Does it get worse before it gets better?

does anyone know how to overcome the anxiety getting worse before better when you first start anxiety meds. Sunday will be DAY 7 since starting meds, and my anxiety is so bad rn and i have that tight feeling in my chest pain, and ik its the anxiety but im anxious that thats like a side effect to the medicine or something 😭 which i made sure NOT to read the med side effects cause ik it would definitely js make me fear i have them all , so ready for it to get in my system and work. Also my anxiety gets so much worse at night so any tips for that?

OCD_girly

Date posted: 15d

Yes, mine didn't really start getting better until like 3 weeks in and when I got off meds and started taking them again, it took like 3 months for them to really kick in

zoii

Date posted: 15d

@OCD_girly ohh, yeah i heard it takes abt that long but geez is it hard to see it through 😭

MichelleV

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 15d

Can you maybe take your meds at a different time in the day, to help you sleep? I did that when I started taking Lexapro. I also suggest you focus a lot on self care and using your tools to help you through. Do you have a support system?

zoii

Date posted: 15d

@MichelleV I take them in the morning, and im on zoloft, also yeah i definitely do need to do more self care stuff! what do you mesn support system?

MichelleV

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 15d

@zoii Support system like friends you can talk to, family members, community, etc. when I started taking meds my anxiety was high also, but having a close friend I could lean on was helpful for me. It’s such a weird space to navigate.

nae nae

Date posted: 15d

Yes, it'll be like that 🥲 The first month I started meds was so difficult to get through, but after that, things started getting better. I also had to up my dose, but it does get better. Hang in there 🫂 As for anxiety at night, I'd just try to do things that comfort you, whether that's reading or watching a favorite show, listening to music, etc, etc... Sometimes, I'd write or exercise to help calm my nervous system. Being active really does help, even if it's just going on a walk or dancing in your room to music lol! Best of luck! You can get through this 🤍

zoii

Date posted: 15d

@nae nae Yeah, im pushing through, literally having anxiety about what would rid me of said anxiety lol, i wish it could just skip a month in advance 😭 but im definetly gonna try your tips, do you have any like calming tv shows of your own, that aren’t too loud? Also that dont have sny crazy episodes that id be scared to hear in my sleep 😭 tysm for the advice!! 🤍

nae nae

Date posted: 14d

@zoii If I have something on in the background while I'm going to bed, it will usually be ASMR lol. I'd also suggest any show that's nostalgic to you. I find those to be comforting, but they might not be the quietest. Like I find the cartoon Adventure Time comforting because it's something I watched a lot growing up, but it's not always the most relaxing show 😭 There is this one show called Blue Planet, it's like a documentary on sea life. That could be something that isn't too crazy. The narrator is David Attenborough. He has a very soothing voice, I feel like. I don't know if any of that was helpful, but...! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

unslicedlemons

Date posted: 15d

yes unfortunately. for night maybe some calming music can help or a simple tv show can lull you to sleep

zoii

Date posted: 15d

@unslicedlemons I’ll try that! cause at night im always having to remind myself breathing exercises, nd i do watch very high energy stuff but i usually turn on like asmr when im sleepy and decide to sleep

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