To start taking ADs?

[junkfoodforever]

I've been really struggling with stress (due to life events) this past year. Life events have settled a bit & im having counselling but I just feel crap. It was anxiety but now feels like (stress induced) depression. I'm just so fed up of being irritable with my kids, isolating myself & feeling so exhausted/lethargic all the time.
I'm not one to take tablets normally so took time off work before Christmas, exercise/meditate when I can & have been going to counselling but it's not getting better. In fact I probably feel worse & just have no ability to cope with any stress (like even kids tantrums) when normally I cope with stress & chaos quite well. Just want to feel myself again.
I've been thinking about taking ADs-my last resort- but worried about the long term side effects & the first few weeks when they can make you feel awful.
Any input/advice? Do you think the benefits will outweigh the side effects?

Anyone?🤗

Would you take medication for any other condition? A heart problem? Virus? Infection? I’m sure you would. So why the problem with taking medication for this condition?

I spent a long time on and off various mood stabilisers and am now considering them again 6 years after I came off them. Yes the first few weeks can be difficult why your body adjusts, but lots of medicines have side effects. You’ve clearly tried everything you can to get better and should definitely keep doing those things, no shame it getting a bit of medical help now to get you through.

Bear in mind everyone reacts differently to different drugs, so the first one you try might not work as well for you as another, but definitely worth having a conversation with your doctor.

YANBU to try them, but make sure you give them a fair shot. Doctors say 6-8 weeks for side effects to pass, but it took me 6 months to see the benefit. I'm much more in control of my emotions now, they're almost separate to me and I can assess them and choose to accept or reject them based on how rational they are (I can shake off 90% of my anxious intrusive thoughts now). They did make me feel more tired and lethargic though, still do if I let them. But it's given me so much more headspace to plan and after introducing positive changes one by one I'm now much more productive than I've ever been.

Well worth a go. I have been on them for a long while - no side effects at all at any point.

Thanks everyone. I'm just not someone who takes tablets so feel reticent & worried about the first month. But think I'm just gonna have to do it. The new study out today saying they're effective helped.

Thank you x

OP I could have written your post 6 months ago. I didn't think I needed tablets either but after seeing a very pragmatic GP I realised how silly I was being.

Agree with paperdoll that you'd take medication for any other illness so mental health should be treated the same way.

And definitely give them time to work, I felt so rough at first!

I've been putting off getting help as I'm not a 'tablets' person but I've been kidding myself and now have AD from the GP today. Sitting here looking at the box as I'm nervous to take them but I know I've taken the first step by actually getting them.

I was nervous about taking them too. I need not have been - I had no side effects at all and they returned me to being myself again. Best wishes junkfoodforever and momamama

Thanks jampasty. I'm nervous about side effects so that's really good to hear.

Moma I think that's what I'll be like! I've bargained with myself that I'll go to GP & get them then decide whether to take them! Have u started?
FIA glad it's not just me & the toughness of the first few weeks is what is worrying me, I'm only just coping now. But suppose things will have to get worse before they get better.
I know I'm going to start taking them quite soon as I'm struggling to do my job, keep up with housework now. Just want to sleep all the time. And eat!

Many people who take medication for depression would love to have the luxury of it being a choice so they don't have to be a "tablets person". It can take a few attempts to find the right medication but equally it can make a huge difference. You may have no side effects at all, but when depression is too hard to bear, it's very unlikely that a side effect would be even worse. Only you and your doctor know what that equation is for you and whether the benefits outweigh any risks. You don't really know what will happen until you try. Good luck with whatever you decide

Just been to the GP & have been prescribed Fluoxetine. Just took the first one...