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Apprehension/Anxiety Towards Antidepressants

MooRich94
Community Member
Hi everyone, so I’ve been avoiding taking any antidepressants now for years due to feeling like I will be a complete failure if my life has come down to taking a pill to feel happy. Unfortunately my depression/anxiety has come to a point where it’s getting very hard to manage and i’m So over feeling sad and exhausted so I feel as if I at least owe myself to give antidepressants a crack. What I am worried about are the side effects. Can someone with experience please give me comfort. Will they make me gain weight? I don’t have any self esteem as it is, I don’t see how that’s going to help me?! Will they make me fatigued and exhausted and moody?! No desire for sex?! What’s the point of taking them when they sound like they make life worse. My first doctor who tried to prescribe them to me even told me not to read the pamphlet that comes with them because it will scare me off, so of course I did and I didn’t take a single one. Please give me some guidance, I am out of other options. I live in a rural area so face to face counselling isn’t available. I just want to be happy again and stop wasting my life feeling so miserable and run down all the time. Thanks everyone.
5 Replies 5

bigstar
Community Member
I'm in the same boat. I had an epic anxiety attack taking an anti-inflammatory last year and I walked for like 2 hours to calm myself down. What hope do I have of taking something way more volatile and unpredictable? Also, I'm not sure what the endgame to medication? Don't you have to taper off them eventually? I've always used alcohol 'methodically' to deal with anxiety and depression and I find it works pretty well. I never drink to excess and haven't been hung over since I can remember.

Summer Rose
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi MooRich 94 and bigstar. I am not a doctor but have some insights that might help.

The idea that a pill will make you happy is, in my opinion, a bit simplistic. I think you would be more likely to find that the medication makes it easier to cope with life. It may make it easier for you to better look after yourself (e.g. get out of bed or the house for a walk) and participate in other psychological therapies.

I believe you need to really ask yourself, "What's the alternative?" If you are facing a life, as MooRich 94 describes, where you are "so over feeling sad and exhausted" medication might warrant careful consideration. If a doctor suggested medication to treat high blood pressure, most of us wouldn't hesitate to comply. Anxiety and depression are illnesses and it stands to reason that medication is a legitimate treatment option.

I encourage you to discuss this thoroughly with your treating doctor. Make a good list of questions and book a double appointment with your GP. You may also choose to get a second opinion and research the suggested medication.

From what I know, there is the possibility of experiencing side effects but not everyone reacts the same to this type of medication so your experience will likely be unique to you. Some people may wean off medication, under the supervision of a medical professional, and others may take medication for longer periods of time. It is very individual.

There will undoubtedly be many other members of this community with far greater insight to share than me and I am confident that you will soon receive other advice. I just wanted to try and help because I feel for your both. It's not easy to be unwell and wish you the best of luck finding your way to recovery.

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni
hello MooRich, I think you are asking a very common question people ask all the time, but when depression takes over, then it's something which you should consider to begin to feel better.

Sure there are lots of 'if and buts' but everybody is different and what happens to X may not happen to D and with me the side effects that are written on my AD didn't and doesn't happen to me.

The only way to know is to do what the doctor has prescribed you to do, your body will be the only indication and if you have any problems then go back to your doctor.

We want you to feel happy and can I also suggest that you seek some counselling as well. Geoff.

tabooed
Community Member
I was given ADs for my OCD, definitely helped my mood swings. But I got stigmatised by family. I started feeling like you MooRich. Why do I need AD to keep me happy ? I started tapering off my meds quickly and it cost me my marriage. Now I am back to mood swings, depression and anxiety. I don't know if ADs are good for you or not, but coming of it when you aren't prepared is definitely not good.

geoff
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni
hi Tabooed, it's good that you have replied and can I welcome.

I was given AD for my depression as well as my OCD and the reason we need to take them is because it's horrible living with the black dog, it stops us from doing what we used to love doing and it isolates us from others, but as soon as they begin to work then life becomes easier, much more enjoyable and allows us to get on with our life.

Depression and alcohol cost me my marriage, something that I never wished had happened, but now I've moved on, I still talk with her as if nothing had happened, but we could never live together again, although I miss her and somehow I think she feels the same, but the horse has bolted.

When your AD's are working and making you feel better, that's good, that's the reason why we have to take them, but as soon as you stop, you fall back into the pit, for me, that's the perfect reason why I will be taking them for a long time. Geoff.