I had to stay up late last night to pick up my daughter from work. She works at a farm in the countryside where they have a corn maze this time of year. They also have a scare team; her job is to dress up in a shadow costume and help other performers scare Halloween revellers.

Because I couldn’t go to bed early as I usually do, I went to bed really late and didn’t wake up until 8 am! As a result, I am still waking up as I type this out.

This morning, I worked in my Gratitude Journal and within it, I noted that I started 100 mg of Zoloft 13 days ago.

I already had a high concentration of Prozac in my bloodstream due to the long half-life of about 4 weeks so I started Zoloft for a week at 50 mg. I think the two medications helped push me into hypomania for the past few weeks, which I successfully prevented from becoming mania by taking emergency medication doses of antipsychotic medication. The Prozac should be almost eliminated by my system by now, or within this upcoming week.

On the higher dose of Zoloft, I have noticed improvements but I still get the intrusive thoughts. They are sometimes intense and sometimes more subtle.

Because I’m impatient and want to recover right away, I decided to do some research on how long it takes for Zoloft to help intrusive thoughts. Here is what I found:

Timeline for Effects

• Weeks 1 to 2: You may notice early, general improvements like better sleep, slightly steadier energy, or less physical tension, though intrusive thoughts rarely change immediately.
• Weeks 4 to 6: Initial mood or generalised anxiety relief often becomes more noticeable, and some people start seeing a drop in the intensity of intrusive thoughts.
• Weeks 6 to 12: Maximum reduction in intrusive thoughts and compulsive urges requires staying on a steady, therapeutic dose for an extended period. OCD treatment often requires higher doses and a longer window (up to 12 weeks) compared to standard depression treatment.

While medication does not eliminate the things I see in my head, it helps with the intensity and frequency so that I can function in a more normal way. Something for which I am grateful.

This morning, as I walked Gumbo who is starting to feel better from his tummy troubles, I looked up at the sky. For the first time in weeks, I was able to really enjoy the quiet beauty of a morning sky.

Well, today I have some leftover chores to do, and I should get started with my day.

I hope your day is a good one!