To think that most women are taking anti depressants?

[Jambalaya76]

Hi

I have been on and off these for most of my adult life. Life is easier with them and I find I am more able to cope with life stresses. I feel normal and tend to let upsets go over my head. Life is better with them. However, I have had a lot to deal with in my little life so feel like a need a little help.

Over the years, I have met so many people who say they also take them. Not that I ever bring it up. It made me wonder if I was to ask people, I wonder how many are taking anti depressants? This seems the perfect forum to ask.

So, how many of us woman here take, or have taken, antidepressants?

Funnily enough, I (and a good 70-80% of the women I'm friends with) do, or have done. For a variety of situations - PND, long term depression, low doses for treating anxiety, PTSD, after a bereavement etc.

Wow, thise of you who say that you ‘would never take them’, woukd you say the same about other medications e.g. painkillers, insulin, chemo etc??

I would never take them personally is a twattish answer
Would you also refuse surgery if you had a cardiac arrest? Or do you think you are more mentally strong than other women
I haven't taken them but I know a few women and men that have or are. If I needed them I would take them
I think our society is unhealthy
I know teens with crippling anxiety and I blame our society

I've taken them for a short period in the past and know a few people who have had them. I don't know if anyone I know is taking them now.

I do find it a bit odd that some people would "never take them". Mind you I had to persuade my husband to take a paracetamol when he had a headache when we first met, so different strokes.

I’ve known mostly males to use them, don’t know any women. I don’t believe they are common place amongst either gender, but If they help you then that’s all that matters.

I am not on them, I know of maybe 3 people who are on them - colleagues etc - no one personally - but that might be because they have never said.

Wow I was honestly expecting lots of yes I do take them. I often do wonder whether life would be good without them but daren't take that leap yet as even though life is good at the mo, I do still find it hard to get through the day sometimes and I'm always tired

Yes for 9 years I took them. But couldn't stand them. From 18 to 27.

It actually turns out that my contraception was making me depressed.

I stopped taking the contraception and miraculously, the depression stopped. Haven't been back on them for 3 years.

I also keep fit and that really boosts my serotonin levels.

Exactly, smells!

I'm on them at the moment, as are two of my close friends, one male and one female, and a male family member. I think quite a few people take them at one time or another in life, but I certainly don't think it's anywhere near a majority at any one time. The medication I take for my anxiety helps me to enjoy life, take care of myself and others, and keep working full time. It gives me the headspace to do the other things which will help me to get properly better.

Some people who MAY benefit from them prefer not to take them and sometimes they really don't agree with people.

I do think saying 'I would never take them' comes across a little bit judgemental, although I'm sure that's not the intention; I hope people who feel that way would not reject something that could help them if they were in a situation where they may benefit from them.

In direct answer to the OP, no I don’t think most women are taking anti depressants.

However, I do think many people, male and female will take them for varying lengths of time during their life just as many (probably the majority) will never touch them due to either not needing to or struggling without them.

Is there any proper stats anywhere?

Posters saying ‘I only know one person who takes’ etc... you probably know others who just aren’t open about it.

God this is depressing. All the "I would never take them." Really? Never? Even if they could save your life?
I have spent years and years of my life begging 2 people who are very close to me to just try them. People whose depression have ruined their lives and the lives of those close to them. One was my ex, who used to wake up weeping, who would contemplate suicide all the time. He "didn't like taking tablets." In the end, we split up and he returned to his abusive ex, who has beat him up several times since he returned.
The other was a close family member who has young children. She was sectioned before she agreed to take anything.

Every time you write "I would never take them", think about who reads your posts. Maybe a young mum who is struggling to keep herself above the water line, or a middle aged man who is just embarrassed about it all. Your posts have just confirmed to them that taking anti-depressants have a massive stigma attached to them. Well fucking done you.

No I don’t take them and only one friend I know of took them for a few months.

I've never taken them but there have been a few moments when I thought I may need them. Do you think depression runs in families?

No. I take them as I have some diagnosed issues though in my friendship and family I am in the minority.
I think the people who take them need them men or women, it is not much of a choice more of a lifeline.
Still No I do not think most people take them.

I've never taken them and as far as I'm aware, no females I'm close to do either.

I do have one male family member who does though.

I had them approx 20-25 years go but I won't touch them anymore.

I have never needed them.

I know a number of people who have taken them whether short term or long term.

There’s an equalish mix between male and female.

There are recent statistics showing that about 7.3 million people were prescribed antidepressants in 2017-18, 4.4 million of whom were long-term users. About two thirds of those people (i.e. 4.9m and 3m respectively) were women. That's about 1 in 5 women who were prescribed ADs last year (not all long-term users). So it's a lot, but nowhere near most women. (Obviously if you look at the numbers of women who have used ADs at any point in their lives, it will be higher.)

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/10/four-million-people-in-england-are-long-term-users-of-antidepressants

Agree, shite - and the first response to this thread was so depressing (no pun intended)

I've never taken them and only know of one friend who has. I doubt most women take ad

I've never taken them and know of 3 people that have. I admit, there may be more I don't know about but I disagree with your statement that most women are or have taken them.

They made me feel utterly wretched and I will never take them again!

Wow so much stigma! Most of the women in my life take them/have taken them in the past. I expect to take them for the rest of my life