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Antidepressants

JennyLolli October 20th, 2017

Hi,

I was just wondering... My shrink suggested for me to start taking antidepressants some time ago, because my mood was wonky a lot of the time. I didn't want to then, because I thought she was overreacting. Also, I was afraid the pills would alter my personality or something and that I wouldn't be my true self anymore.

Yesterday I went to my doctor and we started talking about antidepressants. She said the only thing the pills will do, is increase my happy hormone. It wil not alter my true self and it's not true my suicidal thoughts will become worse. This all sounded so very positive, I actually don't believe her anymore. XD

That's why I'm asking here. My only reference is on 'stories I heard' and things from pop culture. I'm afraid I will change (but yeah, I've been living a lie for 25 years; I have no idea who I really am. How am I gonna know if therapy is changing me, or the pills do?), I'm afraid my dark moods will even get worse and I will actually kill myself this time, I'm afraid I will have to search for 10 years to find the right pill and the right dosage.

Can some of you who are on antidepressants if it's working for you? How long did it take to find the right pill, do you still feel like yourself and did your symtoms go worse before they got better?

Thanks very much!

Love,
Jenny

3
LilGreenBird October 21st, 2017

Hi Jenny,

Getting started on medication can be intimidating for sure, especially if you don't know very much about it. I think there is a bit of stigma around pills though that they 'change' who you are or make you 'fake' some how. In actual fact, our emotions are influenced by hormones and chemicals in the brain and depression can be caused by imbalances in these chemicals. The same way someone with diabetes or high blood pressure aren't 'fake/ different people' for taking medication to balance their levels of insulin etc, antidepressants don't make you 'fake'. They are simply one method of treating depression by bringing back balance.

When you start on an antidepressant, it will take a few weeks before they can show any effect. It may also take a few different pills before you find one that works best for you. Best of luck!