i've seen the TV commercial for it. how is it? is it specifically for social anxiety or just general anxiety?

I THINK IT IS MORE FOR DEPRESSION. I KNOW PROZAC HAS LEVELED ME OUT IN ALL AREAS. IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY BUT WHAT IS?

JUST FOLLOW THE PROGRAM AND IF YOU FEEL A NEED FOR MORE TALK TO A GOOD DOCTOR.

YOU COULD TRY DEEP BREATHING AND MEDATATION... CAN'T HURT!

PEACE OUT,
O/N

My older sister has had anxiety and panic attacks for at least 30 years. Poor thing didn't have the luxery to have all the tools and info there is out there right now. We are lucky for that....She went on Zoloft about 2 years ago and she is a totally different person. It really has given her, her life back. I know many others on it and they only have good things to say. I'm going on meds shortly myself. Not sure what I'll be given but if it's zoloft, I'm gladly open to it.

I have seen the commercials. Very deceptive. it says ONLY a doctor can diagnose social anxiety and that it is CAUSED by a chemical imbalance. Well, I diagnosed myself because no one else could figure out what was going on with me. And while it is my experience that the condition itself can cause an imbalance, it is not true that the condition is caused by an imblance. It is also my experience that a combination of trauma and lack of sleep can cause an imbalance that can be deadly. I was ill in June for those reasons and it took a very long time for my brain ro right itself through proper sleep and excercise. However. I did come to see that the time of year has something to do with it and that I need to be prepared for next year at the same time. I also believe that our physical surroundings figure into it. I have EXTREMELY sensitive senses. Outside extraneous noises easily wake me. And loud music drains me physically of energy. SO..... I wear earplugs at night. I was not made for apartment dwelling. But..being as I have no choice at this point in time....I may very well seek meds next winter. Bring on the meds. Too bad I have to medicate to compensate for the inconsideration of others.

Technically, only doctors usually do the diagnosing "officially". We an all diagnose ourselves of course but the makers can not put out a commercial without disclosing that. There are many reasons for our imbalance and many ways to overcome it. It's up to you. But lately, my realization is that time goes by pretty quick and we don't get a second chance on this earth so I'm not waiting till it's too late. I did meds years ago, they helped tremendously. I've recently finished this program and it has helped a great deal also. But not as good as the meds alone so I've decided the combo of both is the best route for me.

Seph, if you've tried all else and you're still not where you want to be then it's okay to try meds. Even this program has people stating how meds really got them on the right track.

Good luck to you.

hi i am new to this site and am not sure if i'm posting messages the right way. anyway, i wanted to get any feedback from anybody who is currently taking zoloft. i just started about a week ago on a very small dose just to get me through these rough times. i find that it's already helping with my appetite a little but i do feel very tired and occasional headaches and sleepiness during the day( taking it in the morning) anybody gets same side effects? my doctor told me to try to switch taking it in the evening which i think i'll try, i'm just afraid it may give me insomnia instead. any advice will be appreciated. thanks and godbless.

Hi Jes!
I took Zoloft for about a month. I did fine on it, but I didn't stick with it because I stayed so tired on it. I had two small children at the time to take care of. I was taking mine at night. If tiredness is the only problem you are having on it. I would stick with it, or discuss it with your doctor but I think it takes 6 weeks to get good in your system and the tiredness may go away with time once your body gets adjusted to it. Anyhow I hope this helps you some Good luck on your new med!

i may not be a doctor but sounds like its hereditary for you ,maybe you should tell your doc about sisters success and try it cuz maybe being family the chemistry is close. Also my boss takes zoloff and swears by it ,of course everyone is different.Ive personally never taken it but heard only positive feedback.

hi karson, i'm so glad to hear from someone. i thank you for responding. sometimes with this illness ( depression with anxiety) you can't help but feel alone and that nobody understands the way you feel. i have this constant heaviness in my chest that's almost physically painful. i'm having a hard time sharing my current condition with family especially with my mom who is not in the country and gets very emotional about everything, and my dad who i just don't want to burden with worry about me. my poor husband is the only one who really knows and a couple of my friends but still, i always underplay it because i hate for them to see me as a weakling. i'm trying very hard to take care of this myself but sometimes it gets so tiring feeling this way, you just want to give up and let somebody else make decisions for you. i am a nurse and am very analytical when it comes to medical advice. makes it even more difficult for me to entrust my care to just anyone. anyway, i would love to hear from anyone, good or bad. love hearing about success stories, gives me the hope that seem to elude us folks. thanks again and godbless

Jes, I was where you are. Now with meds and this program I am on the other side. IT IS POSSIBLE and you can get there. Don't be afraid to take meds to give you a jump start. If you do anything in this program, do the self talk. That is key. Read as much as you can on positive things. Even just an affirmation when you wake up or go to bed. It gets piled up in your mind believe me, and over time you'll find that those positive messages become "beliefs" which is what we want. Be persistant. Just read something positive every day. Hang in there. There is no rule or law that says you can't or won't over come. Only the FEAR and WORRY that it can't. Also, eat right. Seems so trivial but it is sooo important. You'll will be okay. =D

"F"alse "E"vidence "A"ppearing "R"eal.

hi brigitte. thanks for those uplifting advice. i am happy to hear that you are doing well and still doing this program to stay well. this is a rough time for me because the zoloft has not really kicked in yet and all i'm aware of right now are the side effects i think i'm feeling ( feeling tired and sleepy and at the same time more jittery which is weird) but my doc said to tough it out for the next few weeks and i will see results. was it the same for you with the meds? i feel like i'm so extra sensitive with anything i take that i think i have all the side effects one could possibly have but of course i know that's partly the anxiety talking. i'm trying to eat right also, even if it's a struggle sometimes being that my appetite has been poor. i am drinking ensure just to keep me from losing anymore weight. any suggestions on how i could boost my weight a little more? hope to hear from you or anyone. thanks and godbless.

Jes,
Sounds like I was where you are now. I've been taking Zoloft for about a year. It did take a little while to kick in. And I was freaked out about all of the side effects since that is what most people talk about. Not enough of us talk about how well things are going after a while. These things just take time, but while we are in the middle of it, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I also had lost a substantial amount of weight because of the lack of an appetite. I was taking Ensure or Boost at least once a day for a while. Within a few weeks my appetite was almost back to normal.

Hope this helps

hi brucef, thanks for the input. i just can't wait to feel some difference with the zoloft. thank god the side effects are tapering off, or maybe i've just been more comfortable about taking it now. i;m only taking 25 mg right now and my doc wants me to continue with this dose for another week i guess because i've been telling him of my side effects in the past he wants to take it slow. but now i'm just so anxious for it to start working that i'm contemplating on asking him if i should go up to 50 mg right away, although i'm afraid the side effects would be bad again, did they when you increased your dose? i'm glad that you're feeling and eating better. it always gives me hope when i hear from people like you who were once like me and now are on the other side. i'm grateful that you still take time to go to this site and share your experiences with the likes of me. i'm praying that soon, i, too will be where you are now, to be a better me is my goal. write again when you can, ok?