For as long as I can remember I have battled anxiety, depression, and PTSD - and trust me it hasn't been easy. Around my junior year in high school I began my journey with antidepressants and anxiety medication when therapy alone just didn't seem to be doing it for me. Here is what I wish I knew before taking antidepressants:
1. It's okay to start medication.
Anxiety disorders and depression are caused by a hormonal imbalance in your brain that is sometimes simply too difficult to cope with on your own. Medication can help counter these imbalances and get you on a path to recovery. Negative stigmas surrounding medication are based in people's naivety. While there are drawbacks and skills should be valued over pills, medication is a great crutch for those with more severe depression/anxiety to help them function more normally.
2. Not every medication works for everybody.
When I began this journey I had no idea that I would be trying nearly 10 different types of medication each with their own battles. Some work better than others, some don't work at all, and some can make you feel a little crazy - and that's all normal. Be sure to communicate with your doctor about how you are feeling on the medication and be honest about it. Don't give up if one isn't doing the job for you - there are plenty of fish in the sea.
3. You will have to play around with the doses.
Your doctor will most likely start you off with a very small dose for your medication and gradually increase it from there. This is so that you get a good feel for it, understand how the side effects will impact your body, and overall don't take a higher dose than you need!
4. There will be side effects.
Side effects were the biggest struggle that I had with medication. I'm very sensitive to drowsiness and there were quite a few medications that had me KO everywhere. Another side effect that I experienced a few times was heightened anxiety. Don't let feelings like that discourage you! Talk to your doctor - they may tell you to wait it out a few weeks or take you off of it.
5. Medication does not solve everything.
You can't begin taking an antidepressant thinking that it will solve everything because it won't. You need to focus your efforts on developing skills to help cope with your anxiety and depression as well - though medication can make it a little bit easier and give you that push.
6. Patience is key with trying any antidepressant.
This was hard for me to realize when I started trying different medications. You have to wait at least a month to notice any difference and for some of the side effects to go away, and that can be discouraging. There were a few times when the side effects were so strong for me that I prematurely stopped taking a medication without waiting it out and they could have definitely gone away.
7. Withdrawal is real.
I am finally ending my journey with Lexapro as I feel that I have been working hard with cognitive behavioral therapy in order to develop skills to cope with my depression. After being on Lexapro for almost a year at the second highest dosage, I had no idea of the challenge that I would face weaning off of it - crying spells, heightened anxiety, meltdowns, headaches, nausea, you name it. Similarly to starting a medication, you have to be patient getting off of it. Your body is not used to not having these hormones and you have to give it time to adjust. And most importantly - never stop a medication without talking to your doctor - it can be incredibly dangerous. Stopping a medication cold turkey or not weaning off of it properly is not a good idea, Be safe, please.
