Would anyone mind sharing their experience with anti-depressants? I’m considering going on them, but a bit nervous about side effects. I’d also prefer to not need them for the rest of my life. Thoughts?

I had manageable anxiety for years (and was in therapy for it) but it got to the point of being debilitating in 2019. My therapist encouraged me to try medication. I decided to see my primary care doctor because the psychiatrist in my medical group had a month or more wait to get an appointment. My dr put me on Lexapro and I’ve been on it for a year and a half. I had similar concerns that you mentioned but decided that the potential benefits outweighed those. It has made a huge, positive impact on my life. I feel like “me” (not foggy at all) and I just feel like I have armor to protect me if I get into a stressful or anxiety inducing situation. I do have some side effects (most notably my libido took a hit, which sucks) but it’s far more preferable to the physical side effects I had from anxiety. I encourage you to find a doctor you trust to talk about it and ask all the questions you have on your mind. The last thing I’d say is that everyone’s experience on anti-depressants is different so while it’s helpful to get a frame of reference, just know your experience will probably be unique. Good luck ❤️

If you're nervous about side effects, I definitely recommend developing a relationship with a psychiatrist instead of asking your regular GP. Medicating my anxiety and depression was the best gift I gave myself this hell year. I was honest with my psych about my past medication sensitivities and my "dealbreaker" side effects. She is knowledgeable enough about the world of meds to get me on a combo and make adjustments as needed. Basically, find an active mental health partner, not just a prescriber. Oh and if you have an EAP, call there first to talk about your symptoms and see if they can help you find a local provider. Mine was knowledgeable about "good" local psychiatrists and made the calls for me to see who had openings for new patients. The initial scheduling part is hard and would have been a huge barrier for me otherwise.

Celexa! I’m not on it anymore and I’ve also learned after years and years how to pull myself out of a black hole alone. But lemme tell you it’s easier with meds, no interesting side effects, no weight gain or anything dramatic, maybe a teeny bit extra thirsty for a day or two. Highly recommend

I’ve been a bit of a worrier my whole life and that turned into actual anxiety in my mid-20’s. I started going to therapy for a couple years and made a ton of progress then took a break... then covid hit and I was uncomfortable doing virtual visits but also noticed my anxiety was now mostly physical (shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches). I struggled for years against the stigma of meds but finally gave in about 8 months ago and I WISH I’d done it sooner! No shame in the serotonin game! Fair warning I did shit my pants the first week but now I’m doing great.

Agree with the comments on having a regular psychiatrist that you can be open and honest with. They will need to monitor your progress and can step in to adjust your dosage or prescription as not every anti depressant works for every person. The side effects can be extreme but if you’re feeling like you need it, it’s worth a try. One thing I’ll say, that I only learned this year, is specifically about SSRIs. There’s no hard proof (seriously!) that serotonin is actually linked to mood regulation. It’s a guess that was propagated by big pharma. SSRIs do work but no one knows why, or how. Do you exercise? It’s one of the fastest and most effective ways to improve low mood and feelings of depression. I struggle as well but as soon as I do any sort of movement (even walks, not suggesting you start long distance running) I feel a huge shift. If you’re worried about being on medication I suggest speaking with a therapist to get some tools in your box and if you still feel the pull toward meds, the option is there.

I’ve been in therapy for about 5 years (anxiety) and decided to start meds (sertraline) about two years ago. Together they’ve totally helped squash my anxiety attacks, even with a pandemic in the mix. I would always recommend therapy first and as a companion to meds! The first two weeks were hard (nausea, no appetite, racing thoughts at night) but then subsided. I take them in the morning with food. The only side effect I’ve experienced is that I’m way more likely to black out if I drink 😬

I was on anti-depressants for several years in my early 20s. Under supervision of my psychiatrist, I weaned off of them around 10 years ago. I didn’t love the side effects (feeling flat, weight fluctuation in both directions and lack of sex drive). However, I had to weigh out the pros and cons of being able to better function against them. All I can say is that nothing is forever. Don’t think about it in terms of having to be on them for life. Evaluate it with your doc every 6 months. I would look at them as a temporary tool in conjunction with therapy, support systems and other coping mechanisms.

I don’t know her personally, but Sara Radin shares a lot about her own experience on Instagram. https://instagram.com/sararradin?igshid=1vi26c2w014sx

I’m in the same situation and have talked to a lot of my friends that are on or have previously been on antidepressants. Most of them have had a good experience. They’ve had some side effects like feeling extra down and headaches when uping their dose/first couple of weeks. But have said that they’re feeling more balanced, had less ups and downs and felt less anxious. You should also stay away from drinking when you take it so also something to think about since alcohol is an depressant and will make you feel worse. Which was something I had to way in since a lot of my social hangouts revolve around alcohol. Overall it’s been a positive experience for most of them, so I will defiantly try and see if it works for me.

I’ve only tried Wellbutrin for depression/anxiety and have had zero side effects. I’ve heard it be referred to as the “sexy skinny pill.” I assumed at some point I could ease out of it, so as to not be dependent on a daily pill, but since it’s worked so well for me without side effects, my psychiatrist recommends that I stay on it indefinitely. I feel like one of the lucky ones, aside from having to take a pill every day and check drug interactions when I take other things.

I take medication for bipolar disorder. It is life-changing. I will never be able to get off medication, though.