Did anyone else feel a LOT worse before they got better? Is this normal?
TLDR at the end
Intro/context: I (22M) started Prozac a week ago. I am already on ADHD meds and beta blockers, but I've never been on an SSRI before. My mental anxiety (the beta blockers are for physical anxiety symptoms) was getting much worse lately and I was experiencing panic attacks, but I didn't want to get on certain other types of medications for anxiety/panic, so my therapist suggested that I get on an antidepressant instead. We thought it would also help with mild-moderate depression symptoms that I experience too, although those symptoms were never unmanageable enough to warrant an antidepressant prescription. I say all this to my psychiatrist, and he prescribed me Prozac, 10mg. I started taking it September 26th, a bit over a week ago, in the morning with my other meds.
I know it takes weeks to feel the full effects, but my god the depression is so, SO much worse. I felt it almost immediately after starting. I didn't even start this medication for depression, it was more for mental anxiety. I think the anxiety slightly improved just because I Don't Care about things enough to be as anxious about them as before.
I was already debating whether or not I was going to continue with my undergrad degree before, but after starting Prozac, I've almost made up my mind that I'm dropping tf out. I'd like to do it right this second, but I know I should trudge through the rest of the semester and get my money's worth of tuition, tie up loose ends etc., and because I might change my mind when/if this medication starts to work.
My psych told me it was an "activating" medication at first, which I guess is true, but I've mostly just experienced more irritability and more impulsivity. My energy and drive is generally low, even while on ADHD medication. My sleep has been mostly unaffected.
Everything is just a massive fckn chore. Eating, showering, shaving, cleaning, homework, practicing my instrument (music major), going to work/class, reading and sending emails, getting out of bed, every single thing feels like an unbearable burden that I don't want to do. I already MASSIVELY struggle with executive dysfunction, so you can only imagine how bad it is now. I don't care about anything anymore. I struggle to get anything done. I've had depressive episodes before and have had a "baseline" of manageable depression symptoms for a long time, but this? This is different. I just don't give a fuck. About anything.
There's been a noticeable increase in negative/self-destructive behaviors and coping mechanisms since starting this medication too, but I'd rather not go into detail abt that here. Rest assured, I do Not have any plans or any desire to hurt myself or others.
Did anyone else have this experience in their first few weeks and saw improvement? Is anyone here on a similar medication combo that I'm on and willing to share their experience? I want to think that after a few more weeks I'll change my mind about dropping out and I'll start to feel better, but I really don't know if I can get to that point at this rate.
TLDR; Prozac is making me feel like absolute dogshit and I don't care about anything in life, but it's only been a week. Did anyone else feel this way too? What was your experience like? Did it improve enough to make the first few weeks worth it in the end? Anything helps.