People's Opinions On Zoloft?

Just a couple of things I want you to know: there are many, many of us who feel your pain, and have suffered with mental illness so when we say we understand, we truly do and you are in our prayers and we want to be here to support you in any way we can. The journey of getting off Zoloft is hard, you have to wean yourself off the drug very slowly, cut down the amount you are taking, stay at that amount for a week or so and then cut down a small amount again for a week or so and finally after many week you will be able to discontinue taking it. The reason you do it like this is to cut down on withdrawal. Your brain and body have gotten used to this and when it is taken away it reacts to that. You can read posts here from people who have weaned off it and what they went through, also look up Zoloft withdrawal symptoms and you will see what they are. By doing it slowly hopefully you will only have minor withdrawal or none at all. This is a difficult project for a 13 year old, but very do able, with much patience. We are all here for you to help you do this.
Jon Habermann

Great advice. Start with the school counselor.

@am3 I can see through what you've said so far in this chat that you're used to advocating for yourself and being your own parent in a way. I really admire your resilience and see your strength. Inpatient care/psych wards can really make things worse, so I hear what you're saying. I have actually had a lot of peers go through the same thing. When do you see your doctor? And do you think he'll respond well when you speak to him about going off of Zoloft?

You need to try and convince your mom to let you see a psychiatrist. In my opinion they have a much better understanding of these meds.

There is a group called Alateen that is a 12 step program fashioned after Alanon and AA. You can find a meeting on line. I wish I had known about this when I was your age. I didn’t start attending Alanon until late in life. You will be amazed at how people will understand how it is to deal with family members with drug and alcohol problems. It won’t answer any medication questions, but may help you not to feel alone and dealing with difficult relationships.

@am3 I'm still thinking of you and hoping things are getting better. I know I sent a different message to you telling you a little about my life. I hope that was ok. I'm just so sad for you and can't imagine what it must be like. I'm a lucky person. I have hard things to deal with in my life, but yours is so big. You are strong through and I hope you find someone you can reach out too. Also, I hope your mom starts understanding what you are trying to tell her. She needs to listen. You are too special and I love you. I will be having surgery In June so will not be able to send you a message. Just know I haven't forgotten about you. I have to be in the hospital for 5 days and then recover. Just know I am here thinking of you and praying that you are better. Bless You.

@am3, hi. My life experience sounds very similar to yours. My dad abandoned our family when I was 5. My mother was left to raise my brother and I with very little support. A few years later she began self-medicating her depression and anxiety with alcohol. At an early age, I became her support until she passed away at age 88. I know how afraid and lonely it can be in your position. I had very few friends and never let them in on my home life. I became depressed and had anxiety. After I got married at 23, to a very good man, I started to have bad panic attacks. I think it was attributed to stuffing my feelings all those years. I would get so angry about the way I was treated by my mother and no matter what I did, I wasn’t heard and it was never good enough. Medication for depression and anxiety has helped me a lot. The stigma of this need is lessening. It is no different than being treated for any physical illness. Finding a doctor who understands you is important to get on the right meds. I was lucky to find a MD to be willing to find the right combination of medications to help me. Talking to a therapist has helped me a great deal. You are so young, so it can be tricky getting on the right depression meds. My hope and prayer for you is that you can find a good professional support system. You deserve to be happy regardless of the choices your parents have made. I am going to stop here, but if I can help please reach out to me. Suz55

Thank you for sharing your life story.
You gave excellent advice.
You have helped many.

@suz55 I liked your post to @am3. I had a good experience growing up on a farm in Iowa, but I married my love who would go with me and then break up with me and I loved him soooo much. He finally came to me and wanted to stay with me. We got married and 11 days after our marriage he was killed in a car accident at 20 years old and also another good friend was killed with him. It was so tragic for me at the time that I turned to alcohol, but not now. My mom committed suicide at 69 and I'm 68. We have a son who is Bipolar 1. We have mental illness through our family. It is very inherited. Our son is a professor, but cannot teach because of his Bipolar 1 and some of it is the way he was raised. His dad was pretty hard on him and I know his wife who is also a professor is one of the reasons we have no contact. I haven't seen my 8 year old granddaughter since she was 3, but skype with her at her other grandmother in Chicago. My son and family live in NY and his wife teaches at Columbia and does research. Both of them are too smart for their own good. I can't even Mail anything to Marlowe and have to send cards and gifts to her grandmother in Chicago then she forwards them to Marlowe. It's something else and I just pray. All is in the past and I have had lots of counseling. I'm happy now and looking forward to my surgery. Sorry for telling my whole life story. I guess I had to get it out right now, but really I am OK. Blessings Jeanie

@lilypaws Sorry for reading your story maybe I shouldnt have but this being an open forum I read all post to see if I can respond somehow. Its hard what grandmothers have to go through isnt it. Mine is 12 tomorrow and I cant see him I called tonight to wish him happy birthday but he was in the middle of something and his Dad my son said to call tomorrow morning so I will ,such is life . Take care