u/DeviceElectrical6020

I’m on day 8 of Zoloft and I’m wondering if anyone else experienced feeling more depressed or emotionally low during the first couple of weeks.
I started on a lower dose and today was my first 50 mg dose, so I’m wondering if the increase could be contributing to how I’m feeling. I’m currently kind of in the thick of it and feeling more down than usual, which is making me anxious about whether this is just an adjustment period or a sign that Zoloft isn’t right for me.
For those who have taken Zoloft, did you feel more depressed, flat, emotional, or generally worse before things started improving? If so, around what week did you notice a change?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially from people who eventually felt better on it.

P.s im also freaking out because i just took my first 50mg pill and terrified of symptoms getting worse

Hi everyone,
I apologize in advance, this is going to be a long one.
I’m looking for honest opinions from people who have been in a similar situation, especially those who started Zoloft for panic disorder, postpartum anxiety, or health anxiety.
Hi, my mom of two kids, and when I was about 4 months postpartum with my first baby, I had what I can only describe as a major panic attack. I’ve never had a panic attack before in my life. Ever since then, I’ve never really felt like the same person.
Since that panic attack, I’ve been dealing with:

Severe health anxiety, especially about my heart.
Frequent panic attacks or sudden waves of intense panic. Although this has improved because comparing to a year ago i would constantly go get ecgs, echoes, constantly go to cardiologist, but now i no longer go to doctors or the er mostly because im so scared of getting bad news.
Feeling like I’m dying or that something catastrophic is happening.
Derealization (feeling like things aren’t real), but this has slightly improved.
Constant body scanning and checking my heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen, and every sensation in my body.
Googling symptoms and seeking reassurance, even though I’ve had multiple normal cardiac tests and doctors have reassured me that my heart is healthy.
Intrusive thoughts about suddenly dying, especially after hearing about someone else’s death.
Intrusive thoughts of my kids, always trying to protect them, I reached the point where I am no longer can sleep with my baby in the same room because I keep getting up to check whether there’s a blanket on his face or a pillow is smothering him or if he somehow stopped breathing. But I also cannot make him sleep in his own room because that would just send me into a frenzy.
Anxiety that comes out of nowhere, sometimes with lightheadedness, trouble catching my breath, stomach discomfort, and an overwhelming urge to lie down.
As soon as my kid falls asleep, a lot of guilt just runs through my body. I feel so guilty if I ever like you all the time or look at him in a mean way or didn’t give him enough love or I just keep wondering what I could have done better what I could have done differently and I just feel so guilty when I see him sleeping.
I feel like my daughter isn’t mine i always jokingly said that she’s her father’s daughter she doesn’t look like me she looks like him i literally don’t feel biologically connected to her, but i love her i feel a connection she doesn’t feel like a stranger but also i don’t feel like im her mother
I am unable to travel to have a vacation and leave the kids with their grandparents because I developed the fear of the plane crashing and the idea of leaving my kids behind without a mom scares me so much.
I developed fear of falling asleep because I was so scared of dying in my sleep, but that has slowly subsided when I started going to work again.
Good days where I think I’m getting better, followed by setbacks that make me feel like I’m back at square one.

I’ve been trying to manage it without medication through reassurance, therapy techniques, and lifestyle changes, but it’s been over two years now and anxiety still takes up a huge part of my life.
I keep going back and forth about starting Zoloft. Part of me worries I’ll regret not starting sooner, while another part worries about taking medication at all.

For those of you who eventually decided to start Zoloft:
What made you realize it was time?
Do my symptoms sound similar to what you experienced before starting?
Looking back, do you wish you had started earlier?
Did it help with the constant fear, panic, and obsessive health anxiety?
I’m not looking for medical advice or a diagnosis, I know that’s something to discuss with my doctor. I’m just hoping to hear real experiences from people who’ve been in a similar position.
Thank you :)