I just wanted reliefpossible side effects be damnedand wanted it immediately.
Going on antidepressants was indeed the right next step for me.
They helped alleviate symptoms that made my day-to-day feel unbearable.
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Antidepressants are meant to balance brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Neurotransmitters affect your moods and emotions, and different kinds of drugs target them in different ways.
The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
SSRIs work by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin in the brain, according to theMayo Clinic.
One added benefit of some antidepressants is that their neurochemical effects may help with more than just depression.
Some SNRIs, for example, can target anxiety in addition to depression.
They can also result insexual problems, like a frustratingly low libido or orgasm thats always out of reach.
Other depression treatments come with their own potential downsides.
For instance, SNRIs might cause excessive sweating.
(Thats why discussing your options thoroughly with your doctor is so key.)
Also, these side effects may abate after a few weeks, Ward says.
It really just depends.
Thats not to say you definitely wont hit the antidepressant jackpot on the first go.
Some people have that kind of luck!
In any case, rest assured: Youve got options.
Weirdly enough, there was a bright side.
Taking antidepressants pushed me to be more cognizant of how I felt emotionally, physically, and mentally.
Think of yourself as the only liaison between your doctors and your body.
No one is as keyed into what youre feeling and as equipped to communicate your experience.
So is self-care, which is an integral part of my journey with depression.
The right therapist should be welcoming, nonjudgmental, and lovingly challenge you.
You might want to check in with friends you know are in therapy who you feel comfortable with.
Online resources likeGoodTherapyalso allow you to search for local therapists using a variety of filters.
When you sit down for your session, do you feel youre in a safe, mutually respectful environment?
How do you feel when you leave your appointments?
I was confident in my decision to go on meds, but Id still internalized the stigma.
An antidepressant may end up being the right fit for you, or it may not.
Either way, there is no shame in making an effort to help yourself.
