How Antidepressants Saved My Life

This is my journey from anxiety and depression to a healthy mind.

*****

[isirlasplace]

I'm on antidepressants too and my only regret is that I didn't get started on them earlier.

[Kgstar]

I'm 62 and had my first "panic attack" when I was 13, which is now Agoraphobia, severe panic disorder and depression. Back then my family and I had no clue what was going on. Mental illness wasn't discussed. I was seen as lazy, shy, weird. At many low points I didn't want to be alive. Fast forward many years and with the help of my husband (a nurse) he helped me get the help (meds) that I need to survive. I think it's brave of you to talk about it! Not to be ashamed to need help. I hope you continue to share your story because you never know who might need to hear it. Hugs Willow. :)

[knutthecute]

I have been on antidepressants for twenty years and during the pandemic they weren’t working like they used to. I fell into a deep depression and what got me out of it was IV therapeutic ketamine infusions. It really saved my life because I thought I would never recover. To anyone reading this, don’t give up, you will get through, you can recover.

[Elizabeth-Reads]

In watching your videos over the past several months, I can see the difference in your eyes, and I'm so glad you've found something that helps. My little girl has both ADHD and anxiety (possibly ASD as well), and although she doesn't seem to be depressed, I know it can hide like you've explained. So this was extremely helpful, and in the end encouraging. Thank you so much for being so open with your struggles, Willow, these discussions can save lives. I'm so very sorry for all you've been through. Sending you big hugs.

[parkerrose]

I agree 100%. If it wasn't for my medication I don't think I'd be alive today. It's gotten me through sickness, living with my bipolar husband, death of my husband, losing my job and house, and more.
I really can't respect people who think they don't need it when they clearly do!

[gintoxic]

I take 20mg of Escitalopram everyday for OCD and probably will for a long time or even forever. I feel like they make my ADHD worse and made me gain 20kg when i was chubby to begin with but honestly, still so so worth it. I feel like an actual person instead of just a vessel for the dreadful kraken that is OCD, it's wonderful.

[Bookbooper]

Covid saved my life. It forced me to slow down and stop using being busy as a coping mechanism. Turns out it was undiagnosed anxiety and depression. I was reluctant to start medication but the medication really did save my life

[freespirit]

Thank you for this.

I finally have my appointment in a few days.
I’ve been silently suffering with depression for to long, and I no longer recognize myself. And I feel so low.

I am happy to hear your experience and that you are living a peaceful life now.

Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

[NadaOQ]

As someone who's been struggling with depression and crippling anxiety ever since I could remember, this means the world to me 💜 And I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well 😃

[sweetlolitaChii]

I'm autistic with GAD. I started 10mg ecitalopram right around the time I conceived. I went through pregnancy + going through the newborn phase of parenting, and Ecitalopram/Lexapro has been incredible. I was less stressed pregnant than I was beforehand. The same stressful days happen, but the way I experience it feels different. I've been a more flexible, happy-go-lucky, chill version of who I already was. I think it makes me a better mom, because I'm eating better, sleeping better, and taking care of myself and my baby. You're right, it allows you to see the forest for the trees

[janethansen]

I wish people would talk about mental health more openly, it is unbelievably common to have mental health issues. Thank you for doing speaking out. Anxiety and stress have caused me more problems than any physical illness has.

[rennyseven]

I have c-PTSD, anxiety, and depression. My medications have helped me get more than two hours of sleep at night and I can actually go to work now. It's honestly been great progress.

[HowardsHaunt]

Hi Willow. I have spent the last 30 years on anxiolytics and antidepressants to treat general anxiety disorder, hypochondria, complete lack of self confidence, obsessive compulsive disorders, most of which were all rooted in my initial anxiety that reared its head during my teens. I’ve tried weaning off on occasions but the only time I really feel like you say, able to really take the reins of my life is on some type of medication. Right now, my worst anxieties stem from my self-doubt. Glad to hear you are feeling in a better position in your life with the meds you are on. Thanks so much for sharing your story as hearing others helps so much. I recently read “I want to die but I want to eat TTEOKBOKKI” and, even though it felt like I was reading about myself as she shares so many things that I have often felt and suffered, it made me feel “normal” in the fact that I didn’t feel as alone as I normally do, with my fears/anxieties eating away inside.

[bexasaurusbex]

Thank you for sharing this. I too take medication and it was hard for me to accept at first. Everything I looked up was negative surrounding antidepressants and it really scared me. That was until it let me live again. Antidepressants saved my life and I almost didn’t take them because of the judgement from my family and misinformation on the internet. We need more people like you sharing how antidepressants do help. It is OKAY to take medication. Thank you. And I hope whoever is really this knows that it is going to be okay❤️

[biblioghoul]

Thank you for posting this. I'm not in a great place and have been considering going on medication. It's so helpful to hear your perspective! xx

[allegraintegra]

I've been on and off medications for 17 years. It has been quite a journey to find what works specifically for my brain and I also only got an official ADHD diagnosis last year. Meds have also saved my life, and I completely agree that they didn't make me a different person, but the best person I can be. I still have to do a lot of work to stay healthy, but my medication makes it possible for me to do that work.

[Angela-xvcv]

Thank you for your video my 29 year old son has depression and it helped him a lot to I showed him it so he could see he wasn’t alone with the depression.. best wishes and thank
You

[donaldtrump]

I started on Setreline about 1.5 months ago and so far it has changed my life. I wish more people would take the first step

[vi]

Hey Willow. Thank you for sharing.

I just turned 29 last week and started Cymbalta about 5 months ago for chronic pain, but it's also an antidepressant. It also changed my life and saved me. I think without it I would have been dead by the end of the year. I wish I started antidepressants as a teenager because in hindsight, I have struggled my whole life. Better late than never, I think. Let's keep taking care of our brains. ❤️

[krzysamm]

Thank you for taking so openly about this. When I was 16 my Grandma told me she wanted to kill herself while we were on vacation. I spoke to Mum and when we got back Grandma went to the hospital for 2 months and when she came home she was back to herself on a small dose of medication this was 1996. But it was something as a family we did not talk about. So when I started showing the symptoms of anxiety and depression I didn’t know what to do or whom to even turn to. The church was pull yourself up by your own boot straps or pray harder, my family didn’t want to talk about it and honestly it was because no one knew how. I finally had a friend who had the courage to tell me I needed help. And once I got the help I needed my life changed 180. So we I can I talk about it not to get sympathy but as a way to help normalize it for the next person whom may be struggling with crap we have no idea about. As the saying goes we are either in the midst of a storm, coming out of it or about to enter it and sometimes we need help
And it is okay to ask for that help.