I'm not afraid to admit I take antidepressants. I don't feel ashamed that I have to take a pill to feel okay about my life. The truth is, without medication and therapy, I don't know if I'd still be here today. That's a pretty strong statement, which is why I don't understand why there is so much stigma that comes along with depression.

Why do people think depression isn't a real thing? Just because it's "all in my head" doesn't mean I'm making it up. No I'm not doing it for attention; actually, it's the complete opposite. Over the years I've hidden my depression with a smile and a positive attitude, but under my mask was a girl that was bursting apart at the seems. I decided to do the best thing for myself and tell my doctor, which eventually resulted in me taking Lexapro.

I know people have different opinions about the subject, but in my eyes, depression is a serious medical condition and it shouldn't be seen any lesser than- let's say- breaking your leg. If you break your leg you're going to wear a cast so the bone can heal and you're going to go to physical therapy to strengthen your leg, so it's strong as it was before it was broken. Taking antidepressants along with treatment works the same way. When a person takes antidepressants it helps them feel less depressed and more able to fully engage in their life, and when in therapy, patients are able to sort out their feelings and understand why they are feeling depressed.

That being said, taking antidepressants doesn't make my depression magically disappear. It isn't "the happy pill". It is a pill that lessens my symptoms of depression. Also, depression isn't just being sad all of the time. For me it's being my happy normal self one minute and then wanting to burst out crying the next. Or it's when I'm very irritable about the littlest things and I have no idea why. But the worst part of my depression is when I get hit with a depressive episode where I feel numb to all of my emotions and all I want to all day is stay in bed and sleep. I don't know about you, but those aren't feelings I like to deal with on a regular basis, but at least my medication and the coping skills I've learned in therapy have helped shorten these episodes and lengthen the time in between them.

I hope the next time you hear someone talking about taking medication for their mental illness you can respect that their mental illness is a real thing and that they may need medication to feel halfway normal. We shouldn't be looking down on people because their brain is doing a shitty job. They can't help that they are having these feelings and without medication their life could end in death. It's sad that some people end up taking their own life because they are so depressed they can't stand living anymore. Think about that the next time you think taking antidepressants is the wimpy way to deal with life's problems.