Depression Myths Debunked #4: Anti-depressant are a myth?

Disclaimer: This is NOT medical advice. Please consult your doctor or a psychiatrist for professional guidance. This is simply an experience shared.

The #PostYourPill movement on social media, started by Dr. Alex George—a UK ambassador for youth mental health in the Department for Education—caught my attention recently. Dr. George became an ambassador after losing his brother to suicide in 2020, and his initiative has sparked meaningful conversations about mental health and antidepressant use.

I learned about the hashtag through my colleague Abigail Stack-Nothstine , who courageously shared a photo of her medication on LinkedIn. While I didn’t participate, as I’ve stopped taking antidepressants since 2020, I deeply value the role Sertraline (brand name: Zoloft) played in my recovery. By building mental fitness, I no longer felt the need for medication to maintain balance, but I’ve always acknowledged how much it helped me when I needed it most.

Deciding to take antidepressants wasn’t easy for me, and I suspect that’s true for many others. Here’s why:

1. Stigma: Taking the pill felt like admitting I had depression, something I once saw as a label of weakness. I feared it would follow me and damage my career. Back then, I believed the stigma that depression signified a lack of strength—a perspective I now know is completely false.
2. Misinformation: The internet is filled with myths about antidepressants. A simple search like “antidepressants ruined my life” yields countless negative anecdotes. While I respect others' beliefs, such stories can discourage people from seeking help. Beliefs are powerful; they shape our realities, much like religion does for many.
3. Placebo Effect Skepticism: Even after benefiting from antidepressants, I grappled with doubts: Was it truly the medication, or could it have been a placebo effect? The placebo effect, where inactive pills can still improve symptoms, highlights how our mindset can influence outcomes. That’s why pharmaceutical companies rigorously test drugs in clinical trials to prove they outperform placebos.

Despite these doubts, today’s antidepressants have undergone extensive clinical testing and are proven effective for many, though not universally. Statistically, they offer better outcomes than not taking them. If you’re considering them, I understand the struggle—when you’re feeling depressed, negativity often feels magnified, making it hard to take what seems like such a ‘big’ risk. My advice is to focus on the positive examples, as belief itself can be a powerful force in the healing process.

What are the positive examples?

• Abigail: She shared her journey openly and found relief through medication.
• Another Bayer colleague: Recently disclosed her struggle with depression and credited antidepressants for helping her cope.
• Drew Tyre : Shared his lifelong battle with depression. After trying several antidepressants at varying doses, he finally experienced what he described as “feeling normal” for the first time. He discovered life could be good and relaxed —something he hadn’t realized before.

Drew’s story reminds me of a friend who was born nearsighted but didn’t know it until she got her first pair of glasses. Her reaction? “The world looks so strange; the trees have rough bark, and I can see ants everywhere.” She hadn’t realized what she was missing until the glasses revealed it to her.

Before dismissing antidepressants, why not give them a try? They might just be the pair of glasses you need to see life in a whole new way.

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11/20/2024, St. Louis

Notes:

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/december-2022/myths-about-antidepressants.aspx