I take anti-depressants. They have made a huge difference in my life for the better and I am thankful for that. I have been diagnosed with "major depression - recurrent." My childhood was nothing but a war zone and I had a terribly poor excuse of a mother. "Depression" never entered my mind - it was "normal" for me.
When I had a breakdown some years ago - it was major. My personality split (what used to be called "Multiple Personality Disorder" is now called "Dissociate Personality Disorder.") I would not wish that experience on anyone - believe me when I say these "multiple personality" persons on talk shows, etc. are a joke. That "break" was ultimately the best thing that ever happened to me.
I "knew" it when it happened - and God knows my cat knew something was up - her hair stood on end and she ran like hell away from me for a week or so. The idea is that you and your doctor try to "merge" the two. I had a terribly depressed "person" on the one side and a happy, hopeful, sunny "person" on the other. I wasn't about to "merge" anything. I told my doctor to forget about it and work on the new sunny person - I felt it was who I might have been if I had had different circumstances. So that's what we worked on.
I take Celexa, Welbutrin (generics) and Trazodone. They are non-addictive and they keep me from going into deep depression. I sometimes get a little "down" but not into major depression. Celexa is one drug you don't want to go without for many days - when you start taking it again you will get sick as a dog - heaving, puking, heaving beyond the "dry heaves" - not pretty.
I've always been a "non-drug" person - have never tried marijuana or any other illegal drug - but I am thankful as hell to have my anti-depressants.
Wow, thanks for sharing Granny!
I'm so glad you got the help you needed. Sometimes meds do help people, like in your situation.
But, I feel sometimes others use it as a crutch to avoid 'real life' issues, instead of dealing wtih them, they just take a 'happy pill' or such.