16 Things No One Tells You About Taking Antidepressants

    "Asking for help when you feel like you can't go on is one of the strongest things you can do."

    Anna Borges
    by Anna Borges

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the most annoying misconceptions people have about taking antidepressants. Here's what they want you to know.

    Always consult with your doctor about your personal health and wellness. BuzzFeed posts are for informational purposes only and are no substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical advice.

    1. Antidepressants work differently for different people.

    Haejin Park for BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    "I wish people knew that antidepressants aren't one size fits all. There are different types that work differently for every person. You go through up and downs, deal with side effects, all in the hopes that you will find anything that helps."

    —meghanelizabethm4bc34afaf

    2. And it requires a lot of trial and error to find the right fit sometimes.

    instagram.com

    "I've been on and off antidepressants for 16 years and have tried at least 12 different medications. Sometimes the side effects cause more problems and sometimes the medication doesn't help at all. It's all trial and error until you find one that works that your insurance covers."

    —Stephanie VanderWaal, Facebook

    3. It's just like taking medication for any physical illness.

    instagram.com

    "A professor told me once, 'I take medication for arthritis. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to live my life the way I need to. There is no difference in taking antidepressants for depression.'"

    —Rima Neogi, Facebook

    4. They aren't magic pills that make you happy all the time.

    Accentibles / Via etsy.com

    "Everyone has their good days and their bad days. They can definitely help you be more buoyant and resilient in the face of hardship, but everyone experiences rough times. A combination of antidepressants, counseling, a healthy lifestyle, and a strong support network is the key to success for some."

    —Ella Corpuz, Facebook

    5. Yes, they might affect your sex drive.

    memecrunch.com

    "I started taking antidepressants to deal with debilitating migraines years before becoming sexually active, so I didn't know the difference. No matter how wonderful the sex, it would take me eight years to finally achieve climax with someone who wasn't me."

    —Amlys López, Facebook

    For more information on what antidepressants do to your sex life, check this out.

    6. "Are you off your meds?" is pretty much the most annoying and inappropriate question ever.

    FOX / Via koreanjohn.tumblr.com

    "People on antidepressants do still have emotions. Just because they get sad or angry or upset in any way does not mean that they aren't taking their meds. It is insulting to dismiss someone's very valid feelings and to say things like 'Did you forget to take your meds?'"

    —April Jones, Facebook

    7. The first few days on antidepressants might be a little rocky.

    FOX / Via aspiringdoctors.tumblr.com

    "The way that you feel when you first start taking antidepressants is not necessarily how you will always feel while taking them. Those first few days are really dramatic while your body figures out how to deal with this new influx of chemicals. The first time I took Lexapro, I felt as if my emotions had been chopped off at the knees, like I couldn't really FEEL anything, and that was frightening. But after a week, my body adjusted and I started to feel not just like my old self, but even better. This is something that can take weeks. So, if you don't like how it feels immediately, be patient."

    —Daphne Wert, Facebook

    8. You don't have to reach a certain "low" to need them.

    instagram.com

    "When I first started taking antidepressants, my boyfriend at the time told me I wasn't 'bad' enough to take them. No one besides yourself can fully understand what you are going through mentally and physically. There is not a degree of 'bad' in which it is acceptable to take medication. It is what you and your doctor think is right for you and to help you out."

    —hayleyellie

    9. You don't necessarily need to be on them forever.

    Kelsey / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: kelseyweaverphotography

    "I had a doctor describe my antidepressants as a cast: you break your leg so you wear a cast for support so it can help heal; you couple that with physical therapy to strengthen your leg and get it back to a healthy point. You can do the same with antidepressant medicine. Take it, coupled with therapy, then as you sort things out, work with your doctor to get to a point that you don't need to take the medicine anymore."

    —evanreppert1

    10. But if you do need to be on them for a long time, there's nothing wrong with that either.

    11. They're not meant to turn you into a zombie.

    http://beenwandering.tumblr.com/post/77427959346/help-im-having-emotions-about-a-cartoon
    http://beenwandering.tumblr.com/post/77427959346/help-im-having-emotions-about-a-cartoon

    "Before I took them I felt like I was living under a wet blanket that I couldn't lift no matter how hard I tried. Once the antidepressants started working, I vividly remember thinking, 'Oh, these are what emotions are!' Antidepressants help me have 'normal' moods. That means I experience the full range of emotions, from good to bad. I just have more control over them now."

    —courtneyd7

    12. They're not always used to treat depression.

    Diego_cervo / Getty Images

    "I began taking them for chronic migraines. Since taking the medication I sleep better and do not constantly suffer from the pain of migraines."

    —carlyr44c73d4c4

    13. Antidepressants won't necessarily stifle your creativity.

    Disney / Via disney.tumblr.com

    "The whole romanticized idea of the 'depressed artist' drives me CRAZY. Do NOT avoid going on medication because you think it will ruin your creativity. Depression makes it so you can't get out of bed, let alone create art. Antidepressants help me be the artist I want to be."

    —Lydia Powers, Facebook

    14. And they don't just give you "fake happiness."

    daniel julià lundgren / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: kiwoo

    "I hate when people say something along the lines of 'I would hate to depend on a medication for happiness' or 'feeling happy while you're on antidepressants is not REAL happiness.' Tell that to me while I'm laughing with my best friends, or having the time of my life traveling (two things that I wouldn't be able to do if I didn't have my medication). My medication simply makes it so that I can actually FEEL happiness again, it doesn't create it."

    —Kathleen Callender, Facebook

    15. They don't change who you are — but they may help you be the best, most capable version of yourself.

    Flo Perry / BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com

    "At the age of 15, I refused to take antidepressants because I did think it would change my thinking and essentially make me a different person. After taking them I realized that is not true at all. In fact, it revealed to me who I was and could be."

    —Alicia A., Facebook

    16. And lastly, taking antidepressants doesn't make you weak.

    sarahlee.tumblr.com

    "Asking for help when you feel like you can't go on is one of the strongest things you can do."

    —sarahp46d7e8aa4

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