4 Common Misconceptions About Antidepressants, Debunked

Mental health is incredibly complex, due in no small part to the complicated interactions of chemicals and neuroreceptors in our brains. Here are four common misconceptions about antidepressants, and what the science behind them actually shows.

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[blueridding]

One misconception I wish you talked about was the idea that medication is "the easy way out" or like cheating somehow. It's not. You can go to counseling for years and do everything right (eating healthy, exercising, serving others etc) and still not "cure yourself." And being on medication isn't easy. There are side effects. Mine for example made me gain 20 lbs and prevents me from having any more children, even though now that I am feeling better I want to add to my family. The idea that medication is cheating is just stupid. It doesn't magically fix everything when you pop a pill, and accusing someone of being lazy for taking advantage of a legitimate treatment that can literally save their life is beyond wrong

[hi-lojm]

Even if antidepressants were an "easy way out", how would that be a bad thing? Having an easy way to get rid of depression would improve a lot of people's lives.

[soonny]

Quite a number of my patients (mostly female) report that antidepressants make them feel like a 'zombie'. That is, they lose the ability to 'feel anything'. Sure it got rid of their crippling anxiety/depression, but they also lose interest in their children or other pleasures in life. This is probably not reported in journals but it is certainly common in my practice.

Therefore, I agree that it is about coming up with an 'individualised' treatment plan that works for individual patients. That includes changing the dose, the type of antidepressants, or augmenting the treatment with something else (i.e. a beta-blocker for anxiety maybe). Most importantly, never underestimate the effect of having a therapeutic relationship with your doctor. Medications do work but they work even better if you have a good therapeutic relationship.

[onixxfilth]

Love this! We need to stop med-shaming! Some people just need medications like antidepressants to function!

[HexIsme]

I've had moderate-severe clinical depression for going on 20 years now. Been through therapy, and several meds. The only one that made any sort of dent was Prozac, but it only fixed the severe anxiety I had. Unfortunately it stopped working after a while, and the anxiety is back like it'd never left, but it gave me a glimpse of what life is like for psychologically healthy people is like, and let me tell you....those fuckers have it so easy. People take that level of function for granted, but for someone like me, it was god damn magic. I may get there again, I may not, but it was worth trying to have that experience.

[cammy]

"There's nothing clever or funny to say about depression."

I disagree. I make fun of my depression all the time, lol.

[crystalcoolidge]

Thanks for this. I've been on antidepressants for anxiety a lot. I recently went back on an SSRI after several years off and realized after a few months that they not only made me feel less anxious but also that I had been slightly depressed as well because I also felt more cheerful. For me, antidepressants (for anxiety) mean the difference between not being able to make a phone call to someone who's not a close friend or family member and enjoying a conversation with a total stranger.

[paulaclarke]

I've taken antidepressants for over 10 years, some not so helpful, some (the ones I'm on now) very helpful. I had a basic understanding of how they worked but this video was much more informative. Thanks!

[bleachsanchoblastk]

I hate all the stigma surrounding antidepressants. A lot of people don't understand what I went through before receiving counseling. Weeks after starting counseling my healthcare providers and I made the decision to try antidepressants. I had all the cognitive skills I needed to handle my problems I just was having symptoms that would be reduced or cut out entirely by taking antidepressants.
My life is so much better for making the decision to talk to my doctor and getting the proper mental health care I needed. I no longer worry about walking into the store by myself, or cry for days over nothing. It's been so much better, and I just wish people would read testimonies from actual patients before spreading misconceptions and stigma about mental health meds and antidepressants.

[alluneedislessthan]

Ah! I wish I had watched this video two years ago! It would've saved me a lot of anguish. The *right* medicine has turned my life around!

[IQrius_sci]

I would love to see more videos on topics related to Clinical psychology! Maybe about the changing concept of schizophrenia? Keep it up, SciShow, your content is amazing!

[possumsinatrenchcoat]

One of my _favorite_ things to hear are people saying how meds are bad and blah blah I mean like,
"but they change the chemistry of your brain!!"
yeahisureHOPEitdoes.jpg

[MaxAim]

Antidepressants saved my life so... Yeah, they work

[blueisasomedancer]

I really appreciate this video. I am on long term anti anxiety and depression medication and there's a lot of misinformation about these medications and I think that contributes to the stigma around them.

[BananaJoe]

Anti-depressants saved my life. Wow, i wasn't expecting so much positive response. Thank you very much everyone! Stay positive and get help if you need it!

[MayureshMandal]

They didn't mention the sexual side effects of some SSRIs, which can be annoying.

[WigglingWaffles]

I'm always baffled by anti-depressant commercials that have side effects that include "suicidal thoughts or actions"
like, isn't those drugs are trying to

[gwenstephan]

This video makes me want to cry... people are so uninformed about how medicine works for mental health. Videos like this need to be shown in health classes so young people understand that Rx drugs CAN help despite the stigma. I constantly hear people talking about how medicine is a scam or giving up bc the first one they try doesn't work/doesn't work fast enough. Smh

[sabinadorothea]

Another misconception: they are "happy pills."

[lonci]

my friend is afraid of taking medication because he thinks it will make him into a pudding brain, these are the type of videos that we need so that when people who need help are afraid to get it, can have their basic questions answered without going to a doctor. Because many won't get to the doctor, and most of the time their friends and family arent properly informed. Thank you very much for this awesome video. Please make more, I live to learn new things, and it really makes a difference.

PS.: I really like the simple style you guys use, it makes it easy for a heavily depressed person even to be able to follow through and digest the content. You are doing God's work, I'm so thankful!