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I am very transparent about my usage of anti depressant, I don't think it is shameful at all if anything I think it's brave of me to want to live and not off myself. I started taking meds for my mental health in 2021, at first I was scared and I expressed all of my concerns to my Doctor. He didn't want to prescribe anything at first because he knew I always said no in the past, so he wanted to know what changed? I explained to him what my situation was at the time and we both agreed I should give it a try. I also explained to him that I was trying to lose weight and I didn't want any meds with weight gain as a side effects... so we both agreed on one option and it worked. At first my sleep was non-existent and as my body took time to adjust I felt better and better...now I can no longer cry oh well.
To be honest with you I wish I tried exercising first before deciding to take anti depressant medication because exercising releases about the same hormones as an anti-depressant. They both release endorphins which are happy hormones back in your brain. In 2021 I was very anxious not just depressed but extremely pessimistic with recurring bad thoughts, I was miserable essentially. I thought about working out and I tried a few gyms but anxiety got the best of me. One time in 2021 I walked into a gym started walking on the treadmill for about 3 minutes and had a panic attack because I thought everyone was starting at me so I ran out of that gym (people were probably thinking what's wrong with her?!)
My advise to you is if you are depressed, before taking an anti depressant try exercising, try having a hobby I know it's hard considering you probably hate everything and you might not seem to find any pleasure in the things you used to love...look I have been there but:
- try taking a walk outside especially in the summer because the sunlight will do you good. walk for 5 minutes and then increase it each time. Find a nice park or a cute neighborhood, park your car and start walking... breathe and just stop thinking about anything that makes you anxious or sad. Look around you, admire the flowers, smile at stranger (who cares if they don't smile back, smile anyway) smiling will trick your brain into thinking you're happy even if you're not.
- try lifting weights at they gym, start slow you don't have to lift the heaviest weight. (try that for 10 minutes and then increase it each time)
- run. if you don't enjoy running try walking, but running is amazing for people with depression. If you run for only 10 minutes you will see an improvement in your mental health and you will feel happier. You don't have to run for a long time, but if you feel like you can keep running longer then keep going.
- try a new hobby. it doesn't even have to be a big thing, as long as it makes you feel good. It could be collecting rocks, vintage clothing or art, vinyl disk (that was a hobby I had in 2021 and it made me so happy collecting vinyl disk from my favorite artist and playing them on my record player like an old lady lol) don't let anyone makes you feel bad about your hobby if that's what you like then proudly do it.
- socialize, it can be with 1 person or two but yes talk to a few people. You don't have to confide in them if you don't want to but go watch a movie with them, go out to eat with them and take walks with them eventually you will want to share your thoughts and that's good too.
- change your diet: eat whole foods, cook and stay away from processed foods and fast foods. A bad diet makes you feel sluggish, less productive and you have less energy. When you eat healthy foods you will feel more energized and less tired, so now you'll have more energy to do productive activities.
- limit screen time: avoid mindless scrolling, when you use social media less you will focus more on what's in front of you and on the people around you. Living in the moment will bring you more joy than scrolling on social media. social media releases quick and cheap dopamine in your brain just like fast food does, but that feeling doesn't last long so you will find yourself going back again for more pleasure
all of those thing are great but if you do all of these things and still feel depressed then maybe give anti depressant a try.