My therapist has recommended that I consider medication for treatment of what she believes is depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I'm not sure what to do with her recommendation.

I am fundamentally against taking prescription medication unless it is absolutely necessary, and I don't know how necessary it might be for myself. However, I don't want to be selfish; I don't want to refuse to try something that could make me a better parent and a better wife.

My therapist says that she believes the medication could "heal" my brain, but I really don't know if it's damaged since I can't see it. She also believes it could help prevent another major suicidal episode for me. The problem with that is that, if I am truthful, I actually want to commit suicide. I don't see any major problem with that; it sounds pleasant and inviting. The only reason I haven't done it is because I don't want to f*ck up my son by abandoning him. Anyway, I'm not sure I have a question; I'm just throwing this out there to see what folks might say.

I am currently taking meds for depression and anxiety; I feel like it's helping with my mental disorders.

Last year, I wanted to commit suicide. I felt like I wasn't worth anything and I was a burden.

People with mental disorders, we have a chemical imbalace in our brains. Meds help to balance these chemicals.

Medication won't "heal" your brain, that is just nonsense. It may treat some symptoms, but it won'tmake the problem go away.

Why would you need medication to be a better mother and a better wife?

^I never said that medication “cures” the problem. I agree with you, Soulseeker that it’s a bunch of B.S. that medication “cures” depression and anxiety. Medication helps to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety (biological component).


Medication is not going to resolve the issues of the environmental components of depression and anxiety disorders. Going to therapy helps a person learn how to cope with environmental issues and negative cognitive distortions a person has about his or herself.

I think Soulseeker was referring to my comment that my shrink said she had seen studies in which certain antidepressants had healed brains that were damaged by depression. Specifically, I think my shrink meant that the meds controlled the depression long enough for the damages brain to heal on its own. I haven't seen the studies, though.

I think meds could make me a better wife and parent because if they helped to control the depression, then hopefully I would be easier to be around. As of now, I'm not very pleasant. I have moments of rage, extreme withdrawal, apathy, and lethargy. Those are not the qualities I want to have for my family.

I was given a prescription for Lexapro. I don't know if I should fill it. I am scared. I don't want to get fat, and I don't want to lose my sex drive. Also, I just don't have time for the nausea and other side effects I've read about. I'm the family breadwinner, and I cannot afford to be sick at work. I am a paralegal, and I have a pretty busy job with a lot of client interaction and strict deadlines to meet. I'm afraid to have my job affected by the drug's side effects, especially if this drug doesn't work and I have to try multiple ones.

I just don't know what to do. But I know that what I'm doing now is not a plausible solution.

To be honest, the risk of trying one is pretty low. At worst, it'll have no noticeable effect or the side effects will make it not worth taking and you stop taking it after something like a month.

Antidepressants never made a difference for me. I tried 3 and I just decided it wasn't worth it after a while and changed. When I quit all my treatments, 4 years ago, I stopped taking the antidepressant I was prescribed. To me, they are only a waste of money but they might help you deal with your mental issues.

The side effects are what scare me the most. I can't afford to have drugs affect my work performance.

Also, I was prescribed Lexapro by my Dr. at a recent visit when I told her about the problems I'm having. I work for a lawfirm, and I've seen some of my clients are also prescribed Lexapro, and it makes me ask myself, "Am I as f*cked-up as my clients are?" The thought of that scares me as well.

The side effect of that particular drug seem pretty similar to most SSRIs. It probably won't affect your performance and if it did, nothing would prevent you from stoping taking it.

Antidepressants are extremely common nowadays; you probably run into lots of people on them everyday but simply can't tell. Most people on this forum are on them. It's nothing to be ashamed of and denying yourself of a potential way to get better isn't doing yourself any favours either.