Medication Question - Anti- depessants

[ToxicMissscarlett]

I was jsut wondering, how on earth do they work?

I mean I understand they make you happier or reduce the depression.

But I dont understand. Can they take away your depressing thoughts? How can a tablet take away depressing thoughts?
Can it stop you thinking about suicide?
Can it stop you think about self harming?

I know these questions sound realy ameture but ive never been to the doctors about my depression. Im too afraid to. I jsut wanted to know from personal experiences.

[Animad]

They increase the prevalence of 'feel good' chemicals at where they are needed in the brain. I wrote a reply regarding this very recently so I'll link you to that.

It can take anti-depressants up to 4 weeks to have their full effects. Sometimes side effects can be seen for the first 2weeks, quite often longer. They can also increase the feelings/ thoughts of SH/ suicide in the interim too. Really, the best thing for you to do is discuss this with your doctor and see. Often the best thing is therapy or counselling +/- anti-depressants in the meantime if needed though often waiting lists for therapy/ counselling are really long.

[Animad]

Here is the link to the recent thread re. how antidepressants work. There are different types, only 2 are really written in there but tend to work on the same basic principles.

As you're wanting personal experience of anti-depressants and seeing doctors regarding depression and I've really answered your 'medical' questions I'm going to move this thread to Mental Health Discussion and Support where you're more likely to get replies that will benefit you.

If you want to know more or anything in that thread confuses you/ gives you more questions then feel free to PM me. If for whatever reason you want the thread moving back to the First Aid Forum or elsewhere then feel free to contact the forum moderators.

KimA

[Stellata]

My experience of anti-depressants [and it's my thread that was linked to, heh!] is that they help create a softer layer between me and my more difficult feelings, so that I can work on them more safely in therapy. I'm finding that as I get more able to manage my feelings, and as I'm on the dose reduction schedule now, I still do feel intense feelings, painful feelings, but they threaten me less.
In very unscientific language, they can subdue feelings somewhat so we can get on with life. My experience is that I was still able to feel a full range of feelings on the full dose, but it 'protected' me from them to some degree. Over time, as I became less deluged by completely negative and self destructive feelings, I am more able to experience pleasure. It takes time, especially if you've been depressed for some time, and therapy, for me at least is an integral part of the whole process.

[roiben]

My understanding of anti-depressants is that they can help deal with the depression by creating a buffer that masks some of the harshests emotions, enabling the individual to be more able to deal with any causes or effects of their depression. So, for example, therapy may be used at the same time in order to explore coping mechanisms et al.

[ToxicMissscarlett]

Thankyou everyone, I understand alot more now