Anti depressant pills?

Question

i have always been a laid back go lucky person, but something has changed and has me worried. I have been moody like never before, i seem to snap at people for no good reason and i can really just blowup at any given time. I dont hit people or say mean things, but i just get angry and than i cry. I have not had anything happen to me and i do not understand why i am getting to be like this. I feel like i am pushing people away. My mom suggested that i might have a chemical imbalance and should take and anti depressant. I never take pills for anything excpet for when i am really sick. taking a pill really scares the crap out of me because i dont know the side effects and have heard some horror stories. I really dont know what to do

Answer 1

Are you a teenager? If so, this is pretty normal stuff to go through. When they talk about teenagers raging hormones...it isn't just about sex. Hormones can really effect your moods and behaviors.

If this has been going on for a long time, especially if you are an adult, it sounds like it would be a good idea to see a therapist to get to the bottom of this. Although I strongly believe antidepressants are a very important treatment for some people, I don't think they should be the first thing you try to get back on track. Making sure you are eating a healthy diet, sleeping on a regular schedule, getting enough exercise and avoiding drugs and alcohol is a better first step to trying to feel better.

But if you do end up needing them, please don't be afraid. All medications for all illnesses have potential side effects. This doesn't mean they will happen to you and often times when they do occur they are just annoying and go away as your body adjusts. I am bipolar, 30 yrs old and have been trying to find the right combination of meds for about 10 years. I've been on 19 different ones all together. I have been on some with really nasty side effects (like Lithium) and others that have had none. The worst side effect I have had with antidepressants in general (with the exception of Wellbutrin) are sexual ones (loss of libido, inability to reach orgasm, etc). Different people respond differently to meds. Starting off on a low dose that is gradually raised, being monitered by a doctor, is the best way to do it if it come down to needing meds. If you have side effects that you can't tolerate, you can always go off the medication (although this should be done gradually). Once you are off it, the side effects go away.

Answer 2

It is good for you to be cautious about taking medications, but don't confuse caution with close-mindedness.

I agree that you should first go to a councelor. That alone might help quite a bit.

there are non-medical things you can do to help you improve your mood.

Exercise - It not only feels good to be doing something good for yourseld, but it actually releases your own natural "antidepressants" into your brain.

Same with light. Many times when a person is blue, they sit in a dark room all day. Resist this urge. Turn on lights. Not enough sunlight can actually cause depression.

I am sensititive to music. I have learned which music mellows me (which can be depressing if I'm leaning that way anyway) and which music energizes me (which I avoid when I'm feeling too hyper.)

Alcohol has negative effects on your brain chemestry. It is actually classified as a depressent.

Try some of these suggestions. But if they don't help, consider medication. Just make sure your doctor knows you want a small dose. And make sure to ask what side effects you need to keep an eye out for. The only reason I'm not on antidepressents right now is that I tend to have Restless Legs Syndrome (yes, it's real) when I'm medicated.


- Paridise - St John's Wort is basically an antidepressent from a plant. It has the same side-effects as man made antidepressents. BUT it is not standardized. Which means one pill may have 20% of the active chemical (from the plant) of the next pill. Treatment needs to be more regular than that. It seems like the only advantage of St John's Wort is that you can get it without a prescription. If one decides to take it, I'd recommend German made products. They have stricter regulations of herbal meds that they have here in the states.

Answer 3

See a counselor. They will give you some non-chemical means to cope.Get a physical to rule out a medical problem. Seeing a psychiatrist isn't a bad idea, just know that their tendency will be to use medication. Read a good book like "Telling Yourself the Truth" by William Backus. Getting regular exercise is good for your mental health.

Answer 4

Take St. John's Wort..they're herbal pills for anxiety and depression. Look them up on the net. That doesn't really sound like depession maybe you're just really stressed about something...see your doctor about it, but don't take any type of drug, they have the worst side effects. (especially the ones for depression)