Treatment with antidepressants has been used for more than the first decade. They are prescribed for the entire spectrum of depressive and anxiety disorders, and are also used as part of the complex therapy of post-traumatic disorder syndrome and other conditions. But drugs from this group didn become more familiar — during this time they have acquired many myths, some of which frighten patients, others — inspire recovery.
So what really are these drugs and how safe is antidepressant treatment?
- Antidepressant treatment: how safe is it
- When Antidepressant Treatment Is Really Needed
- What does it take for antidepressants to help
Antidepressant treatment: how safe is it
First of all, it should be understood that even acetylsalicylic acid can be dangerous if it is used, ignoring contraindications to the drug. With antidepressants, the situation is exactly the same: each of them has its own list of indications and restrictions that must be taken into account when prescribing the remedy.
Depressants act on the central nervous system in different ways. Some suppress the production of substances that act on our mood as "oppressors", forcing us to see the world in exclusively black colors.
Others are the opposite — stimulate the production of mood enhancing substances.
Thirds act by bringing both those and other substances into a harmonious ratio. But every condition accompanied by depression is based on different biochemical mechanisms, and only a qualified doctor can choose the right drug that regulates the processes that are disturbed in a particular case.
Read also: Psychological illnesses: list of common disorders by types
Without a correct and responsible approach to the choice of drugs in this group, instead of alleviating the symptoms of depression, the following conditions may develop:
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Suicidal thoughts and suicidal tendencies.
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Emotional lability (almost complete absence of emotional reactions).
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Emotional instability (mood swings, bouts of aggression);
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Psychomotor overexcitation (uncontrollable need to throw things or objects, break or tear something in a fit of strong arousal).
This is just a small part of a rather wide list of possible consequences if antidepressants are taken without a doctor's prescription or in the wrong dosage.
And this does not mean at all that antidepressants should be bypassed and not taken in under no circumstances: sometimes they can really save mental health and even life.
Read also: Distress: what it is and how to deal with it
When is antidepressant treatment really needed
In the following conditions and diseases, antidepressants cannot dispense:
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The recovery period after a stroke. Many people who have experienced an acute cerebrovascular accident suffer from serious changes in behavior. This makes it difficult to carry out the necessary activities (massage, passive gymnastics, hygiene procedures). Antidepressants help to normalize the patient's behavior in the most "acute" period.
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Depression. Although antidepressants are meant to be a cure for depression, they are not always used for depression. Indications for the appointment of these drugs for depression are suicidal thoughts, outbursts of aggression, severe sleep disorders, and also severe forms of depression that force a person to resort to self-isolation.
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Anxiety and post-traumatic disorders. This is a large group of disorders characterized by situational or spontaneous attacks of intense fear that a person cannot control and which sometimes lead to complete disorientation. In this case, antidepressants are used as part of complex treatment, and help to relieve the symptoms of the disorder.
What do you need for antidepressants to help
One more thing you need to know about depressants: they are effective only in the complex treatment of depression, traumatic stress and other conditions. Even the strongest or most "useful" an antidepressant is powerless without sessions of individual or group psychotherapy, without lifestyle correction and elimination of the causes that provoked this or that disorder.
And most importantly, you need your personal and conscious desire to regain your peace of mind and high quality of life. In this case, antidepressants will play the role of support, which you will no longer need very soon, as you will regain control over yourself and your life.
Read also: The Truth About Positive Thinking: Is Really Beneficial
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