Some people need to be on medication for the rest of their life. Others get long-term therapy, make lifestyle changes, and other lifestyle factors that keeps them feeling well, stable, happy and living a normal life.
A lot of people have this weird perception that a mental illness shouldnt be dealt with by medication- they insist that psych meds are bad for us, or shouldnt be used long term, or a "not a real way to deal with it". They insist that therapy is the "ONLY" way. Why is it ok to take medications for a physical illness but not a mental one?
I dont even talk to those people- until and unless they've lived with a SEVERE depression or anxiety (or other mental) illness, they have no right to comment. Mild transient feelings of sadness is NOT the same as severe chronic depression.
The reality is that.. diabetics need their insulin. but they ALSO need a healthy diet and healthy exercise. people with mental illness may need their meds forever, just like they too need healthy lifestyle changes and therapy.
To address your concerns- some antidepressants are a bit "notorious" for causing weight gain. The good news is, there are dozens of meds and you can always discuss with your doctor about changing to another one that doesnt cause weight gain.
Ive had plenty of people tell me that being on my anti-psychotic meds long-term are bad. They say derogatory (and just plain ignorant) things like "doctors hand out too many psych meds" or "psych meds are just a cowards way out of dealing with issues". But for 10 long years I lived a hell of severe anxiety, severe depressive episodes including two "suicidal ideation" phases, and what i now know is bipolar 2. I tried naturopathy, chinese medicine, yoga, meditation- before i got the correct diagnosis. I couldnt hold down a job, I lost a serious relationship, i was constantly ill from anxiety... they tried meds that made me ill- i even had someone try to use that as "proof" psych meds were bad. truth was, i was misdiagnosed. i had bipolar, not depression. i got on a bipolar med.
Now i have a life I could only once have dreamed of. I'm happy, stable, calm- no more violent moods or extreme anxiety/ depression. I've got a wonderful career/ partner/ hobbies....
All because of one little tablet I take at night. If this little tablet is what it takes for me to lead a normal life, than I will keep taking it as long as I live and not ever feel guilty about it. Because I know what its like living life without it...
