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[CLKD]

Without medication I wouldn't be sitting here  .  My 1st panic attack was aged 3.  I've suffered intermittently since.  Right now I'm trying to pluck up courage to book a holiday to Devon ........ my gut rolls every time I look at the calendar 

Get that medication, which might not work for 2-3 months.  The longer you leave trying medication the longer it may take to kick in.  Some ADs help with anxiety as well: I found valium 'as necessary' helped a lot, now I have an emergency tablet to swallow. 

[Vicky81]

Songbird- what MG of sertraline are you on? Xx

[Songbird]

Vicki
I'm on 50mg a day. It's strange how the fluoxetine did nothing for my anxiety but the sertraline, I can honestly say, is spot on!
I am functioning perfectly normally, feel more "with it" and it's almost as if the overactive bit of my brain has been reset so that my level of emotional responses is now normal (whatever normal is). 
I am 57 and took early retirement 3 years ago, largely due to anxiety. I wish I had discovered sertraline back then. Mind you, I'm enjoying my retirement    xx

[Vicky81]

Hi songbird

Yes dobt blame you! I've been ok on sertraline just a bit tired ...I'm 3 weeks 2 days into it ...I'm same 50mg. Hope it helps alongside the HRT gel I've just been prescribed! Xx

[Ihatetuesdays]

Hi there I was just like you. Anxiety so bad I walked out of work one day in tears and couldn’t go back for 6 months. I cried at anything and struggled to leave the house. Couldn’t go in a shop or even see my parents I couldn’t tell you why I just couldn’t. I was already on HRT pill form 50mg and so the dr doubled this which helped. In time I seen a consultant and they moved me to the full strength patch. I can’t say I’ve been 100% since but it certainly helped me get to 75%. When I returned to work I wasn’t over the anxiety but was in a better place to be able to attend which in itself was a huge stepping stone. Over the next couple of years I grew to learn how to deal with it and im about 90% now. I do have bad days but compared to a couple of years ago these are few and far between. Go and see your dr and at least talk about it. You can always try it and see? I wish you all the best and good luck xx

[Vicky81]

Ihatetuesdays- did they say this was down to your hormones? I know you said you were on HRT....but did they not prescribe antidepressant aswell? Or suggest it?

I'm only asking because your symptoms sound like mine ....anxiety that I don't want to go out....no confidence at work anymore...teary

[KaraShannon]

Sorry to hear about the anxiety.  I'm going through it myself atm.

Just to give my experience, my anxiety did lessen for the last 2 years that I've been on evorel sequi.  It also regulated my cycle.  I asked the doctor what if I didn't like it's effects and she said take the patch off and it's out of your system in 24 hours.  She added it's not likely to give any uncomfortable effects. 

The first time I put the patch on I was due to pick someone up from the station.  I felt a bit brave as they were coming to visit me, so I put it on    Ten mins into the journey to get them, I got this minty cool feeling come over me.  I didn't think I was having hot flushes, I still don't think I had them, but this feeling made me realise I'd been hotter than perhaps I would otherwise have been.  it was like having a shower with mint gel or something.  That feeling soon stopped as I got used to it, but I just started to feel better, across the board.  I couldn't specify how when my friend asked, but I knew I felt more myself. 

Whether or not to take hrt is a personal thing, I'm just giving my experience as for me it helped.  Now, 2 years on I'm having a few issues and may need to change but I think it did really help.