The fall of my sophomore year, I lost 10 pounds in one month because I stopped eating — not by choice, but from crippling anxiety.

After experiencing an allergic reaction from a Redstone Market bagel, I could not let myself eat on campus. Every evening was filled with a panic attack. If I didn’t have an extra hour to spare on my anxiety, I just wouldn’t eat at all.

This experience came after a long road of battling anxiety and depression since middle school. I had considered selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors many times, but I was always too afraid to take the steps to try them. I was scared that I wouldn’t be myself on them or that I would have strange symptoms. 

I saw my anxiety as a part of myself. It made me cautious and kept me safe. I didn’t know who I would be without my mental illness. 

My allergic reaction and the crippling anxiety that followed it was my breaking point. I could no longer function in my daily life and something needed to change. I decided to get a referral to a psychiatrist and face my fears.

After a brief conversation with my psychiatrist, she agreed that I could not keep living like this. It was time to try something new to work through my anxiety, so she prescribed Lexapro.

I was terrified to take it, and at first, I felt all the side effects — flu-like symptoms, headaches and sleepiness. However, after a few days, the side effects went away, and slowly so did my severe anxiety.

After being on Lexapro, I realized I had no reason to be afraid. The lasting side effects were mild and tolerable when compared to the benefits. 

I still had anxiety, but it was so much more manageable. I finally felt like a real, functioning person again and not like a shell of myself.

Antidepressants may not be for everyone, but for those considering them, they could be worth a try.

Many people are afraid of antidepressants because of a long history of stigma and myths about their side effects.

Common myths about antidepressants suggest that they will cause significant negative side effects, they are ineffective or that individuals taking them will have to be on medication forever, according to a June 8, 2018 Psychology Today article.

However, antidepressants are effective for about two-thirds of people who try them, according to the article.

Most people respond to antidepressants after about two months, and have about a 50% reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms according to an April 7, 2018 study published by The Lancet.  

Additionally, many people only need to stay on antidepressants for about 6-12 months, according to an Apr 17, 2022 Axis Integrated Mental Health article. 

About 9% of patients switch from one antidepressant to another, according to a Dec. 4, 2023 article. Switching antidepressants really isn’t that big of a deal; it’s all about finding what works best for you.

Your doctor will help you figure out the right dose and time. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s no harm in trying something different.

Antidepressants might not be right for everyone, and psychotherapy or other treatments may be a better fix, according to the Psychology Today article. 

However, if you think they might help you, don’t let stigma or fear stop you from talking to your doctor and discovering the next steps.

Because of Lexapro, not only am I able to be a functioning human being again, but I also feel that I am the most fulfilled and happy version of myself that has existed in years.

Talking to my doctor and weighing the risks and benefits of Lexapro was the best decision I’ve ever made for my mental health. I’m so glad that I didn’t let the fear and stigma stop me from changing my life for the better.