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.

"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."

I'm so sorry to hear that.

With regard to the anti-depressants, my view would be 'what do you have to lose?' You've tried other things and they haven't helped so maybe it's time to give them a try? Anti-depressants do get a bad name because of side effects, but you may never experience any bad side effects. and if you stay on them for life; so what? You've been 'surviving' life so far; anti depressants may give you the desire to 'live' your life instead. Good luck OP. x

Thank you froggirl I really do need to step away from Google.

Thanks Projectme

I’ve been on Citalopram for 14 years and they’ve saved my life. I also have OCD and I’m hardly bothered by it anymore. I hardly ever get intrusive thoughts and if I do, I can usually settle them nowadays.

OP I have been on fluoxetine on and off since 1999! (the one you have been given) You have 10mg capsules which is a low dose. They have a long half life so they are meant to be one of the easiest ones to withdraw from if that helps you. Best wishes, they have helped me a lot. I came off them during pregnancy and breastfeeding also.

I started on 20mg capsules of fluoxetine 2 weeks ago. For obsessive thoughts, rumination, anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and associated migraines, IBS etc. propanalol treats the symptoms of anxiety, and helps with the IBS and migraine prevention but I've found over the years being on and off ADs that sometimes chemical intervention is important to balance me out. I've taken sertraline - made me far too lethargic, citalopram - stopped working / didn't seem to do much, amitrytaline - did nothing, and now fluoxetine. The fluoxetine has worked wonders. My negative mindset was almost immediately improved and getting better every day. The side effects of headache, weird jittery feeling, and a bit spaced out have been on and off for the last 2 weeks. I had an awful bought of diarrhoea on day 2, and a very mild case again a few days ago. Research told me that serotonin is mainly produced in your gut so SSRIs will have an impact, but ultimately will help with IBS, so despite the diarrhoea I've persisted and feel so so so much better. To combat the dodgy tummy I take my pill on a full stomach and with a pint of water. The one day I didn't do that was the day I had a very upset tummy. Coincidence or not I've continued with a good healthy breakfast and drink before my tablet.

Could have wrote your post myself

I tried anti depressants for a week and they just made me sleepy....

Recently I have looked into the Ketamine Therapy treatment in London at Klearwell.

Around 6.5k - but may be worth it for a new life....

Best thing I ever did was start taking antidepressants!

I started on 10mg citalopram in 2020, and now (after a significant bereavement) I’m on 40mg. I have no plans to reduce the dose, or come off them.

I’ve always had anxiety and “low moods”, and also never wanted to medicate, but now I feel like me. I have confidence in myself and I feel like I can get through pretty much anything. I don’t worry, I don’t stress, I don’t overthink.

It can take a few weeks for them to get working properly, but you have nothing to lose by trying them. I would definitely give them a go. All the best :)

I find the same about taking it with food, also others did not seem to help, it seems trial and error is needed to find the right one.

This is my worry, feeling worse before I feel better.

The only people who benefit from antidepressants are the massive pharma companies selling them. All they do is alter the chemicals in your brain and don't address the root cause. Like putting a plaster on a broken leg.

My Mum was given them when going through a lot of stress with my younger sister. She's been on them 16 years and can't come off them as the side effects are horrendous. I'm furious with her GP for ever starting them.

I would disagree. I was banging on the GP's door 30 years ago with severe PND. I was literally crawling around. A course of med helped immensely.

My mum has been on them 29 years and can't quit. She's very ill on them, much more so than I remember her as a child. I'm lucky. I tried them, both a few ssri's that I couldn't stay on long enough because of the side effects, and venlafaxine for six months. This was in the first few years of adulthood, I feel lucky it was only that long but if I could do it over I wouldn't touch them.

I completely disagree with this.
In my experience taking ADs helps you out of the massive hole youve fallen into. It then allows you to look at what caused you to fall in that hole in the first place. Sometimes it can be life events, but sometimes it's your biology and how you react to fairly normal stressors.

I now know what circumstances push me to the edge and know my physical cues. I am able to recognise them and head them off at the pass.

Before taking ADs I was completely unable to do this. I assumed that everything was shitty because I was a useless waste of space and just needed to buck up. I hated myself for being such a failure.

All this is behind me because I can see situations rationally.

I also get irrationally annoyed when people assume that its somehow wrong/a failure to be on them long term. Ime its usually people who've never experienced hitting rock bottom on a fairly regular basis. If you need them, you need them. Other people assuming you must come off them asap just perpetuates stigmas around mental health and makes people who really need them reluctant to take them.

Op I could have written your post a year ago. I was TERRIFIED of taking them.

However I'm so glad I talked myself into it. I feel like I'm living again, not just existing. In hindsight I can't believe what a dark hole I let myself get into, and for so long. So much time wasted.

I know they don't work for everyone, but genuinely, they have been utterly, utterly life-changing for me. I'd encourage you to give it a try, of only to get yourself back on an even keel and address the root causes.

That’s good to know thank you.
I won’t lie, the thought of getting any more diarrhoea than I already do scares the life out of me, my IBS is very unpredictable and I can get an attack completely out of the blue, this causes me so much daily anxiety and my ocd is very much tangled up in this. I do avoid most medicines for fear of it causing diarrhoea but if I do decide to take an antidepressant I will definitely take it on a full stomach.

I was told to initially take them at night to help deal with any side effects. Once you're used to them you can switch to taking them in the morning.

EpicSoundtracks

I don’t worry, I don’t stress, I don’t overthink

These things I currently do on a grand scale, more so than I have ever done before and I desperately want it to slow down and stop. I do feel that antidepressants are the only thing which will help this.

Yes.

Mine too, it’s why I’ve put of taking them for so so long.

You mean once you get through the horrible first few weeks , your life inproved and you were reluctant to repeat that?

Don't be scared of medication OP, please try it.

I'm on Venlafaxine 150mg and have been for around 3 months now. They've changed my life. I was stuck in a cycle of horrible intrusive thoughts, general anxiety and depression. These tablets have enabled me to enjoy life again, get joy from my ds and generally function as a human.

I googled venlafaxine and scared myself witless with reviews of terrible side effects, withdrawals if you forget to take them and I can honestly say I haven't had one side effect at all.
I did in the past on fluxotine, but I can still say it's completely worth it when they start working.

Please get yourself to the doctors and get started, once you find the right one and right dose you'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago

Girl, get on the meds. You've tried all the other holistic alternatives and they haven't helped.

I too have ocd and a panic disorder that turned to agoraphobia and for the last 13 years I've taken fluoxetine. I still have bumps in the road, but never for as long or as intense.

I work full time, have a lovely partner, own my home. I wouldn't have any of these with out an SSRI.

They can be difficult to start but ask for propranolol or diazepam to get you through the first few weeks.

Whilst I would always explore non-pharmaceuticals if it’s a possibility, I know dozens of people for whom antidepressants have changed their lives for the better. My niece for example, she tragically lost her 4 year old daughter, there was no root cause to her grief and suicidal thoughts it was plainly obvious having to watch her tiny child suffer whilst a brain tumour killed her. Antidepressants kept her going when her life was at its most darkest.

Whilst I do believe that many drugs such as antidepressants are overprescribed, sometimes it is just not as simple as getting to the root cause. I have had anxiety all my life, I have no real idea why. I have had years of various therapies, I live a healthy lifestyle and exercise. I do all the things recommended for a healthy body and mind yet still suffer.

I simply don’t have the money to keep exploring psychological therapies, they are extremely expensive outside of the NHS and tbh I don’t have the time either. I am 51. Most of my life has been dominated by my poor mental health. I care for my mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s. For those who are unlucky to have experience of dementia will know mine and my families lives are going to be dark and dismal whilst we care for her, I don’t have the strength of mind for that in all honesty, I’m dreading it. I need something to help me through these dark times ahead.

I am so truly sorry your mother is addicted to her meds but what else would you suggest for someone in my position? I have exhausted all other options, I really have.

Thank you. I really want to live and experience the wonder of life again, I am currently just existing and as you know, that is far from an enjoyable way to live.

verylongday my GP did suggest that, I think I’d rather do that tbh.

Thanks Caledoniablue

Thank you overthinkersanonnymus really encouraging to hear they’ve helped you so much.