u/koalakindness

Hey all, i’m finally starting zoloft, i have put it off for years because i feared the side effects. I’m at my lowest that i’ve been at and suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Mainly panic attacks surrounding my heart rate. i’m too aware of how fast it gets when I have a panic attack, or even when i’m just doing normal tasks, which can send me into a panic attack. i know that increased anxiety is a side effect, but i’m wondering if anyone can attest to how much your anxiety increased when starting? for context, i’m starting on 12.5mg for now to reduce side effects. but overall, did ur panic/anxiety attacks increase by intensity or just by how often u started having them?

i’m 25 and got covid in 2022, which triggered some long covid illnesses. because of that, i developed severe health anxiety, cardiophobia, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. my main stressor is how fast my heart rate can get during a panic attack. because of long covid, my heart rate is high a lot of the time doing minimal tasks, so when i get a panic attack, it shoots even higher. i’ve gone to therapy and seen many doctors and been prescribed countless medicines that i’ve never been able to take out of fear. i feel like i’m stuck between a rock and a hard place because i cant continue to let fear dictate my life, but also the fear of side effects and increased anxiety paralyze me in fear. i’m desperate now and now i need to take this medicine this time around, but i’m just hopeful to hear some positive experiences. thanks!

25f, got POTS in 2022, (could potentially have hyperPOTS), but the intense tachycardia and lightheadedness along w other crippling symptoms caused intense anxiety and panic disorder in me. I developed agoraphobia as well and monophobia. so i fear leaving my house or being alone in case i get sick and someone cant be with me. I’ve recently been prescribed zoloft to help hopefully bring me some type of normalcy.. but as many with health anxiety, i fear the medicine making my anxiety worse at first or making my POTS/tachycardia worse… i know experiences are different with medications, but i’d like to hear some success stories to give me some hope. it seems like theres only bad reviews online 😔 i am on metoprolol tartrate 12.5mg 3x a day.

I have POTS and already struggle with heat intolerance. I’m starting zoloft and have read about how much it can cause heat intolerance and body temperature deregulation, which is kinda putting me off. anyone here on an ssri that causes heat intolerance and what are u doing to help urself cool down during these hot days?

Anyone with hyperadregenic POTS or tachycardia, how do you stay calm and not freak out? Especially those who are unmedicated? i’ve met a few people who say that their severe tachycardia is just a nuisance and that physically, its hard, but mentally theyre pretty calm. i have POTS and my tachycardia is my least favorite symptom. it has caused cardiophobia in me and panic disorder. i’m trying to train myself that this is just how my body operates and i am safe, but the irrational thoughts take over and i feel extremely scared and unsafe inside my own body. i take a beta blocker, but sometimes flares can overpower my daily dosages. also the idea that a high heart rate for this many years (started in 2022) will weaken my heart over time scares me. anyone been dealing with this for a long time? what do u do or tell urself whenever ur stuck in a tachycardic episode?

just found out that my ferritin is at 6, and has actually been low for quite some time. i went to the doctors last year and it was at 8, which wasnt tagged as abnormal, and a year before that, it was at 14, which wasn't flagged as abnormal. come to find out that even 14 is considered quite low! i was shocked when i found out that a ferritin at 8 in most labs isn't flagged as abnormal. i have been losing hair since 2020, i just accepted that i have AGA. and while i still could have AGA, i cant help but wonder if my diffused shedding has been from low ferritin this whole time. i also have low vitamin D.

Hi all, i have pretty bad agoraphobia and panic disorder as well as generalized anxiety. I’m starting buspar because i’ve been told that it is the gentler medications u can take. I have a big fear of starting anxiety meds. I’ve prescribed zoloft, and prozac before but have always been afraid to start. my doctor warned that buspar might not be the best fit for me because it’s more of a subtle approach to what i’m dealing with. but i think if buspar goes well, i won’t be as afraid to start other anxiety meds. i’m hoping to hear some good experiences to help me not feel so anxious to start. i’m starting on 5mg twice daily. i’ve heard it can increase anxiety and heart rate, which is what freaks me out… what side effects did u face on it and did this medication actually work for u?

Hi all, since getting diagnosed with POTS, and tachycardia in 2022… i’ve been struggling with health related anxiety, cardiophobia, agoraphobia and monophobia. in many words, i fear leaving my house or being away from people in case of a medical emergency. most of my panic surrounds my heart rate. I take metoprolol to treat the actual cause, but i still deal with a lot of mental trauma from my illness. I want to take anxiety medicine but i’m afraid to start. has anyone had good experiences on it? Has it affected ur dysautonomia in any way for the worse? i guess i’m worried about side effects. i know its dependent on medication and everyone is different, but i’d just like some peace of mind

i have been dealing with agoraphobia/monophobia for almost 4 years now. i cant be alone at home, i cant drive without someone being in the car with me, i cant be in situations that make me feel trapped and i cant be too far from home or else i panic. i know everyone is different, but has medication genuinely worked for you? i’m desperate to get my life back. if medication worked, how long did it take, what medicine were u on and what dosage?