LEO

Age: 22 | US

“I began taking 25mg of Sertraline (Zoloft) after moving cities with my father for his new job and to pursue my soccer dream when I was 16. I was a very emotional and sensitive person who would feel things intensely, and the change of environment caused severe Social Anxiety. I went to seek professional help, and after a short call with a psychiatrist she immediately prescribed Sertraline.

After the first pill, I noticed I was unable to urinate or feel my genitals. I brought this up with the psychiatrist and she said it was just part of my anxiety and it should clear when the medication fully kicks in. After finding online that it's somewhat common to experience those symptoms during the beginning of treatment, me being naïve, continued to take all 30 pills for a month until I cold turkeyed. The sensation never came back.

Shortly after discontinuing, it brought even more devastating effects throughout my body. I lost my sense of smell, touch throughout my body, libido, taste, along with emotions, ability to visualize mental images, and numerous other cognitive impairments. Its been about 6 years since I took one of those pills, and I still have not improved.”