At the end of last year I was prescribed antidepressants for the first time. My mental health had been really affected by the pandemic and some issues surrounding that, and since April/May 2020 I'd been feeling really low and was struggling. I didn't realise at the time that I was ill; it was only when I started my final year at university in September and realised I couldn't manage it that I contacted the GP and was given the medication.
The antidepressants have helped me - they enabled me to keep going with my degree and I graduated this month, and though not completely eliminated, my symptoms are much reduced. However, since finishing my degree/classes/assignments I feel like I've hit a bit of a wall. I feel quite down at times and sometimes feel underlying anxiety for no obviously identifiable reason. I find evenings particularly tough and at times look forward to going to bed in the hope of a "fresh start" and feeling better the next day. I don't really know what's wrong or why I feel this way. It's nowhere near as bad as I felt before I started taking the antidepressants, but it's enough to make me think that it's not just a down day that I occasionally had before I had any mental health issues. I don't really want to have counselling because I didn't have a great experience with a counsellor in the past, and I can't pinpoint any specific issue that I'd want to discuss. I think a lot of it might be loneliness - my entire university year was remote and many of the supportive relationships I used to have in my community have been impacted by the pandemic. Not really sure why I'm posting but if anyone has any tips I'd love to hear them!