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?

I've only known one other person who's taken them and she's had a fair amount of mental health issues. I use to take them because I had depression. I don't think they're as widespread as that.

I used to take them and probably need to again. It's more common than some realise.

I don't. I've been prescribed them but the one prescribed is notoriously associated with weight gain despite my telling the GP I did not want that so I never took them or went back. I could probably immensely benefit from them, as I had a severe bereavement and my son has autism with PDA elements that are really hard on us, but well, when I tried all that happened was I got prescribed the one I least wanted so I won't bother now.

clairemcnam yeah I think it's more to do with our respective industries and circles we run in than reflective of the reality.

I know four of my close friends do. We do talk about mental health so are quite open with each other (i get awful anxiety). If we weren't so open about it then i wouldn't know. You never know what is going on in people's lives do you.

I've never needed them. I only know a few people who are on them long-term. I know a number of people who have used them for a while, maybe for a few periods in their lives, but not long-term. So I doubt it is "most".

It's still a very important issue even if it doesn't directly affect "most" people.

That is true goldenphoenix. People's lives can look blissful from the outside, but rarely are.

I don't take them but I know plenty of people who do/have. My DD is currently suffering from severe anxiety and/or depression, and I'm trying very hard to persuade her that getting some medication would help. Even if it just helps enough to let her engage with CBT or another talking therapy then it would be worth it. She's not ready to take that step yet, and if she read this thread she may well be put off taking them ever which would be awful.

If you needed antibiotics or chemo or any medication to help with a physical problem then you would take it. Why do so many people think mental health issues are any less important? They have just as much impact on your ability to function day to day as a physical ailment.

No never have. I wouldn’t say most either

However I would never say never. Why would’t I take medicine if i were ill. Having had a friend who thought depression only happened to other people become so unwell she hospitalised and subsequently committed suicide I think people are being a little flippant about depression.

I know a lot of people who have taken them at some point in their lives.
I've taken them after both of my childrens births. I had severe pnd with the first so just went straight back on them after the birth of my second and thankfully had a much better time of it. I took them for around 6 months each time. I dont think I'd be here now if I hadn't.

I know quite a few teachers and TAs who have taken them.

No fortunately I've never needed them - that also means that I never talk about them so others presumably wouldn't randomly tell me if they were on them. If you need them you are more likely to talk about it which is why the pattern in this thread shows that those who don't take them know of very few others whereas those that do know several others.

@clairemcnam ‘Nuff said. That’s akin to telling a sucidal person that they should just go for a run every day imo.

I've been on AD most of my adult life. I have no doubt what so ever I would be dead without them. I have major depressive disorder, anxiety and PTSD.
Without my meds my illness is crippling, I have no life.
Medication and psychotherapy means I can live a life.
My first episode was triggered when I had my first child 32 years ago. Life has been a battle ever since.
This of you saying, "I would never take them." I'm happy that you have never needed that level of help and never known the hell of your mind being broken. But please please don't help to stigmatized those of us that do.
If you broke your leg you wouldn't refuse to wear a cast. It's no different.

I would never take them. Previous use of antidepressants noted on my medical records has effectively made me unemployable.

I’ve never taken any (but I have had counselling instead). My parents and sister have though. My sister has been on them for years. She has tried coming off them but gets worse again. I find if I start getting depressed that going running helps and then trying to figure out what is causing my depression. At one point I was so bad I literally had to be dragged out of bed to go to work. So I made a decision to get a new job and things started to get a lot better. I do think they are handed out too quickly myself, I think other things, like counselling, should be used first. Only problem with that of course is the waiting lists for counselling on the NHS is too long.

Wouldn’t that be a sad reflection on society. I hope not and I personally am not 🤷‍♀️

Previous use of antidepressants noted on my medical records has effectively made me unemployable.

How so @Zywk?

I started on them 3 months ago and they have been enormously helpful despite the first 3 weeks being horrible.
I’m genuinely puzzled how anyone can say they would ‘never’ take them. How do they know unless they’ve needed them and made a conscious decision to not take them?

For those of you who say you don't know anyone who takes them, the truth is you quite likely do know someone who does take them.

I'm on anti-depressants because I have PTSD as a result of childhood SA. Most people who know me are not aware of that because it's nothing to do with them. They wouldn't even know I have MH issues because they see me living a seemingly happy life with my DH and 2 adopted DDs.

In the past, I suffered in silence without asking for help, because I was afraid that I would be judged by SS for it. That thankfully turned out not to be the case.

I’ve never taken them, mostly because of the stigma and my mum’s belief that mental health problems are a sign of weakness. There is a long period in my 20s when I absolutely should have been taking them. Thinking about what was essentially a lost 5 years makes me feel very sad...

@zywk where do you live or what jobs are you applying for that you need to disclose previous use of medication.

I don't think most women take them. I've had depression but didn't take medication.
My DF took anti-depressants and had a very bad experience. My DSIL takes them. Our family is prone to depression but the rest of us have opted for counselling rather than medication.

I've taken them in the past.

No one except DH knows this and I suspect most people I know would be very surprised. I am not entirely sure that most people do tell others.

I don’t take them now, I have in the past and they really didn’t agree with me. I do have anxiety which I manage mostly by ignoring it fiercely. I know quite a few people who take them and I know even more who probably should.