Antidepressants and Why they Could be your Next Step.
- Leah Cox
- Jan 10, 2021
- 2 min read
My Experience
Last year I was put on antidepressants. This was because I was suffering from anxiety for nearly five years and it had made me feel depressed. It was a hard decision to make because it felt as if I was giving into my mental health. However, it was the best choice I had ever made. Looking back now, I have one week left on them and then I am done. I have never felt better and by not having to focus on my depression, it enabled me to prioritise my anxiety and find new coping mechanisms.
What They Do
Antidepressants are a medication that is increasing neurotransmitters in your brain. These are serotonin and noradrenaline. They enable your brain to produce these hormones when it has not been able to. This could be like my case where anxiety decreased the production of them. They are only given to people with mild depression when they have found that no other copying mechanism has worked such as therapy. If you have severe depression doctors normally do not hesitate to get you on them.
It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
Like any drug that is putting hormones into your body, you do see some changes. These changes normally happen within the first two weeks. It is different for everyone, depending who you are and what type of antidepressant you are taking. For me, the first two weeks I felt very anxious and the only way I could cope with it was by telling myself that this is only my antidepressants. However, once your body gets use to the increase of chemicals in your brain, you will normally start to notice a positive difference! Do not be put off by a bad two weeks because those weeks are better than years of suffering.
They are There to Help You
You are not weak because you are on them! You need to look at it as if you have broken your leg and you have to take pain killers for it. You need those pain killers because otherwise you will be in agony, you are not weak for taking them. So, why would you feel weak for relieving the pain in your mind? Antidepressants are there to help you. They enable you to have relief. For me, they made me feel like me again. I am happy and I do not feel the doom and gloom like I used to. Do not give into the stigma surrounding them. If you need to be on them then go on them.
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