I’ve been dealing with depression and anxiety for years, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to take the plunge and start taking medication. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to rely on something to make me feel okay, or worse yet—change who I am as a person. But after weighing my options, talking to my therapist, and doing some research of my own, I felt ready to face this journey.
It hasn’t been easy. Not only did it take me months of trial and error before finding the right dosage of the correct medication, but the side effects weren’t ideal either. But despite it all, I can honestly say that there has been improvement with my mental health since getting on antidepressants. I’m more emotionally stable than ever before and find myself managing life stressors with more ease than I could before taking meds.
Through this experience, I learned that medications shouldn’t be seen as a sign of weakness- they’re simply tools intended to help us gain control over our emotions when needed. The relationship between mental health and medications is complex; however, gaining that understanding has helped me understand myself better too! It might take time, effort, patience and research but if you’re open to exploring antidepressants as an option for yourself— it may just be worth your while!