Can antidepressants really change your life for the better?

[Suchafrabjousday]

For decades (well, if I’m truly honest, since childhood) I have struggled with anxiety, ocd behaviours, panic disorders and overthinking.

I have always tried to just cope. Truth is that I don’t cope, I struggle with everything. The anxiety turns physical and I live with constant aches, pains, a terrible gut which rules my life and causes me more anxiety (endless tests just keep coming back as anxiety induced IBS) and general every day feeling of shittiness.

I have tried everything to elevate all of this:- endless CBT and counselling, EMDR, hypnotherapy, foods, relaxation, mindfulness etc etc etc but the truth is that I think some of us are just born this way?
No amount of positive thinking, changing my thought processes completely ever eases this.
For me it’s like keeping a weedy garden clear, you can keep it at bay by constantly pulling out the weeds but they keep growing back. I know deep down that the only real solution for me is probably antidepressants, maybe they will be like the Roundup I need to finally tackle my weed-ridden brain garden?!

However, and in true full on anxiety style, I am petrified of antidepressants. I have had endless prescriptions given and as soon as I pluck up the courage to take them I will Google reviews (I know) and find endless reviews of people stating these drugs have caused them all kind of additional issues such as terrible diarrhoea (I have awful IBS at the best of times, the thought of that getting worse terrifies me), dizziness, being out into a zombie-like state, headaches, malaise etc and wishing they had never taken them. I know no one who has a great time with anything will take to the internet to sing its praises, they are gleefully getting on with their lives but tell my brain that, it sucks up the negatives like a giant sponge.

But I’m struggling so much and don’t know what else to do to feel like I can enjoy the rest of my life. I’m 51 and want to enjoy what I’ve got left. I have spent the last 51 years in a state of anxiety and general anxiousness over everything about life and living.

I am sitting here looking at my latest box of antidepressants and knowing they will probably join the giant drawer of unopened medicines because of my fear and I am so fucking angry with myself.

Treatment for depression (drugs + other treatments) has changed my life.

Before I was in hospital, suicidal, unable to do anything.

Now I can go to work, enjoy my kids, basically have a normal life. I am so grateful for my treatment.

It has to be your decision and everyone has a different experience, but this is mine.

Is it depression or anxiety? Different meds for each.

Changed my husband's life. He's off them now but was on them for ten years after years of depression. He came off them after having a lot of therapy, coming to terms with his childhood trauma and living a much healthier lifestyle (diet and exercise etc)

They significantly helped me.

I got very bad anxiety with perimenopause. I was put on duloxetine. I now have very little (virtually no) anxiety.

Can't recommend it enough.

Not all drugs work for all people. You may need to try two or three before you get the one that works for you.

I have been on citalopram for 15 years. I'm not planning on stopping them anytime soon. They changed my life.

Before I took them I was permanently anxious, had IBS and couldn't sleep. I would trundle along for months, sometimes years, at a time, and then disaster. I would have a massive breakdown and be completely unable to function. This would take months to come out of.

The last time this happened was the worst. It took 18 months and I had to give up work. I never want to go that low again.

My mother's family has a history of anxiety and depression.

What I would say is that when you start on anti depressants they might make you feel unwell. This will pass, so don't give up on them. Do perservere. When you get the right one they can change your life.

In a word, yes. Probably wouldn't be here without them.

Cipralex changed my life. If you try an SSRI I recommend you start slowly, at a low dose, to reduce start-up side effects. They’re worth it. Panic disorder is serious. It ruined my life too. I’m so grateful for my medication.

How long have you used the anti depressants that you have previously tried?
These take up to 3 weeks to take effect.
Some anxiety can not be fixed with a diet but rather a medication to help with low or unbalanced serotonin levels.
I understand your reading reviews, but when they are the affects of various people, which could mean similar to you but not always, as is the dose you are prescribed is not how it could or should be for you.
I have found my low dose to help brilliantly.
I watch a friend with anxiety it is quite exhausting in person and on phone calls. They even sit with a uneasy nervous tension.

Is your doctor supportive enough to help you find the correct treatment with you and follow it up within the month?

Mannikin really encouraging to hear they help you.

MortifiedStill both. I used to really only suffer with the ocd, panic disorder and anxiety but the last 10 years I’ve been very depressed and that’s getting worse

I’ve had endless therapy and was told by one therapist that it would work much better if I did it alongside taking meds. I think that’s what I need to do, get myself to a better place with meds then restart therapy.

Octavia64 my perimenopause has definitely been the fuel on the fire for my issues. I can’t take het so will probably need antidepressants.

You have literally just described my life right down to my mother’s mental health history and her family’s.

ImthatBoleyngirl that’s how I’m feeling right now, that there is no point in living like this. I need to do something to ease that.

From what I've seen (close relative with clinical depression), the combination of therapy and antidepressants can be absolutely life-changing. It's good that you have done all the therapeutic work first - my relative wouldn't do therapy for years and was stuck - but in the meantime antidepressants kept them alive long enough to realise that they needed therapy too.

Yes, I got to the point where I couldn’t function at all. I was absolutely paralysed by anxiety and repeating all these obsessive behaviours in a loop. I started on a high dose of sertraline alongside therapy and then over the past few years it’s reduced down to a maintenance dose. (25) it’s amazing. I feel I can deal with everyday stuff now.
you need to push through the initial side effects which take a few weeks. You don’t have to live like this, good luck OP xx

GiveYourHeadAWobble the pack I currently have sitting on my kitchen table is 10mg (capsules) of fluoxetine. I wanted them in tablet form so I could microdose as I feel more comfortable doing that but my GP says they only come in capsules so I’ll have to start with the 10mg.

Everything @verylongday said. I am on a low dose of Citalopram and have no intention of coming off it.

someone once told me to look at a maintenance dose like a multivitamin. That really helped me.
instead of aiming to come off it at some point. I used to be counting down until that day but now I’ve accepted it.

I took a TCA (Nortriptyline) for my IBS for 4 months but it left me feeling spaced out so I came off them.
To be absolutely honest, I’ve been so worried about ssri’s giving me diarrhoea (my IBS dictates my day to day life) that I have never started any despite having Prozac, Citalopram and sertraline in my cupboard sitting there.

I was prescribed sertraline a few weeks ago. I was struggling with life in general, I wouldn’t have said I was depressed but more lacking in motivation, being horrible to my husband and kids due to feeling an overwhelming amount of stress and just unable to cope with basic tasks.
Even though it’s only been a few weeks I feel so much better. I’m on a small dose so don’t know if it’s placebo affect or if it is truly working but I’m so glad I started taking them.

I was the same as you OP. I've lived with anxiety for 30 years. I have had 3 lots of anti-depressants during my lifetime and I would say, that they didn't do much for me on each occasion. Maybe the dose wasn't sufficient; I don't know but like you, I hate taking medication. Another PP's attitude of thinking of anti-depressants as multi vitamins is such a good idea though.

It wasn't until I went on HRT did the anxiety literally disappear within a week. That constant buzzing undercurrent of fear and worry and 'what ifs' faded and went. In the last 8 years of HRT, I've had maybe 2 panic attacks and half a dozen moments of fear/anxiety and because of previous CBT/meditation skills/breathing exercises, I was able to cope with the episodes a lot better.

You mention you're peri...this was me 8 years ago. Have you discussed HRT with your GP? (and before anyone jumps on me about 'not everyone can take HRT', I am aware of that; it's literally just a question for the OP)

Absolutely.

I've been on and off them for a decade.

Last year I decided I don't need them and stopped. It was hellish.

My anxiety took over. I became reclusive. Panic attacks constantly.

DH convinced me to go back on them about 2 months ago and I feel so much better. My anxiety has reduced by about 80%

I don't know what I stopped them.

ladybirdsanchez I am hoping to get in a better place with meds then retry therapy and see if that has a more lasting impact.

Thank you Apollo365 I do need to take something, due to some extra stresses in my life my ocd is getting really bad atm, I need to nip that in the bud before it takes over. Yes, I do need to see it like a multivitamin, something to boost my quality of life.

That’s encouraging Mardyybum I hope it continues to help you.

Projectme there is no doubt that peri has made all of my mental and physical issues so much worse. Sadly, I can’t take hrt right now. After years of issues I have recently been diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis. I’ve been advised by my endo gynae that the oestrogen in the HRT could make everything worse for me.

MySmallWoo Good to hear they are helping again. Tbh, if I do ever pluck up the courage to take something and they help I probably won’t want to ever come off them, I’ve lived in this bubble of fear and low mood for decades and long to feel some kind of normality.

Yes OP they absolutely can change your life for the better.

Google is the devil with things like this. If you google any medication you will find a lot of people complaining about the side effects. Even common painkillers can sound horrendous if you start googling people's experiences with side effects.

It doesn't mean it will happen to you, and a lot of people do exaggerate and panic about these things more than they need to.

Antidepressants do have side effects for most people, but generally they are nothing that you can't handle. It's your anxiety taking over and causing you to worry.

If you take them, you'll probably have headaches for a few weeks when you start taking them. You might have some other side effects too. If it gets bad, you'll stop taking them and the side effects will stop.

A low dose antidepressant isn't going to cause permanent damage.

I would urge you to give them a go. If they don't work for you, you can just stop. But if they do work, it could change your life.