As of 2017, at least thirteen percent of Americans have been reported to take an antidepressant. The statistic may come across as worrisome for some individuals, considering around 4.3 million individuals are prescribed the medication and consume this form of treatment on a daily basis. Personally, this data provides a sense of ease, at least from my perception. The stigma revolving around mental illness is still considerably blatant, where people may feel shameful and embarrassed to seek assistance regarding their mental ailment.
As a Psychology major, I was enrolled in numerous forms of coursework elaborating on the benefits of consuming SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). For a majority of my life, I experienced a significant amount of anxiety and felt depressed at times. While the bouts of depression and anxiety may have worsened or lessened depending on the circumstance presented, I had and still have a tendency to feel uneasy, regardless of what is taking place. Although we are evidently in control of our lives and solely have the power to choose how we react to life events, this concept has been a bit of a struggle to wrap my head around.
Individuals that do not personally deal with mental illness, whether it be from their firsthand experience or others they are associated with, may see this as a sign of weakness. While this is a hard pill to swallow (no pun intended), I cannot dwell on this viewpoint, people will misconstrue what they do not understand.
As of 2015, at the age of 20, I took the initiative to schedule an appointment with a Psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and prescribed Prozac and Klonopin. For those of you not familiar with these medications, Prozac is a well-renowned antidepressant and Klonopin is a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are generally intended to treat individuals with anxiety and panic disorders, including seizures.
With all the negativity and skepticism I heard from individuals that are against medication, I began to succumb to their doubts, hence I did not feel a significant difference after taking the Prozac for a few months. I followed up with the Psychiatrist and mentioned my mood did not feel stabilized while taking the antidepressant. He then prescribed Abilify, an antipsychotic.
An Antipsychotic? Has my life gotten to the point in which I am taking a medication that may deem me as psychologically unstable to others? This medication is typically intended to treat individuals with Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia. I began to crave more carbohydrates while taking the medicine, which resulted in making poor consumption decisions. Weight gain is a common side effect with this medication.
Unfortunately, the only difference in taking the medicine that was evident was a sixty pound weight gain. This lowered my self-esteem and caused me to feel a significant amount of self-pity, the only way to resolve the matter was pursuing a lifestyle change. After losing the weight and working on myself to improve my self-worth, I decided to get off the Abilify and Prozac, switching up my regimen.
The Psychiatrist prescribed Trintellix and continued taking the Klonopin when I felt an anxiety attack coming on. While I did feel a sense of relief,there was something that was still causing me to feel sluggish and dismal. Sadly, I do not believe fatigue was one of those reasons. I was letting the doubt of others that disregard the efficacy of medication interfere with my judgement, causing me to doubt if I made the right decision to proceed with taking this form of medication.
After explaining my frustration with these trials and tribulations after attempting to take several psychiatric medications, he suggested Viibryd and partaking in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, a treatment that is generally intended to treat individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder(I do not have this diagnosis).
I went in with no expectations. I made this my last attempt before the dismissal of medication from my life entirely (of course with the approval of the doctor). I did not take it seriously at first. The doctor was nice enough to provide a two week trial in case the insurance needed to approve of the medication,including a coupon for upcoming refills. After completing the trial, I did feel a difference for the better.
Yes, I was and will always be anxious, although I know to not take my pessimism too seriously. My doctor and numerous individuals have proceeded to point out my cynicism, which is something I will continue to work on. Is this a symptom of the depressive moods I experience? Possibly. The only side-effects experienced were a bit of nausea, insomnia and vivid dreams. Those symptoms seem to no longer be present.
My purpose for composing this myTake is to tell you all that there is hope. You may not get it right the first time or you may get lucky your first attempt. Whatever the outcome is, do not give up. I know of many individuals that deny the benefits of psychiatric medication and it is unfortunate. This feedback comes from individuals that were prescribed the medication too. If they persisted to find the right concoction, they will have most likely found a pharmaceutical cocktail that worked for them. At the end of the day, this is your life and you have to do what is right for you. Life can be tough and being mentally/emotionally/physically stable to deal with whatever may come our way is keen in order to make it through with flying colors.
Most Helpful Opinions