Feeling stuck with depression or anxiety? Tried therapy and lifestyle changes but they just don’t seem to be working? Overwhelmed by symptoms such as depressed mood, fatigue, sleeping a lot, or excessive worrying, feeling on edge, or irritability?
It may be time to consider medication. This is a common, valid, and often difficult crossroads for many, but is helpful for millions of people. The symptoms of depression or anxiety must last for at least two weeks to receive a diagnosis. These conditions are treatable, usually with medication and psychotherapy.
This article guides you through the key signs that it might be time to explore medication, demystifies how these medications work, and empowers you to have an informed conversation with your doctor. And rather than pushing medication, this information is presented as a helpful tool for reclaiming your life.
Beyond “Feeling Sad” or “Stressed”: Recognizing the Clinical Threshold
Is what I feel ”normal” or does my mental health condition require meds? This is often asked when therapy or lifestyle efforts just don’t seem to be working.
For Depression: Contrast normal sadness or grief (often tied to an event and fluctuates) with major depression (persistent low mood, loss of interest, and physical symptoms for weeks/months). Symptoms include [1]:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities.
- Significant weight loss or gain, or decrease or increase in appetite.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much).
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation (observable restlessness or slowness).
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness.
- Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation, or a suicide attempt.
For Anxiety: We all have normal worries about a specific event or person. And they tend to pass fairly quickly. Anxiety isn’t just in your head; it triggers a powerful “fight-or-flight” response, causing very real physical sensations. Anxiety involves ongoing, excessive worry. It interferes with normal functioning and has the following symptoms:
- Psychological & Emotional Symptoms:
- Excessive and uncontrollable worry
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
- Irritability
- Restlessness or feeling “On edge”
- Difficulty concentrating (“Mind going blank”)
- Hypervigilance
- Physical Symptoms:
- Rapid heart rate or heart pounding
- Shortness of breath or feeling smothered
- Muscle tension and aches
- Trembling or shaking
- Sweating
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or exhausted, even without physical exertion
- Behavioral Symptoms:
- Avoidance of people, places, or situations that trigger anxiety
- Procrastination
- Seeking reassurance
- Sleep disturbances
Functional Impairment Is the Key
You likely meet the criteria for a diagnosis when symptoms significantly impact your ability to function in major areas of life. These include:
- Work/School: Unable to concentrate, missing deadlines, calling in sick frequently.
- Relationships: Withdrawing from friends/family, increased conflict, loss of interest in social activities.
- Self-Care: Neglecting hygiene, poor eating habits, unable to manage basic chores.
5 Signs It Might Be Time to Talk to a Doctor
See a doctor to discuss possible use of medications if you have any of these signs:
- Therapy Isn’t Enough
- Your Physical Health is Suffering:
For Depression:
- Chronic fatigue, low energy despite sleep
- Significant changes in appetite/weight
- Unexplained aches, pains, or digestive issues
For Anxiety:
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Chronic stomachaches or indigestion
- When It’s Hard to Get Through the Day
- When You’re Isolating Yourself
- When You’re Using Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
Common Fears and Misconceptions About Medication
Here are some of the common fears that prevent people from seeking help.
- “It’s a crutch / I should be able to handle this myself.” Reframe: If you had a chemical imbalance like diabetes, would you deny yourself insulin? It’s a tool, not a character flaw.
- “It will change my personality / make me a zombie.” The goal of modern medication is to restore you to yourself, not to sedate you. The right medication should quiet the symptoms, not your core self.
- “I’ll be taking these forever.” For many, it’s a medium-term treatment. The duration is highly individual and is a decision made with a doctor.
- “The side effects are worse than the illness.” Acknowledge side effects are real, but they are often temporary and manageable, and must be weighed against the debilitating effects of untreated depression/anxiety.
Medications for Depression
There is a wide range of types of medication for depression, including [2]:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Doctors often start by prescribing an SSRI. These drugs are considered safer and generally cause fewer bothersome side effects than other types of antidepressants.
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Atypical antidepressants
- Tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclics generally aren’t prescribed unless you’ve tried an SSRI first without improvement.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
- Other medications. Such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotics. Anti-anxiety and stimulant medications also may be added for short-term use.
Medications for Anxiety
Recommended medications for anxiety disorders fall into the following groups [3]:
- Antidepressants
- Anxiolytics
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Mood stabilizers
- Anticonvulsants
The Process of Starting Medication
Generally the process is fairly straightforward:
- The Evaluation: It starts with a comprehensive assessment by a GP or psychiatrist.
- Finding the Right Fit: Medication is not one-size-fits-all. It may take a few tries to find the right type and dosage.
- The Timeline: Explain it can take 4-8 weeks to feel the full therapeutic effects.
- The Partnership: Medication is most effective in combination with therapy. Medication can create the stability needed to do the deep work in therapy.
Medication is about functionality and quality of life. It’s a decision prompted by clear signs that your current coping resources are overwhelmed.
Considering medication is a proactive, courageous step toward healing—no different than prioritizing any other aspect of your health.
Take the first step by having a conversation with a qualified healthcare professional.
7 Tips for Managing Medications
Consider the following tips when getting started on your medications for depression and anxiety [4]:
- Be patient as you may start to see improvement in a few weeks, but it may take six or more weeks for it to be fully effective.
- Take your medication consistently and at the correct dose.
- See if the side effects improve. Else talk with your doctor.
- Explore options if it doesn’t work well. A medicine combination may work better for you than a single antidepressant.
- Try psychotherapy. In many cases, combining an antidepressant with talk therapy, called psychotherapy, is more effective than taking an antidepressant alone. It can also help prevent your depression from returning once you’re feeling better.
- Don’t stop taking medications without talking to your health care provider first.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
Finding Support for Healing at Corner Canyon
Treatment for mental health conditions and trauma is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, other mental health conditions, or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of therapeutic and holistic techniques.
Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Sources
[1] Cleveland Clinic. 2022. Clinical Depression (Major Depressive Disorder).
[2] Mayo Clinic. nd. Depression (Major depressive disorder).
[3] CAMH. 2019. Anxiety: Pharmacotherapy.
[4] Mayo Clinic. 2022. Antidepressants: Selecting one that’s right for you.
