Depression and Medication

My life circumstances have drastically changed and it has taken a huge toll on my mental health, I try to avoid medication as much as possible and I have had bouts of depression over my 33 years of life, but I have always just got myself out of it, but right now I feel so lost and stuck and just struggling really. I have a good day as in a day where my mood isn't super low and I can get on with my day to day stuff, but other days I just cry and want to lie in bed and do nothing.

What I am wondering is about how anti depressants have helped you, i know everyone is different but I am just so on the fence with taking them.

Thank you 😊

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Antidepressants make it possible for me to exist in the world. Without them I can't even cross the street alone because I feel guilty for holding up traffic just for me. It's not a panacea and I still struggle and need other strategies (therapy, friends, hobbies, etc.) but it makes a world of difference for me. I will say, finding the right medication for you and getting through those first few weeks where it's just side effects and no benefit is ROUGH, but once you find what works, I can't overstate what a big help it can be.

Medication can absolutely change your life but it does take about 6 weeks for it to start making a difference. It does help to pair it with therapy, DBT and CBT techniques. Have really thorough conversations with your team with what you want to see change and what your concerns are so you can make the best decision for yourself

Oh mama I’m so sorry you’re going through this ❤️ I had a similar experience where I had good days and bad days but the bad days were BAD. I have been on Lexapro for about 7 years now. It does help with my depression/anxiety immensely. But research the side effects because they are very strong for a lot of people. If you can, meet with a psychiatrist not just a primary doctor and go over specifics. I struggle with a few side effects but I know it’s better than what I had before. I just wish I would have researched everything more thoroughly.

🩷

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