PMDD OCD and Zoloft
I want to share my experience because I think folks can probably relate. I'm in my mid thirties and am back on Zoloft for the second time in my life. I was on it for two years in my mid twenties and noticed a decrease in anxiety. Honestly my life was so chaotic at the time and I drank alcohol frequently with my uni friends that I really didn't stabilize, just had a decrease in anxiety. I eventually tapered off due to weight gain.
Now in my mid-thirties I don't drink at all, and am on steroids and immunosuppression for an ocular autoimmune disease. I started Zoloft in January of this year to aid my OCD and PMDD which is really debilitating each month.
I truly did not realize how profoundly affected I was by my PMDD and OCD until I got to a therapeutic dose of Zoloft. I'm currently on 100mg a day and finally feel like a real person in the world. I don't ruminate or spiral like I used to. My mood is mostly stable. I still have my full range of emotion, but I truly don't care about the small things that used to catch a lot of my attention.
I should mention- I am a therapist who works in Psychiatry at a paediatric hospital so I'm pretty familiar with meds.
I certainly have a lot to balance in my body with steroids, immunosuppression and a mood disorder, but I feel like I've finally made progress after years of trying psychotherapy, diet, supplements, and a lifestyle that accommodated the 10 days every month when I would be in a PMDD fugue state.
I definitely have lots of sweet cravings. I'm trying to redirect them to flavoured yogurts, diet sodas, and dried fruits like figs and dates. It's not perfect- but everything in moderation.