But this is the internet, a place where debunking misinformation is like playing whack-a-mole.
Looking back, I consider those tweets to be the extra nudges I needed to talk to my doctor.
Believe me, I know.
We hope this guide can give you some answers, and a degree of comfort.
If you still have questions after reading, dont hesitate to reach out to your doctor.
Also known as the bodysfeel good chemical, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood.
Myth: Antidepressants will change your personality
Some people wonder whether antidepressants will change their personality.
I was in this camp.
Stea agrees, explaining that antidepressants can help address thesymptomsof depressive and anxiety disorders.
No research has shown that they change a patients personality.
There are different ways to conceptualize and understand personality.
In short, by definition, personality traits are stable and enduring.
Antidepressant medications can help alleviate the symptoms associated with depressive and anxiety disorders, Stea tells Lifehacker.
I asked Stea what he thought about this explanation, and he said it was a good point.
The psychologist added that the goal of antidepressant medications and psychotherapy is not to eradicate unconformable emotions.
(Disclaimer: I am not a doctor!
These are just some nuggets of wisdom Ive gained amid my mental health journey.)
However, this does not work for everyoneparticularly people who have had multiple episodes of depression.
It could be a personal preference of the patient to keep on medication for preventative reasons, as well.
Gold said that all medications have side effects, butnot all medications have the same side effects in everyone.
Furthermore, she added, not all of the same side effects bother people to the same extent.
On the subject of appetite, Gold said the same principle applies.
Some people who take antidepressants can experience an increase in appetite, but this does not happen in everyone.
Medication can also be switched in this case after doctors weigh the risks and the benefits.
Also, antidepressants very much treat suicidality, and help most people live in the long run.
However, they are way more common than you think.
In Steas view, use of antidepressants is too common, which itself is problematic.
However, ADS is not the same as withdrawal due to drug abuse and addiction.
As Stea pointed out, addiction has distinct characteristics.
DuPont compares needing antidepressants and addiction to putting on eyeglasses every day.
In clinical practice, treatment teams do address lifestyle changes as a part of evidence-based care, Stea explained.
He emphasized that no one should stop their medications without consulting their treatment team.
In addition, she said, it is a spectrum of severity.
The evidence that antidepressants work against depression, anxiety, and a number of other issues is extremely solid.
Additionally, it should be noted that Moncrieff doesnt exactly have a reputation for impartiality.
For those interested in the gold standard approach, Black suggested combining therapy with medication.
Doctors are quite convinced that people who adopt this approach have the best outcomes in depression, he said.
If the trajectory is poor, talking to a qualified psychotherapist or physician about starting evidence-based treatments is necessary.
