Although I think that I have been depressed since I was a child, it wasn’t until I was in my late teens that I made the decision to take medication. This decision was a big deal. It meant that I began to separate myself from my illness and realized that although what I was dealing with was definitely a
spiritual crisis, it could not be resolved through introspection or inner strength. Admitting that I needed to try antidepressants was the last act in a courageous war with my mind.

Ironically, it was only in this giving up that I was able to find relief. But that relief was not instantaneous and it took a while before I found the right medication. For example, for me, Prozac and Zoloft both worked really well for a while but then the effects began to wear off and strange side effects kicked in. Other drugs like Paxil made me shaky and nervous.

If you decide to take antidepressants you may have a different experience as everyone has a different body and brain chemistry and reacts differently to each drug. For this reason, it is important to try to get a good doctor that you trust who can help you navigate the world of antidepressants. Wellbutrin turned out to be the drug that works for me. It seems to fix my depression without ampening my other emotions. Since I started taking Wellbutrin more than two years ago, I have not
had any episodes of major depression or adverse side effects. I am no longer afraid that I will become depressed, and it is like living on the other side.