Living with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder

George Garcia9 said:Thanks, redotter1, but I’m heading out for the weekend tomorrow so I won't be online... have a blast at Disneyland!! 🙂

I need some input from the psychologists, psychiatrists, or just any smart people on this forum: based on everything I’ve posted here, do you think I should

a) listen to my psychiatrist and just "act normal"—go to college, force myself to go out, and do all the stuff "normal" people do until I eventually snap, or

b) find a different psychiatrist who will actually prescribe me stronger antidepressants? 😕

Personally, I feel like I need heavier meds because what's the point of trying if my brain isn't functioning correctly? Plus, I don't think my doctor gets it—she clearly doesn't grasp how serious things really are for me.

Please, let me know what you guys think. 😘

If I were in your shoes, I’d switch psychiatrists. Honestly, I’d keep looking until I found someone who actually listens, rather than someone throwing clichés like "just act normal" at me when it's glaringly obvious that you don't feel normal—and because you don't feel normal, you can't act normal or function normally either (honestly, I am so done with this whole concept of "😬normal."
).

thanks everyone, I'll keep looking 🙂

George Garcia9 said:Yesterday I was in such a dark place, honestly feeling suicidal 🙂 so I did a little searching... suicide.org is actually a decent site. It basically says, "go talk to someone, don't kill yourself." So, I tried talking to my mom. Her response? "Mention that one more time and I'm going to start screaming." Ugh, zero help there. To make matters worse, I felt even more 👎

I finally saw my psychiatrist after a three-month break (summer hiatus) and laid it all out: that I want to die, that my meds aren't doing anything (Lexapro, Ambien, and Sulpiride—which is just some super mild antidepressant, right?), that I have no will to live, that I scratch myself with my nails when I lose it, and how terrified I am about starting college this year because I feel no better than I did last year....

And what does she basically tell me? That I need to "get moving" and take on some responsibilities, as if I'm just LAZY and that's why I can't get anything done. She even said no medication will work until I start "working on myself." EXCUSE ME? 😕 Isn't depression a literal BRAIN disease? I AM TRYING to live normally, to be positive, and everything, but IT DOESN'T HELP!!!

So yeah. Her advice: go to college, and that my mom should probably force me to work (basically implying I'm spoiled and allowed to have zero responsibilities at 21, which is pretty much what she said), and then we'll see each other in a month if I feel like talking again.

Basically, my psychiatrist thinks I'm lazy and that things will magically fix themselves once I "snap out of it." Why don't people understand that I HAVE NO REASON TO LIVE, that my depression is way more severe than they think, and that "responsibilities," walks in the sun, healthy eating, and other fortune cookie psychology tips aren't going to help me????😠

Do I seriously have to slit my wrists or swallow a mountain of pills just so people finally realize that I am SUFFERING and need actual, BETTER help??? I feel like an idiot because nobody takes me seriously. Not even my psychiatrist, who is supposedly educated enough to recognize when someone is in deep trouble 😢

Betty Ortiz4 thanks for the advice. I'll try not to think and just live like a robot, since that's apparently my only option. Aside from suicide, obviously...

You aren't lazy; you clearly want help, but you haven't seen your psychiatrist in three months? That seems a bit odd, maybe think about that.
Based on what you wrote, though, you really need to switch psychiatrists anyway. You need to go regularly—like, psychotherapy at least once a week. You won't solve this by taking stronger meds; you solve it by facing the problem. Even the best therapy won't work if you don't have the desire to pull yourself together. Sorry.

Actually, all that stuff helps—sunlight and healthy food included. I say that as someone who lives off pastries, but luckily I actually forced myself to get moving today... and of course, I run to my therapy sessions. Because it helps immensely. But if you feel like you have to SUFFER just to prove to everyone else how TERRIBLE things are, you're just going to keep suffering. Once you decide to change, once you realize you don't want to live like this, things will start to move. I'm sorry, but no matter how special we all think we are, the basics are the same for everyone.

It seems to me like you just want to prove to everyone around you (especially your parents) how miserable you feel right now. You're punishing yourself just to make them feel bad. Change happens when you actually want to feel better. Amen.

And I know what I'm talking about. I was in your exact position once and gained 30 pounds in a year. Back then, I wasn't smart enough to realize I should go to therapy. I finally started years later, after I had already sorted out most of my life, determined to fix things so I could feel okay in my own skin. That's why therapy worked so well for me, and I didn't even need the pills.

The choice is yours. 🙂

I completely get you. I went through the exact same thing at one point. I remember having one absolutely miserable summer, and after that, I decided I had to do something because staying the course was no longer an option. I felt like I was sinking deeper and deeper every day. It’s a terrible feeling. To be honest, my mom was the one who actually initiated things; I just realized that continuing like this made zero sense. So, I started seeing a psychologist—well, my mom basically booked the appointment for me. Right from the first session, I didn't click with the woman. I thought therapy was a waste of time. But then a miracle happened: she went on vacation, and I ended up seeing her colleague instead. We clicked instantly. She was the first person who actually seemed to understand what I was going through. She didn't treat me like some spoiled brat; she saw that I was genuinely navigating a difficult chapter in my life.

Within just a month, my life underwent incredible changes. It sounds hyperbolic, but it was true. I didn't suddenly become a ray of sunshine, but I actually started resolving things. Then, after three months of therapy, my therapist went on medical leave, and I saw a psychiatrist. That woman told me pretty much the same thing your therapist said to you—that I was just lazy... blah, blah, blah. I saw her three times total, and every single time I left feeling worse. She practically drove me to tears.

When my original psychologist finally returned, I was relieved. I went to therapy regularly, about once a week for the first year, and then less frequently after that.

Bottom line: a good therapist can change your life, but a bad one can absolutely wreck you.

I was lucky enough to have my insurance cover my sessions, but even if you currently have a low opinion of yourself and feel like you don't deserve to spend those $33 a week on therapy, you are dead wrong. Your mental health is paramount. Save money on clothes or whatever else, but invest in this. It will pay off.

Productive people are more efficient, so you'll eventually make that money back to your mom anyway.🙂

Right now, I'm planning to invest $767 in a meditation retreat. It's only a week long. It's not like I have money to burn, but I believe in working on myself. Personal fulfillment is incredibly important.

The frustrating part is that the path to feeling better is literally step by step. But if you stay persistent, you can get there.

People have commented on how much I've changed. It took time, though. I'm calmer now, and simple things actually bring me joy again—like grabbing drinks with friends or going out.

I still have periods where I get depressed or put on a little weight. But it doesn't scare me anymore. I think it's normal. We can't be happy all the time.

Just keep trying and stay consistent, and everything will work out.🙂 Even if it feels impossible right now. You'll see.

This crisis will pass. Just find a professional who can help you feel better. And go to therapy more often. Once a month isn't nearly enough when you're truly depressed.

Wish you all the best!🙂

thanks Jerry Martinez5 & Jamie Jones5 🙂 let me know how that meditation thing is going. I once almost dropped a ton of cash on it, but then I saw a flyer for a free workshop... honestly, I almost ended up joining a cult lol 😛

Anyway... I can't sleep. Dammit. I took some pills but nothing, two hours later and I'm still wide awake 👎 so I hopped on the forum to try and tire myself out. I have to be up by 9 tomorrow even if I'm dead 😬 I HATE when I can't fall asleep and end up exhausted during the day 😢

Whatever... I just don't feel like living today. I was actually hyped up for a few hours earlier because I was planning a weekend getaway, but looks like that's falling through 😢 now I have nothing to look forward to again... no reason to even get up in the morning... well, I do, I have a doctor's appointment, but I am NOOOOOT feeling it 😠

I'm sitting here watching that stupid reality show and part of me wishes I could be like them—happy, lively, ambitious, optimistic... I used to be like that too... wtf happened? eating disorder, I guess...

night 😘

George Garcia9, I think I get where you're coming from. Honestly, I hope things start looking up for you soon. It feels a little silly for me to be throwing advice your way when we're basically strangers, but I’ve been scrolling through your posts and—I don't know—there were moments where I felt like I was reading my own life story. Hang in there 😘

thanks Brandon Barnes4 🙂

Can't sleep again. Only got six hours last night so I was a total zombie all day, just counting down the minutes until 10 PM so I could finally crash. So, I get into bed, take my pills... two hours later and NOTHING!!!!😠 So here I am. I actually dug up something kind of hilarious I wrote about a year and a half ago when I was dealing with this exact same insomnia. Feel free to laugh at my expense, because apparently, this is my life coming back to haunt me 😍

"
I hate fucking college. I hate going to campus, I hate sitting through ninety-minute lectures, I hate being stuck all day with people I can't stand, and I hate writing stupid assignments that suck the soul out of me... this idiot university is even worse than high school because on top of having to show up, I have an insane amount of shit to actually study!!!! In this bullshit system, they don't care about the stuff I actually enjoy; they just want me to survive hour by hour like some mindless drone, waiting for classes and sitting in shitty coffee shops with lifeless kids watching Nightmare Stage. I have to drag myself up at 6 or 7 AM just to be stuck on campus until 9 PM!!!??? For what? Burning myself out on absolute nonsense just so I can go home and have nothing left to study?? Screw this, I'd rather just go vomit somewhere!

I guess the problem is me, but what am I supposed to do when I HATE these totalitarian institutions where you have to show up regularly, do mindless busywork, write DEGRADING five-minute papers like I'm in freaking elementary school, stay stuck all day unable to eat, drink, or even pee whenever I want, and I HATE this filthy, loud American city like Chicago and its gross, noisy residents—the only thing saving me from them right now is my period... and I HATE how much I sweat and how many times my mood swings while walking from the damn CVS to campus, losing all motivation before I even arrive. I don't know. Maybe it's just PMS, or maybe I'm just an antisocial person...

Anyway, I’m skipping tomorrow. I don't give a damn about signatures or anything else; if they want to kick me out, let them. I'm not giving a shit. I'll be back on Monday, but definitely not before then.
I don't know what's wrong with me. Did laziness turn into pure rage? If I have to grind through three more months... then I can finally rest. That's it, I'm just done......"

🤣 🤣 🤣 🙂 🙂

Dear Ana prosti 🙂
It’s been a little while since this thread was active, and I really wanted to check in and see how you’re holding up lately... I didn't major in psychology or anything, but I’ve certainly navigated my own fair share of life's crises, so I truly want to offer some support because I can relate—I remember how much I absolutely loathed seeing my university building, uh, which is exactly why I ended up dropping out 😵 Fast forward many years later, and I realize now just how irrational I was letting one single thing hold me back; if I had stayed, I would have graduated a hundred times over by now. In fact, I’m actually about to head back to that very same college soon, because even though I thought about transferring, I’ve already knocked out several credits and it would be such a waste to let them go 😁
All of this will eventually subside once you find something else to tackle, and honestly, I suspect your schoolwork isn't even the core issue here. You strike me as an incredibly bright girl, and more importantly, you are aware that you are dealing with depression, which is a massive first step because it means you actually have the capacity to help yourself. First and foremost, you need to get those thoughts of self-harm completely out of your mind; we have all walked through dark places, and you still have far too much beauty left to experience to give up your will to live right now. Please, consider finding a different therapist, because simply being handed prescriptions isn't the answer... what you really need is someone to talk to. You keep searching for that connection, yet your doctor just keeps pushing pills instead of providing actual dialogue. You aren't just a patient for medication; you need meaningful conversation, and I promise you, once you get that, things will start looking up. Do you have a close friend, a sister, or maybe an aunt—someone you know will truly listen without judgment when you open up? Try reaching out to them and let us know how it goes... I am rooting for you so hard and I KNOW you can pull through, because you are strong and you are capable...
Love🙂

Hey cosmicmaker6 🙂

So... about two or three weeks ago, I finally "got busy"—which was a total nightmare, obviously. I was dealing with all this bureaucratic crap (literally died of boredom) just so I could get back to college and take my last exam... (I got a C in my absolute favorite subject when I totally deserved an A, thanks a lot Professor 😠) and for a little while, things actually felt okay. Like... I was actually looking forward to school again...

Then anxiety hit me like a truck: how am I going to handle this? The daily grind, meeting new people because I took a break... I tried so hard to stay positive. I read two self-help books, I'm on my third now lol, I even made a website about positive thinking... but none of it works...👎

The day before yesterday, the depression just snapped back, and yesterday it reached a breaking point. I seriously wanted to end it all; I was actually thinking about how to do it...😢 To be honest, I'll tell you why. I KNOW I can "succeed" in life. I have friends, I'm objectively attractive (subjectively, I'm fat 😁), and I could easily find a boyfriend, finish my degree, enjoy life, blah blah blah... but some "philosophical" part of me just REFUSES TO LIVE!!! I ask myself, what's the point of any of it? You know that HIM song, "this life ain't worth living"... yeah, that's exactly how I feel.

Yesterday, I was up late scrolling through the internet, Googling "suicide," reading posts from other depressed people and stuff... I won't do it because I don't want my family to suffer, and honestly, I'm scared that IF God actually exists, I'll regret it 🙄 but the truth is, I'd rather just not exist...

College starts this Tuesday... maybe it'll be easier once I get back into a routine and forget that "life has no meaning" haha, or maybe I'll just be right back here posting stuff like "I hate freaking college" 😂 and venting...

Which college are you heading back to, btw?

I know I need to switch psychiatrists, but the issue isn't just that she prescribes meds—she's fine, I think 😛—it's just that the medication isn't working. It's too weak....

I just don't want to burden other people with the details of my depression because I've spent my whole life being the one who helps everyone else and gives advice... you know, not everyone is emotionally intelligent. I can "help" others, but my friends aren't like that, so why should I just "burden" them for no reason, you know what I mean? I mostly talk about my depression with my blog friends, not my real-life friends... and what would I even say? "Life isn't worth living." Things at home are GREAT since I told my parents everything and started seeing a therapist, so there aren't really problems there anymore. It's just stuck in my head... pure meaninglessness 🤷

Thanks for the kind wishes, and I hope you have a nice (even if rainy) weekend 😘

George Garcia9 said:Hey cosmicmaker6 🙂

So... about two or three weeks ago, I finally "got busy"—which was a total nightmare, obviously. I was dealing with all this bureaucratic crap (literally died of boredom) just so I could get back to college and take my last exam... (I got a C in my absolute favorite subject when I totally deserved an A, thanks a lot Professor 😠) and for a little while, things actually felt okay. Like... I was actually looking forward to school again...

Then anxiety hit me like a truck: how am I going to handle this? The daily grind, meeting new people because I took a break... I tried so hard to stay positive. I read two self-help books, I'm on my third now lol, I even made a website about positive thinking... but none of it works...👎

The day before yesterday, the depression just snapped back, and yesterday it reached a breaking point. I seriously wanted to end it all; I was actually thinking about how to do it...😢 To be honest, I'll tell you why. I KNOW I can "succeed" in life. I have friends, I'm objectively attractive (subjectively, I'm fat 😁), and I could easily find a boyfriend, finish my degree, enjoy life, blah blah blah... but some "philosophical" part of me just REFUSES TO LIVE!!! I ask myself, what's the point of any of it? You know that HIM song, "this life ain't worth living"... yeah, that's exactly how I feel.

Yesterday, I was up late scrolling through the internet, Googling "suicide," reading posts from other depressed people and stuff... I won't do it because I don't want my family to suffer, and honestly, I'm scared that IF God actually exists, I'll regret it 🙄 but the truth is, I'd rather just not exist...

College starts this Tuesday... maybe it'll be easier once I get back into a routine and forget that "life has no meaning" haha, or maybe I'll just be right back here posting stuff like "I hate freaking college" 😂 and venting...

Which college are you heading back to, btw?

I know I need to switch psychiatrists, but the issue isn't just that she prescribes meds—she's fine, I think 😛—it's just that the medication isn't working. It's too weak....

I just don't want to burden other people with the details of my depression because I've spent my whole life being the one who helps everyone else and gives advice... you know, not everyone is emotionally intelligent. I can "help" others, but my friends aren't like that, so why should I just "burden" them for no reason, you know what I mean? I mostly talk about my depression with my blog friends, not my real-life friends... and what would I even say? "Life isn't worth living." Things at home are GREAT since I told my parents everything and started seeing a therapist, so there aren't really problems there anymore. It's just stuck in my head... pure meaninglessness 🤷

Thanks for the kind wishes, and I hope you have a nice (even if rainy) weekend 😘

I’ve distilled your entire post down to this one specific point, because honestly, it’s the most vital thing you’ve said, and it is incredibly WELL put. If you truly recognize your own potential—and if you truly believe that success is inevitable—then there is absolutely no reason to dwell on such dark, pessimistic thoughts. I am certain you possess immense potential, and I don't say that lightly; it radiates through everything you write here, so why succumb to this gloom? We have all drifted through those shadows at some point, believe me, but it is merely a phase, and the final one at that. From what I can gather, it seems you don't even have a solid circle of friends to lean on right now, so perhaps there is no need to burden them with these struggles if they aren't capable of listening or offering real support; sometimes, it is better to simply let them perceive you as happy. You are heading off to college, and once you're there, you will encounter entirely new people, and among them, there will undoubtedly be someone who becomes a true, loyal friend. In my own experience, I found my best friends completely by accident, when I least expected it, only to realize they were wonderful souls who loved me just as much as I love them. Once you graduate, land a great career, and meet that special someone... well, you'll look back on this moment and find it all quite surreal. Life is far too beautiful to waste it on insignificant people or by brooding alone within four walls. I am speaking from the depths of my own experience, and surely, isn't it more efficient to learn from the lives of others rather than stumbling through our own mistakes?😉
I truly wish you nothing but the best, and I hope to hear from you soon with news of new, brighter dreams and renewed hope🙂

thanks 🙂

George Garcia9 said:Thanks everyone 😘 I'll try to get through this somehow... just taking it day by day... learning, living...

Patrick Alvarez20 lol, honestly, I’m secretly hoping some famous professor will end up teaching my subject ha ha 😛 Good luck!!!!

I seriously hate going to campus because the commute is driving me insane—the traffic, crowded subways, people smelling gross, lectures so packed you can barely breathe, and if I sit by the window, I freeze (during winter). Plus, waking up early... I mean, HOW is anyone supposed to actually focus on a lecture if they have to roll out of bed at 6 AM??? 😠 Who came up with this? I’d much rather be an online student, but my university doesn't allow that... It would be so much better to study from home and just show up to campus once in a while, haha, but nope, they won't let me 😬

I'm not studying psychology; I wanted to back then, but the thought of statistics absolutely terrified me 😬

I can't tell if I have social anxiety or if people just genuinely annoy the hell out of me...

redotter1 thanks for the offer, and thanks for the info, because the last thing I need in my life right now is to gain EVEN MORE weight 😛 I don't take much Lexapro, just one in the morning and two before bed.

thanks again everyone 🙂

Back when I first had a total breakdown, I went to see a psychiatrist, and my dad kept insisting to her that it was all because of school, school, school...
but the doctor just looked at him and said, "Sir, the school isn't the issue here."
I totally saw right through her though.
Hope this helps someone out

Anne, unlike you, I actually found a bit of a lifeline through my studies🙄 — I managed to distract myself from the sheer weight of depression and panic attacks just by staying busy. My background is in law, which—let’s be honest—isn't a major that requires much face-to-face interaction or constant socializing. It suited me perfectly; I could be my own boss, study on my own terms, show up for exams, and move through them one by one. Now, I've been working in the field for a year already.😁

To give you some context, I've been battling depression, health anxiety, and panic disorder since 2017.🙂 After my very first panic attack, it hit me—there aren't enough words in the English language to pull you out of that kind of suffering. You need chemistry. I know there's a huge crowd of people who are strictly against medication and all that, but trust me—I've been in the trenches. Even if God Himself descended from the clouds to grant me eternal happiness, it wouldn't have fixed what was happening. It felt like something had physically snapped in my brain. I felt fundamentally different, as if I couldn't climb out of that hole just by talking it out, walking in the woods, or reading spiritual books. Honestly, those methods would have just left me feeling more hopeless. I remember the day before I finally saw a psychiatrist; it was easily one of the darkest days of my life. My only thought was is there any kind of medication, a pill, or some form of chemical help for this condition? Because there is NO psychiatrist on earth who can talk someone out of that level of despair. It’s like asking a cancer patient if they're worried about whether the tumor has spread or if they're going to die—it's the same thing. If a doctor had told me there was no medicine and that I just had to "will" myself better, I'm not sure I would have made it through that day.🙂 ...Look, I don't want to diminish anyone else's struggle, but when mental illness reaches this scale, it feels dangerous and frankly primitive to argue against medication. Telling someone to fight a psychiatric crisis with nothing but willpower and optimism is like telling a cancer patient they don't need chemotherapy and should just try being positive instead. For me, medication didn't just help—it saved my life.
Therapy and conversation are vital—and having people you love standing by you is essential support—but as
I've said, without antidepressants, I know for a fact I wouldn't be here today. Only someone who has walked through that specific hell can truly understand.

cosmicmaker6 said:I’ve distilled your entire post down to this one specific point, because honestly, it’s the most vital thing you’ve said, and it is incredibly WELL put. If you truly recognize your own potential—and if you truly believe that success is inevitable—then there is absolutely no reason to dwell on such dark, pessimistic thoughts. I am certain you possess immense potential, and I don't say that lightly; it radiates through everything you write here, so why succumb to this gloom? We have all drifted through those shadows at some point, believe me, but it is merely a phase, and the final one at that. From what I can gather, it seems you don't even have a solid circle of friends to lean on right now, so perhaps there is no need to burden them with these struggles if they aren't capable of listening or offering real support; sometimes, it is better to simply let them perceive you as happy. You are heading off to college, and once you're there, you will encounter entirely new people, and among them, there will undoubtedly be someone who becomes a true, loyal friend. In my own experience, I found my best friends completely by accident, when I least expected it, only to realize they were wonderful souls who loved me just as much as I love them. Once you graduate, land a great career, and meet that special someone... well, you'll look back on this moment and find it all quite surreal. Life is far too beautiful to waste it on insignificant people or by brooding alone within four walls. I am speaking from the depths of my own experience, and surely, isn't it more efficient to learn from the lives of others rather than stumbling through our own mistakes?😉
I truly wish you nothing but the best, and I hope to hear from you soon with news of new, brighter dreams and renewed hope🙂

Look, this is exactly how people who love me have tried to help, and now I see where cosmicmaker6 is coming from—she's absolutely right.👍 ...BUT, when someone is dealing with depression, that advice just doesn't register. They simply can't see the silver lining because their brain won't allow it; it blocks out positive thoughts entirely. It's like cheering for someone with a physical disability, telling them they can walk and that everything will be fine if they just try harder—but the person doesn't have damn legs!?!?!?? Give them a pair of crutches first, and *then* you can cheer and offer support, but without them, it's impossible.🤷

Hay Screamed
! I find myself in complete agreement with your assessment... I actually offered similar advice to Anne, primarily because it seems to me that she lacks any real sense of support from those around her. She clearly recognizes the gravity of her situation and is actively seeking a way out, which leads me to believe that what she truly requires is genuine empathy and meaningful conversation rather than just more medication. Besides, she mentioned herself that the drugs aren't even working properly—in fact, they seem to be making everything significantly worse...

cosmicmaker6;10634785 said:Hay Screamed!
I’m on the same page as you—that’s exactly the advice I gave Anne. It feels like she isn't getting much support from those around her, and since she clearly recognizes what she's going through and is reaching out, I figured she needs connection and conversation more than just a prescription. Besides, she mentioned herself that the meds aren't helping; if anything, they're making things worse.

Look, if that's the case, navigating this alone is incredibly difficult—honestly, it might be impossible without some sort of foundation from family, a partner, or solid friends.
As for the medication side of things, from what I can tell, she's mostly been taking sedatives—stuff like normabel and similar junk—which my psychiatrist says can actually backfire and make the whole situation worse... there is a massive difference between those and actual antidepressants.

Gerald Fisher26 said:Look, if that's the case, navigating this alone is incredibly difficult—honestly, it might be impossible without some sort of foundation from family, a partner, or solid friends.
As for the medication side of things, from what I can tell, she's mostly been taking sedatives—stuff like normabel and similar junk—which my psychiatrist says can actually backfire and make the whole situation worse... there is a massive difference between those and actual antidepressants.

Well, look, I don't really understand any of this medical stuff, and I'm not trying to lecture anyone here.🙂 But now I'm actually curious about what someone might take if they were just feeling a little bit on edge, because I've heard rumors that all those pills are incredibly addictive? My apologies if I'm drifting too far away from the main topic...

cosmicmaker6 said:Well, look, I don't really understand any of this medical stuff, and I'm not trying to lecture anyone here.🙂 But now I'm actually curious about what someone might take if they were just feeling a little bit on edge, because I've heard rumors that all those pills are incredibly addictive? My apologies if I'm drifting too far away from the main topic...

Must be nice not having to understand it all—honestly, knowing about this kind of thing wasn't exactly my choice either, but here we are...😁

Your question about addiction is actually quite sharp—it hits on one of the most critical distinctions in medicine. Basically, anxiety medication (anxiolytics) can be habit-forming, whereas antidepressants generally aren't. I can vouch for that personally; I was on antidepressants for a few years and was able to taper off them without any issues whatsoever.

Here is a solid breakdown of how it works, according to medical resources....

A patient struggling with depression might feel some temporary relief if they take sedatives instead of antidepressants. However, that isn't because the sedative is a "better" treatment—it's more like using a painkiller to mask physical pain by numbing the brain's activity. While the sedative provides a fleeting sense of calm, these drugs are central nervous system depressants. They don't work "against" depression; they actually push the system further in that direction.
Sedatives can lead to tolerance—where the body demands higher doses just to get the same effect—and eventually addiction, which manifests as withdrawal symptoms or a significant relapse if someone tries to cut back or quit cold turkey.
Antidepressants, on the other hand, aren't depressants; they act as activators for the nervous system. While certain types may have a calming effect, they don't carry the same side effects or risks as sedatives. Because their mechanism of action is fundamentally different, antidepressants—regardless of the specific class—do not cause tolerance or dependency. This makes them suitable for treating both depression and chronic anxiety.
Treating mixed anxiety-depressive disorders should center on antidepressants, while sedatives should only be used as a short-term bridge. The same logic applies to anxiety without depressive symptoms. You might see a doctor prescribe sedatives alongside antidepressants during the initial phase of treatment to help settle things down, but those should be phased out gradually—usually within ten weeks—as the antidepressants begin to manage the anxiety symptoms on their own. For pure depression without anxiety components, however, sedatives shouldn't be part of the strategy at all.

Thanks for laying that out for me; things are looking a whole lot clearer now 🙂

cosmicmaker6 said:Thanks for laying that out for me; things are looking a whole lot clearer now 🙂

Don't mention it.😉