How did anti depressants help you?

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I've been depressed for a few years now. First it was PND, which did gradually ease. Now I'm burnt out with work (NHS - Covid fatigue) and am just not well. GP has discussed antidepressants but am holding back for some reason. I guess I think that if I rest it will get better. But I do have quite disordered thinking at times (everyone clearly hates me and I am obviously incapable of doing my job). I can see it's a rabbit hole but can't seem to get out. I also have massive health anxiety and probably also grieving a close loss earlier this year. Have had CBT in the past. May go back to it.

If you've tried antidepressants, how did they help? I feel like my brain is melting sometimes

Hi, are you off work? It sounds like you could do with some time off too? ADs helped stop the negative spiral, I don't get too attached to the thoughts and feel more positive.

For me Sertraline helps me (mostly) stay sane. Citalopram made me feel distant from the world.
Try it..?

Literally just going through your post:

1. They stopped me thinking that everyone hates me
2. They enabled me to be good at my job again
3. They helped me to get control of my thoughts so I got out of the rabbit hole
4. I was better at the CBT with them than without them
5. I stopped obsessing over stuff - your health anxiety perhaps?

I was reluctant too but it was the best thing I did at the time. I was on sertraline. It helped me feel more balanced and see that I could actually be happy (I was convinced I couldn't be) and got me back to my usual self.

Thank you all for responding, I appreciate it. Yes I am off work thankfully. The idea of not getting too attached to the negative thoughts is very appealing. I think everyone hates me at work, that they're all angry I'm off and leaving them with the mess that it is right now. I'm retreating because I think its for the best. There is still a part of me that can see this is depression talking though. I think I will go back to my GP. Thank you.

They truly saved my life.

I have been depressed most of my adult life but didn't tell anyone really. Last year I started a new job which didn't go well and I ended up going off sick and leaving. Looking back the job and the boss who humiliated and bullied me was just the final thing that I could not cope with. I had been through years of bereavements, years of working in a very stressful job whilst trying to raise four kids all close together in age. I just crumpled and was a mess. I started sertraline and whilst the first two weeks I had horrendous anxiety, couldn't sleep etc, they did really work. I no longer get intrusive guilty thoughts and ruminations where every mistake I've ever made pop into my head a thousand times a day. I would not say I am happy, but I can cope better and even though I feel like I don't really feel emotions in the same way, this is better than wat I was dealing with previously. I have gone from uncontrollable crying at anything, to finding it really hard to cry, but I feel ok with that now.

I think counselling will help too to see its not you and its the thoughts talking.