Starting a new medication of any kind can be scary and overwhelming. Medications to treat mental health challenges can be especially intimidating, and usually there are a lot of unknowns surrounding what they will feel like. There are times in life when the weight of your circumstances or your mental health challenges become too much to bare by yourself. Whether you have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression or another psychological disorder or you are experiencing situational mental distress – antidepressants may become a necessary treatment for you. There are several circumstances in which medical intervention is the right course of action, and there is absolutely no shame in admitting that. With the help of a doctor or specialist, you can seek treatment through antidepressant medication and truly change your life. In this article, we are going to explain how antidepressants work and how they make you feel, so you may have a better understanding of the process of antidepressant medication treatment.  

What are antidepressants?

 Antidepressants are a type of medication used to treat mental health challenges such as, but not limited to, depression or anxiety. They are used to balance the chemicals in your brain that regulate your mood, through the reabsorption of serotonin and other chemicals of the like. Antidepressant medication relieves symptoms of mental health conditions, to make life feel more manageable and offer you relief from the overwhelming or debilitating symptoms you are experiencing. They are extremely successful for most people in treating depression and anxiety and are a very commonly prescribed treatment method by doctors. If you are experiencing symptoms that are outside of your “normal” and are wondering if you may need the relief of antidepressants, it is important to talk to your therapist or doctor about your options and what plan of treatment is best for you. 

 What are antidepressants prescribed for?

Regardless of the name, antidepressant medication is used to treat many other conditions beyond depression.

Some examples of disorders that are treated by antidepressants include:

• Depressive disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Bipolar disorders

• Personality Disorders

 Antidepressants are an incredibly effective way to treat the conditions listed above, and many people experience immense relief upon taking them. While antidepressant medication is used to treat more mental health conditions, the most common conditions treated with antidepressants are depression and anxiety. If you have never been diagnosed with any mental illness, it can be hard to recognize what you are experiencing and when medical intervention is necessary. With the help of a therapist or psychiatrist, you are better able to identify when medication is the best course of action. 

If you are unsure if your symptoms are that of depression or anxiety, here are examples of what you may experience with those conditions:

• Feelings of hopelessness

• Lack of motivation

• Feeling overwhelmed by simple and manageable tasks

• Feeling not like yourself

• Lack of energy or drive

• Isolation from others

• Racing and irrational thoughts

• Automatic negative thoughts

• Dreading or avoiding things that once made you happy

If you are experiencing any or all of those symptoms, it is important to be aware of it and talk to your doctor. Talk therapy can be a very effective way to alleviate many of these symptoms, especially if they are situational, but sometimes the help of a psychiatric provider is the best option. If you are unsure of where to begin your journey to healing, click here and we can help you figure it out. We offer psychiatric services and are eager to provide assistance in that area as well as our existing counseling services.

There are things in life that are deeper and bigger than what we can handle on our own, and mental health challenges are among them. There is no shame or harm in seeking the help you need and deserve. Rather than waiting until it gets worse and prolonging your healing, we recommend you seek the help of a professional and get the relief you need as soon as possible.

The Different Types of Antidepressants

When it comes to antidepressant medication, there are several different types. The reason these medications can be used to treat such a vast range of conditions, is because of the different types and how they each work in unique ways. It is very important to talk to a doctor or professional before going on an antidepressant or any medication, to ensure that you are being treated correctly and most effectively. Antidepressants are certainly not a “one size fits all” treatment and should be prescribed to best suit your specific set of challenges and symptoms. 

 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

One form of antidepressant medication is called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). These are most commonly prescribed first by doctors, as they are commonly effective and carry with them less side effects than other forms of antidepressants. They are also less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other medications. SSRIs increase the level of serotonin in your brain and block the reabsorption of serotonin in neurons. 

Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors 

Another form of antidepressant is Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs act similarly to SSRIs in that they block the reuptake of serotonin into your neurotransmitters, but they act the same with norepinephrine as well. For some, SNRIs are more effective than SSRIs, but they come with other side effects and aren’t suited for everyone. As with every medication, it is important to talk with your doctor to see which option is best for you and your symptoms.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants are less commonly used than newer medications, such as SSRIs and SNRIs. They increase the levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine, while also blocking the action of acetylcholine. By balancing these chemicals in the brain, tricyclic antidepressants are used to alleviate severe depression. 

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) are the most serious of all the antidepressant medications that are prescribed. They are often the last of the medications that doctors try on patients, as they can cause serious side effects and come with a complicated course of treatment. They act similarly to all of the other antidepressants and relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety through balancing the chemicals in the brain. In the process of balancing those chemicals though, they also adversely affect blood pressure, so patients have to be mindful of their blood pressure by avoiding certain foods. 

Common Misconceptions

 Like we stated earlier, beginning the use of a new medication that you’ve never tried before comes with a lot of apprehension and fear. There are many unknowns and questions. Often if you know the answers before you start our journey on medication, you can alleviate many of those fears. When it comes to mental health medications such as antidepressants, they are highly stigmatized and often misunderstood. Because they aren’t normalized in our culture, we are left with several misconceptions surrounding antidepressant treatment. These are a few common misconceptions about antidepressants.

1. They make you feel euphoric

Antidepressants often are misunderstood by people and are said to take you from a depressive state to a feeling of euphoria. This is not the case. Antidepressants assist you in your ability to cope with situational challenges or challenges from mental illness such as depression or anxiety. They are used to balance the chemicals in your brain, allowing you to feel balanced and more equipped to make it through the daily challenges of life. Often when you struggle with depression disorders, the smallest and most ordinary tasks can seem insurmountable. Antidepressants aide in making those tasks feel manageable. Essentially, antidepressant medications make you feel a normal range of highs and lows and regulated, but do not send you into a state of euphoria.

2. They change your personality.

 As effective as these medications are in treating mental health conditions, they do not change who you are as a person or alter your personality in any way. They will, however, change your mood in a way that may allow you to enjoy life more. They affect the naturally occurring chemicals in your brain, which just influences your symptoms and state of being – not your personality. When going on an antidepressant, you should hope for and expect adjustments in the way you are able to manage challenges, but not changes in your personality.

3. You can become addicted to antidepressants. 

 Antidepressant medications are not addictive at all like substances such as drugs, nicotine or alcohol. They are used to help stabilize your mood, but do not give you any sort of “high” that you will become reliant on. Eventually, with the proper use of these medications, you will feel balanced and healthy and hopefully not feel like you are on a medication at all. That is the ultimate goal. If you are to abruptly discontinue use of your medication, you will likely experience withdrawal effects. This could be why there is a misunderstanding surrounding addiction to antidepressants. If it is the time to stop taking antidepressants, you should come to that decision with the help of your doctor and wean gradually off of the medication at a pace that will allow your body to adjust properly and avoid harsh withdrawal symptoms. As with any aspect of medical treatment, the help of a doctor or professional is crucial.

4. All antidepressants are created equal.

There are several types of antidepressant medications, and within those types there are numerous different medications. Each are created differently and cater to different symptoms, different sets of challenges and different people with unique medical histories. If one medication does not work for you, it doesn’t mean that they all won’t work. This is why being treated for depression or anxiety can sometimes be a process of trial and error. You may try a medication and experience an adverse response and very little improvement. Your doctor could then prescribe another medication that reacts completely differently in your system and gives you very little side effects and great relief. It is important when trying antidepressants to not give up after trying one medication, and to persevere until you find the right one for you. 

What are common side effects of antidepressants?

As we have mentioned throughout, antidepressants can cause both mild and serious side effects. If you are able to manage your symptoms with a low dose, you are less likely to have any side effects at all. With the newer medications, you are more likely to experience little to no side effects. The older medications, like tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are more likely to cause adverse side effects, but even those aren’t guaranteed to occur. These side effects vary from person to person and often will only occur in the beginning of treatment. 

 Some antidepressant side effects are:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Dry mouth

• Insomnia

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Weight loss

• Increased sweating

• Suicidal thoughts

While some of these side effects are more common than others, there are typically warning signs to the more severe side effects – such as suicidal thoughts. 

Warning signs for suicidal thoughts include:

• Extreme mood swings

• Changes in sleep

• Dependency of drugs or alcohol

• Communicating about wanting to die or harm yourself

• Isolation

• Extreme hopelessness or helplessness

• Heightened symptoms of depression

• Unusual changes in behavior

If you are experiencing any or all of those symptoms, talk to your doctor or even to your family and friends. It is critical to express those feelings to someone you trust before they become all-encompassing and dangerous.

 The important thing to know about these side effects, is that while they may occur right when you start taking an antidepressant, they will often subside with time. Usually you can expect to feel side effects for the first three to six weeks, that will go away after being on the medication for that time. Some of these side effects can last longer, and if they are imposing on your day to day life you should talk to your doctor about trying a new medication. Usually, the side effects occur before the relief of the medication, which is discouraging to many. You may feel like you are feeling worse, before you start to feel better. It is important to stay on the medication long enough to see if the side effects resolve themselves, of course with the guidance of a medical professional. At Insight Northwest Counseling, we provide psychiatric services to help you navigate your journey with medication.

How long does it take for antidepressants to work?

 One of the downfalls of mental health medication, is the timeline of their effectiveness. When you are experiencing symptoms of depression or other mental health challenges, you want and need immediate relief. But it takes time to really feel the effectiveness of antidepressants. 

For few people, they claim to feel instant relief, which is most likely attributed to a placebo effect and not actually the benefits of the medication. For many people, they experience side effects initially and no relief. This can be very discouraging and lead many to wanting to get off the medication right away. Your doctor will encourage you to be patient, as you will start to feel real relief once the medication builds up in your system. By six weeks you should be feeling significant relief and by eight weeks you should be feeling the full effects of the medication, and your side effects should have subsided. If that is not the case, you should talk to your doctor about trying another medication.

How will I feel on antidepressants? 

Once the medication does begin working, you will feel relief from your symptoms. You will begin to feel more hopeful, less down, more motivated and simple tasks will feel manageable again. You will have more of an ability to cope with the challenges of life. If you were experiencing anxiety, you will likely feel calmer again and have less racing thoughts and feelings of unease. Essentially, you should start feeling like yourself again and even more balanced than you once were. 

When you are experiencing depression, the world can feel overwhelming and dark. It can be incredibly hard to see or even believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But there is, and once you are on an antidepressant medication you will believe that again. It is very hard when you’re in the thick of a mental illness to have perspective through your suffering. It is all-encompassing and feels so much bigger than you. Mental illness takes hold of your brain health and often skews reality enough to make you feel that you will never feel normal or experience joy ever again. Once you are on antidepressants and they are fully effective, that weight and darkness will lift, and you will be able to feel positive, hopeful and even joyful once again.  

 Seek Psychiatric Help

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above, it is so important that you seek the help of a psychiatrist. The path of mental illness of any kind is dark, isolating and extremely difficult – but you certainly don’t have to suffer through it. Antidepressant medication is an incredible and effective way to get through challenges with your mental health, and it is easily accessible to you if you can ask for help. It takes bravery and strength to admit that you need help, but once you feel the relief that these medications can provide, it will be worth it.

At Insight Northwest Counseling, we offer mental health care through counseling and psychiatric treatment, as well.

We look forward to helping you in every way we can!