Might have flu and need advice ☹️

I felt nervous when the thought of "what if it's the medication" first appeared, but I'm okay right now. Thank you, though 🥹🩷 I will do my best to remain calm. I'll just keep track of my temperature. I shouldn't worry unless my fever worsens, I guess.

@nae nae Of course 🩷 how long have you been on sertaline and how does it work for you? Was on escitalopram and had side effects, so am curious about people’s journey w other medications

@lemonmuffin I've been on Sertraline for a little over a year now, and it's helped so, so much. It took about a month or so to feel a difference (also raising the dose from 25mg to 50mg). The first couple of months, I'd experience a slight spike in intrusive thoughts for about one to two weeks after raising the dose, but that side effect eventually went away. It's seriously helped me get my life back. Does OCD still affect me? Yeah, but it isn't overwhelming and constant. It's so much easier to direct focus on living in the current moment rather than my intrusive thoughts or fears... Other side effects I experienced in the beginning were drowsiness and an upset stomach, but it wasn't severe and went away fairly quickly. Over the past year or so, my psychiatrist and I raised the dose a lot, but I think I've finally found the one that works best for me! :) It's different for everyone, but I haven't had any major issues so far.

@nae nae Okay thank you, I did notice that escitalopram doesn’t help OCD thoughts so much, maybe anxiety a bit but not much, even when was on the highest dose, so I will talk with psychiatrist to see maybe and construct the dosage for me with Setraline, since I heard a lot of good stuff about it. Can I just ask do you feel like your fear and intrusive thoughts are not affecting you that much? Like they aren’t here all the time

@lemonmuffin If I'm experiencing a flare-up, it still affects me, but not to the point where it's debilitating. Before I started meds, a single intrusive thought could have me paralyzed with fear for an entire day or longer. I got almost zero relief. Compulsions were also EXTREMELY difficult to resist doing... btw I'm just explaining this to illustrate how big of a difference it's been!! But anyways, if I'm not experiencing a flare-up, the thoughts are nothing compared to before. I still get them, but it's like the volume is turned down to the point where they don't feel urgent or real. I'm just like, "Oh, okay, well, there's that thought again. I'm not going to engage with it, sooo... moving on!" It's easier to resist compulsions, too. The only times I really, really struggle with that are if I was just triggered by something. Occasionally, an intrusive thought will sneak up on me, but the difference between before Sertraline and after is like night and day for me. It's a huge noticeable difference outwardly (like to family, friends) and inwardly!! But I still had to work on managing compulsions and my responses/reactions to the intrusive thoughts. That's also a huge part of it. Medication was the tool I needed to allow myself to do that. Obviously, you can do it without medication, too, but it was a lot easier for me with meds than without. I hope that answers your question. If not, just let me know!!

@nae nae Uhhh you explained it so well thanks so much, it does feel like it might help, since the thoughts now without medications are scaring, and constantly here, and compulsions like washing hands, ignoring the triggers, repeating and so on are hard to resist as well, how about triggers, does it help you with that to not get an instant panic and so on, and sorry if I ask so much questions about it.

@lemonmuffin No, don't apologize! I don't mind answering any questions. I love to help if I can 🤍 So, sort of... With the meds, the intrusive thoughts lessened, toned down, etc... Since I'm not engaging with the thoughts as often, the OCD lost some of its hold on me, making the fear and intrusive thoughts seem less realistic (less of something to worry about). It takes a lot for me to get really triggered nowadays, so yes, I'd say it has helped in that department, too. If I do get really, really triggered by something, it's still not as bad as it was before. I'm usually able to calm myself or at least focus my attention elsewhere until the anxiety passes.

@nae nae It does sound like a person can get back to who they were before this bully inside the head 🩷tysm for answering everything, hope it made it much much easier for you to handle it, escitalopram did nothing of this tbh, my hands are like dry towel fr 😂It does get to a certain point where everything becomes a trigger, which is hard to ignore at this condition, and ERP is out of the question to do without medications. Can I ask which type of ocd you have?

@lemonmuffin For the most part, yes!! The OCD will be there, but it's manageable. And, yeah, seriously 🫠 it can get exhausting. I'm sorry escitalopram didn't work out for you. I hope you're able to find a medication that does. I don't know what you use for dry hands, but O'keeffe's Working Hands cream does a good job moisturizing severely dried skin. Also, you can do ERP without being on meds, actually! A lot of people do. I think it's just that ERP + medication is the most effective for some people. By which type, are you asking the theme? The ones I've struggled with the most are Pure-O, real event OCD, POCD, HOCD, and magical thinking. But I feel like I've rotated through most of them at this point. Health OCD/contamination OCD has been making its come back in recent months, though lol.

That sounds awful. I've heard it's bad, but wow... I'm also terribly sorry to hear about your grandmother's passing ❤️‍🩹 Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it. I'll look into going in and getting tested for the flu, just to be safe. Once again, my condolences to you and your loved ones, and I hope your voice returns soon. Wishing you all the best 🫂

@nae nae Hoping yours doesn’t worsen and that your sibling gets better too!