked in, it felt like I was free from the bipolar-like pain. But during that time, I was terrified it’d last forever.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Once the meds started working, I felt more stable throughout the day.
My next appointment was exactly two weeks after starting, when the meds were kicking in. I felt a bit frustrated that I couldn’t fully explain how tough those symptoms were to my doctor.
Also, SSRIs aren’t meds you can reduce or stop without a doctor’s guidance.
One day, I was excited to hang out with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while and forgot to pack my pill case. That led to a few days of bad lows and feeling disconnected from reality. It hit me that I really need to take my meds on time, like my doctor said.
※本記事は個人のうつ病体験談です。体験内容はあくまで個人の体験であり、医療アドバイスではありません。専門的なアドバイスを希望する場合は医師へ相談を。
※This article is a personal depression story. The content is solely based on personal experience and is not medical advice. Consult a doctor for professional advice.