Misconceptions Regarding Antidepressants Stop Some from Seeking Treatment for Depression

As a registered nurse I am very aware of the huge number of people that are diagnosed with the condition of depression. Every patient that comes into the emergency room is asked for a list of their illnesses and a list of their medications. The larger majority of people have depression on that list and are taking some type of antidepressant.

There are plenty of reasons you may feel depressed

It is a very difficult world that we live in. There are a lot of stressors in our lives. Economics, terrorism, poor health, loss of loved ones, to name a few. Is it any wonder so many people are being diagnosed with this illness?

The purpose of this article is to give you some valid information about those antidepressants that so many of us are taking. There are a lot of misconceptions that we can clear up.

A combination of counseling and antidepressants is the accepted treatment for depression

A combination of counseling and antidepressants is the accepted treatment for depression. This is accepted because it is usually effective. Statistics show that 6 out of 10 people feel better with this treatment. If the first tried antidepressant doesn't seem to help, several others are available and the person usually will find one that will help.

But why do people resist taking an antidepressant? Especially with statistics that show it actually does help their situation. Maybe it is because of some of the hype that surrounds the use of antidepressants and fears associated with it.

Some say that antidepressants will make you forget your problems rather than allow you to deal with them. Not true, you won't forget anything, however you may be better equipped to deal with them. Being depressed actually hinders your productivity or ability to deal with things head on. You are low on energy and just don't care. Antidepressants can give you back the desire to deal with your problems, and make some real progress in your therapy.

Antidepressants will not change your personality

Antidepressants will not change your personality, drug you or make you sleep all the time. You do have to be properly dosed so that you are on a therapeutic dose, which is determined by your response and your therapy progression. But the antidepressant will actually help you feel like yourself again and make you desirous of activity and feel emotionally stronger. If ever you notice that you feel apathetic or overly tired, tell your physician because you need to be switched to a different one. Never just accept that this is the way it has to be.

The usual amount of time necessary to have effective treatment by taking antidepressants is six to nine months. Once your depression is under control or therapy has helped you resume a more normal and productive path in your life, you and your doctor can work together to get you off the medication. It is never suggested that you stop the antidepressant suddenly. This can cause some side effects such as headaches, dizziness, or nausea.

If you noticed a decrease in libido with depression, antidepressants may help

There is the possibility that antidepressants can have an effect on your sexual functioning. The most common problem is inability to achieve orgasm. But when you reason that depression itself decreases libido and the medication will ease depression that improved sex life may be the actual outcome of taking an antidepressant for the treatment of depression. And if you notice your are indeed having a problem in this area, remember there are several other choices and you and your doctor can work toward finding the right antidepressant for you.

Some people are actually hesitant to seek treatment for depression because they see it as a sign of weakness and are fearful of a perceived social stigmatism attached to it. Like any other illness such as high cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes, major depression is a condition that responds to treatment and medication. Seeking treatment for something that is stopping your ability to function normally is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of concern, intelligence and love of self and others. If you allow your diabetes or heart disease to go ignored and untreated, you will eventually die, the same could happen with depression.

Work with your doctor, there are many antidepressants, if one doesn't work, another will

So the concern for people with depression is to get the necessary treatment of therapy and medication. You can regain the normal healthy and fulfilling life that you once enjoyed. And just because the first antidepressant that you may try doesn't achieve the goal, there are many others, just keep your doctor informed as to how you are feeling and progressing in your life. You deserve to feel better again.

Source:

WebMD