I've been struggling with depression and anxiety since I was 15. I've handled it in many different ways, some healthy and others, unfortunately, not so healthy. It was just this year, at 21, that I decided to handle what I'd been struggling with once and for all. I'd always had my reservations about antidepressants - and we've all heard the horror stories - but I was at the absolute end of my rope and I needed to do something healthy before I did something less so. I found a doctor I clicked with immediately, and my life has changed forever. It's a scary, taboo topic and I feel like the least I can do is set the record straight a little bit.
1. The same medicine won't work for everybody, and that's OK.
You may have to try a few different medicines before you find one that's right for you. You may know a friend or family member who tells you of their wonderful success story on one medication, but that very same medication could have the reverse effect for you - and that's OK. You're a one of a kind person and that means your chemical make up is also one of a kind. Some very lucky people find success in the very first pill they take and that is so great. I was not one of these people, so I can tell you firsthand that that's OK too.
2. Side effects are very real, but don't let them deter you.
No matter what you're taking, you may face some side effects. That doesn't necessarily mean the medicine is wrong for you because some symptoms are across the board for just about all antidepressants. Decreased sex drive, drowsiness, or difficulty sleeping are possible examples of these. But if your side effects are negatively impacting your everyday life, tell your doctor so they can help you find a new one. The first antidepressant I ever took made me throw up every time I took it. I powered through it for a week since I wasn't sure what to expect, but my symptoms kept getting worse. I lost my appetite and possibly worst of all, I'd yawn constantly for 15-20 minutes after I took the pill. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and called my doctor. She switched my medication and I've finally found one that works for me, like my own personal version of a fairytale.
3. Despite the rumors, antidepressants won't turn you into a zombie.
You don't have to lose your personality for the sake of your happiness. This may have been the case years ago before the medical advances we're lucky enough to see, or for some people on medicines that weren't right for them, but it isn't that way anymore. You'll be the same you you've always been, just a happier, freer version of you. And that's the point of all of this, isn't it?
