Help Antidepressants

[elfgyoza]

Can anyone explain what antidepressants actually do?

I'm way too socially anxious to ask someone irl but I can't find an answer online either.
They give me the energy to look after myself but are they supposed to help with suicidal thoughts too? I don't understand how they'd be able to change my outlook on life. A few tablets can't suddenly make me think life is worth it can it?

 

[Racon]

What anti-depressant do you take?

 

[rt1989526]

It depends on the person. There's no science behind it, we are guinea pigs.

For me, anti depressants destroyed my mind and body. The side effects, for some, can be brutal and I am one of those people. They are why I am going to ctb.

 

[BPD Barbie]

It's not known exactly how antidepressants work.

It's thought they work by increasing levels of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, are linked to mood and emotion.

Neurotransmitters may also affect pain signals sent by nerves, which may explain why some antidepressants can help relieve long-term pain.

While antidepressants can treat the symptoms of depression, they do not always address its causes. This is why they're usually used in combination with therapy to treat more severe depression or other mental health conditions.

Taken from the NHS website.

 

[Girobatol]

SSRIs are ok. Antipsychotics are nasty.

 

[elfgyoza]

What anti-depressant do you take?

Tried Sertraline then Venlafaxine (Effexor). Now on Venlafaxine plus Quetiapine (Seroquel I think?)

SSRIs are ok. Antipsychotics are nasty.

Do you have experience with antipsychotics? I just started Quetiapine on a low dose but was reluctant to because of stuff I've read online

 

[BPD Barbie]

Do you have experience with antipsychotics? I just started Quetiapine on a low dose but was reluctant to because of stuff I've read online

I take 20mg of Aripiprazole daily as an antipsychotic and it stopped my hallucinations and also my paranoia to a certain extent. Haven't felt any ill effects other than a little more restless than usual. The SSRIs though (I take 200mg Sertraline daily), killed my sex drive. Like it's nothing, non existent.

 

[elfgyoza]

What I really wonder is wether any combination of drugs and therapy can really change someone's outlook on life, especially if the depression doesn't have an obvious cause.

I know that my future would be awful and unfulfilling, and current events don't exactly give any reason for me to change on that view. I don't think the pointless-ness of my life and my pessimism will change because of mental health 'treatment'. Has anyone's view on that actually changed?

I guess I'm asking the wrong people here though lol

 

[rt1989526]

What I really wonder is wether any combination of drugs and therapy can really change someone's outlook on life, especially if the depression doesn't have an obvious cause.

I know that my future would be awful and unfulfilling, and current events don't exactly give any reason for me to change on that view. I don't think the pointless-ness of my life and my pessimism will change because of mental health 'treatment'. Has anyone's view on that actually changed?

I guess I'm asking the wrong people here though lol

If I could go back in time and never start the medication, I think I could have eventually changed my outlook with different thought patterns and changing my habits/lifestyle. The drugs were not necessary for me, and pushed me further down the hole

I think challenging and modifying your thought patterns is possible without drugs. Just my opinion though.

 

[elfgyoza]

I take 20mg of Aripiprazole daily as an antipsychotic and it stopped my hallucinations and also my paranoia to a certain extent. Haven't felt any ill effects other than a little more restless than usual. The SSRIs though (I take 200mg Sertraline daily), killed my sex drive. Like it's nothing, non existent.

Sorry to hear that :/
I think I've probably got different requirements as to what counts as a bad side effect though, since I'm asexual. I take the antipsychotic off label as well, apparently it can be used for depression and to lower sensory issues for autistic people (though I haven't seen any evidence of that..)

If I could go back in time and never start the medication, I think I could have eventually changed my outlook with different thought patterns and changing my habits/lifestyle. The drugs were not necessary for me, and pushed me further down the hole

I think challenging and modifying your thought patterns is possible without drugs. Just my opinion though.

Yeah that makes sense. I think once I decided to get help for depression, I actually became more suicidal and the negative thoughts became ingrained in my mind. It's too late for me too

 

[Racon]

What I really wonder is wether any combination of drugs and therapy can really change someone's outlook on life, especially if the depression doesn't have an obvious cause.

I know that my future would be awful and unfulfilling, and current events don't exactly give any reason for me to change on that view. I don't think the pointless-ness of my life and my pessimism will change because of mental health 'treatment'. Has anyone's view on that actually changed?

I guess I'm asking the wrong people here though lol

I wonder if would be appropriate to make a comparison to Albert Camus' Sisyphus. His idea of imagining Sisyphus as happy despite awareness of his futile eternal torment. Or you can have a depressing outlook on life and still feel happy. It's all chemicals at the end of the day. If you shot yourself full of heroin you would have no choice but to feel good despite your views.

Sorry to hear that :/
I think I've probably got different requirements as to what counts as a bad side effect though, since I'm asexual. I take the antipsychotic off label as well, apparently it can be used for depression and to lower sensory issues for autistic people (though I haven't seen any evidence of that..)

I was given Aripiprazole at one point. They mainly seemed concerned about using it to treat my anxiety. I stopped taking it though. There are one too many reports out there of anti-psychotics causing brain rot (I wish I was exagerating with the word "rot").