The Real Deal with Depression and Anti Depressants
So you've got depression, now how do you manage it? There are lots of choices actually, but anti depressants are the most commonly used treatment for depression. It is important to get to know more about depression and anti depressants, so that you can establish the pros and cons of the different depression management options you've got.
Getting to Know Anti Depressants
The real relationship between depression and anti depressants is that these drugs were made to make your recovery from depression easier. Basically, anti depressants are specialized medicine formulated to battle depression. However, it is a misnomer that anti depressants is actually synonymous to happy pills. No, they're not happy pills at all. That is because the use of anti depressants include a lot of risks too, along with the benefits it gives you.
Anti depressants are prescription-only drugs. One important thing that you should know between depression and anti depressants is that you should only use such medication under the supervision of a doctor. Another misconception about depression and anti depressants is that you are perceived to be weak when you opt to undergo medication for your depression problems. Although some people may see it this way, medically speaking, that's not the case.
It is okay to have medications for depression. You should not see your self-worth lower just because you are taking anti depressants. You are not weaker than other people just because you opt for this kind of treatment, and besides they are very effective anyway, so why bother about what other people say?
Effectiveness
Another issue between depression and anti depressants is the effectiveness of the drugs. Of course, it is a case-to-case basis on how effective anti depressants would be. For some people anti depressants would be the best and most effective method to battle their depression, while for some, undergoing some kind of therapy is best and anti depressants come secondary in their recovery.
The effectiveness also depends on the severity of your depression and your personal preferences. Data has it that for severely depressed adults, anti depressants works best. However, for milder cases, psychotherapy is sufficient, or a combination of both is acceptable.
Mechanics
So how do these wonder drugs work? They help battle your depression by bringing back homeostasis or balance to chemicals in your brain. By this action, your brain functions normally, minus the cloud of depression that has been following you wherever you go.
Types
There are various types of anti depressants. Some of these are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), Tricyclic, Nefazadone, Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, Bupropion, Trazodone, and MAOIs (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
Each has different mechanics on how they work and side effects as well. You can ask your doctor to help you choose medication that would fit your lifestyle, preferences, and needs perfectly.
