Can antidepressants help if it's situational depression?

[Takenseriously]

Dealing with (or trying to) a situation which is leading to depression. I think I am prone to depression but objectively the situation I am in would cause problems for anyone. I need to tackle the situation more directly but find I avoid confrontation (for all the usual reasons) and wondered if antidepressants might help me tackle it? Might they make me more able to be strong?

Apologies if I am being vague. I am being cautious for the usual reasons. But if it helps it is about relationship problems.

They worked for me. You need to speak to your GP.

Very sorry you're having a tough time.

I dont have personal experience but a friend who is open about her depression which was very much situational said the tablets numbed her enough to let her start dealing with her problems and making changes. I don't think that sounds great but at least partly answers your question.

Xx

Mine wasn't relationship issues. Presumably you'd need to also work on those.

I think I am just rubbish at dealing with the issues - very avoidant - so am kinda hoping antidepressants might help with that. Intellectually I know what the problems are and what the solutions are but I avoid making the steps that would help me. And that is very frustrating...

They did for me.
They just made me feel more like I was on solid ground and more able to cope with what was going on around me.

Had two friends like this. Awful husbands. They both got something from GP one was zombie like for a time then took off with another man. The other crashed her car into mine outside school, then wrote off another mothers car three weeks later. She then started divorce proceedings.

So I guess they do work. I think they give your brain a rest from the turmoil of a relationship and somewhere deep down your mind becomes clearer because your emotions are dulled

Yes definitely. Just be sure to get other forms of support in place once they have got you over the worst, and then come off them slowly but as soon as possible. You don't want to be reliant on them once the situation has moved on and you are coping with it.

Absolutely. It's a hand hold and a way to cope with whatever crap you're dealing with. The crap dealing has to be you though x

I’m going against the other posters here OP. I don’t know what your situation is and whilst anti-depressants might help you with coping, I’m not sure if they should be used for anything apart from coping/overcoming depression or anxiety.

I say this as someone who should have taken anti-depressants years ago to help me with my anxiety. They are amazing but would say they aren’t necessarily the fix you need.

relationship which is unhappy and making you feel shit about yourself - counselling, anti-depressants and getting stronger to move yourself to a happier place whatever that might be.

relationship where you are in a carers position - anti depressants would help

I guess what I am saying is that whilst they might help you of fundamentally you know something needs to change somewhere anti-depressants are not the fix that you need. Why do you hate confrontation?

for what it is worth I have never crashed my car or become zombie like and I have no plans to come off them - but mine are for anxiety so not sure if that makes a difference.

Thanks all. Why do I hate confrontation - parents fought a LOT and I hated it.

I know they (antidepressants) are not the cure but I guess I am hoping they might unblock me so I do what I intellectually know needs to be done. I guess I hope it make me less afraid of confrontation. I feel so stuck.

They might lighten the load so you feel less stuck.

But if it’s that you need to leave someone then you need to leave. Yes anti-depressants will lift your mood but they won’t get rid of the feeling stuck. That feeling is you knowing something isn’t right and/or making you unhappy.

Is there anyway you can breakdown what needs to be done into small steps? That might make you feel less stuck.

Ime they help you create healthy neurotransmitters so you can think more clearly about the situation you're in that is causing your depression.

They're not a cure all, and nothing changes if nothing changes, but if you have gone through a trauma, long or short, you don't make healthy neurotransmitters.

You might need medication to help, as well as regular, uninterrupted sleep, and a balanced diet. Exercise and sunshine help sign your circadian rhythm too.

So, no, they're obviously not going to magically dish you out of a shit situation. But they're going to help you to think more clearly about how you can help yourself.

They helped clear the fog and make me see the situation and deal with it more easily. Didn't really make me feel any 'happier' as such. I stopped taking them because they prevented me (sorry, tmi) being able to orgasm easily - and my issues weren't relationship based
I don't know if it is middle age, wisdom or down to six months on fluoxetine numbing my emotions but once I stopped giving a shit about what anyone thought of me (bar husband, family and friends I love), life has become infinitely better and more contented.

Yes, but it won't cure it only mask the symptoms. If you come off them when "better" but without having sorted out the cause, you'll relapse. They can help you cope with the situation though while you get through it, or if the situation can't be changed its better to have a life where you're coping than where you're not 💐

I think I am just rubbish at dealing with the issues - very avoidant - so am kinda hoping antidepressants might help with that. Intellectually I know what the problems are and what the solutions are but I avoid making the steps that would help me. And that is very frustrating

Counseling to get stronger would be more helpful for this. I don't know that antidepressants can give you courage, which seems to be what you want? You can see that your avoiding is at a level that's causing you a problem in life, so trying to fix that would be the first step. Then you'd be able to take all those other steps.

Nobody enjoys confrontation.

If you take away "should", which is sometimes just unnecessary pressure, is there any way of dealing with your situation that doesn't involve confrontation? Eg if you wanted to live elsewhere are you in a position to just do it without telling anyone? Sure some might be angry and maybe they'd have a right to be (I don't know your situation) and you'd have to deal with that. But if their anger was unjustified you could tell them to get lost or block them. Just an example. Try looking at your situation from different angles and checking out all the options, not only the ones other people like.

I’ve had anti depressants a few times. Started when my best friend died and some months later I just couldn’t cope with life. Then a few different life challenges since. PND. Dad had Alzheimer’s, life stresses etc.
whatever challenges you are facing, your brain can just become deficient in dealing with them. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain. Anti depressants work to correct the imbalance. They won’t fix the situation that has caused the imbalance. But they’ll help you deal with every day life whilst you work out how to sort out the issues.
it can take 6 months at least to top up your serotonin with anti depressants. Then it’s recommended you stay on them for another 6 months after you start to feel better. That’s the mistake a lot of people make. Once you start to feel better, it still takes your body another 6 months to start making enough serotonin so you can cope again.

They can help you cope with the situation, but they wont fix it.

They could? But if it's circumstances and situation could therapy to work through the situation help?

Yes they do. I took them when DD was seriously ill with anorexia. Was reluctant to take them at first but I was at breaking point and they definitely helped me cope. So I would talk to your GP. Sorry it's so tough right now. I hope life gets easier soon.