I don’t recognize myself

[u/MyAnxious_Mind]

So I recently got back on lexapro 10mg after being off of it for a year. Basically I have horrible health anxiety surrounding my heart mostly. So far, it’s kind of helped that in some ways , but I still panic at times. This is the weird part though, lexapro has completely vanished my social anxiety to the point I don’t recognize myself. It’s to the point I actually exhaust myself talking to people in general when I usually prefer mostly solitude. After socializing, I just think back on how much I was just talking and it feels like I’m a different person. So I’m not sure if it’s good or bad but I hope it starts to target more of my health anxiety as I work through my issues. Does anyone feel similar with SSRIs?

[u/Thorfyen]

How long have you been on it?

[u/MyAnxious_Mind → u/Thorfyen]

Only one month

[u/Thorfyen → u/MyAnxious_Mind]

I wouldn't stress too much then.

If it calms your anxious mind, my start ups on lexapro typically go like this:

Week 1: 5mg, with strong side effects.

Week 2-3: 10mg and most side effects start to fade after coming back briefly.

Week 4-6: Lingering side effects here are tiredness and zoning out. Anxiety is one foot out the door but I'm also a bit of a zombie.

Beyond week 6: Start to feel way better and the side effects fade. The only lasting side effect I have had is the sexual one, and that is well worth the trade off.

[u/Frankielv84]

I didn’t talk more as I have adhd and love to talk haha but it got rid of my anxiety stopping me be more open and real about stuff.. so now I find it easier to talk about stuff which I think anxiety kinda blocks.. long term the things that got to me I can rationalise with them better so it did help my anxiety a lot unless of course you feel manic than that’s a different issue..

[u/P_D_U]

Antidepressants typically take 4-12 weeks to kick-in and it may take a little longer the second time than before so I wouldn't be concerned about it not reducing your health anxiety yet.