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A mental health
professional can
help you figure out
what is making you
anxious and develop
a plan to address it.
Side effects of SSRIs can include headache, stomachache,
trouble sleeping, skin rashes, and weight gain. Most side
effects do not happen that often. But every once in a while,
SSRIs can cause suicidal thoughts (see sidebar). They can
cause something doctors call “activation.” When someone is
activated, he or she may have trouble sleeping, move around a
lot more than usual, or seem very busy.
Some people have strong reactions to one SSRI but
no reactions to another. So if the first drug your doctor
suggests is unpleasant, you may just need to try a different
one.
It is vital that you tell your doctor about any and
all side effects.
Not all doctors agree that kids with anxiety should take
SSRIs at all. Most doctors believe that
psychotherapy