My first therapist offered me meds, even included a free starter supply.

Sounds like a drug pusher to me; "The first one's free!" is a line I learned as a kid about what to expect from pushers who wanted to get people started on heroin and stuff line that.

For me therapy and behavior modification has worked best.

That being said, ...

If a person's depression is "caused" by brain chemistry, then meds are most likely going to be required. If the depression is caused by events, then overcoming those events is the most likely requirement for a cure.

Those are my opinions.

That does not say that it is an either or thing for meds and therapy. I believe that a good therapist can work wonders for all forms of depression.

Depression is not caused by 'brain chemistry'. That's a marketing myth.

But temporarily adding to the seratonin floating around means that your neurons spark well and easily, without anything going awry. so that's fantastic.

Best not to rely on them forever however.

On antidepressants I simply feel more enabled. less locked up. I have an idea, and I pursue it, without the usual mental jangle that locks me down and leaves me immobile.

I don't hyperthink. So my operating memory is shorter. If someone upsets me, I am over it in 10 mins. If I upset someone else, I am over it in 10 mins. So it shortens the cycle of experience. I don't obsess for hours.

I still on occasion cry myself to sleep but then I have a lot in my past to get over. I still cackle hysterically at whatever movie is funny.

so it dulls the edges really, but not the centre. In your circumstances though I guess I would ask what pill you're being given, how much of it? We won't know if it dopes you to the gills without knowing what it is.

I strongly believe that mental illnesses CAN be caused by our body chemistry and/or other biological predispositions. I tend to use the phrase 'brain chemistry' as an all inclusive thing.

Mental illnesses are defined as behaviors that diminish a person's quality of life.

One quick example is ADD. Some, but NOT ALL, ADD can be explained by dopamine levels:

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-causes

The state of being drunk is not a mental illness, but being drunk is a prime example of how a chemical (ie alcohol) can strongly effect behaviors, and how those behaviors diminish when the body is able to reduce the chemical to an "acceptable level".

Schizophrenia is another example of a mental illness that may be caused by brain chemistry for some, but not all, people. Here is a reference:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/basics/causes/con-20021077

I am not claiming that all mental illnesses, or even all depression, are caused by brain chemicals. I am just saying that some depression may be caused by brain chemicals. And it is those cases where medication may be needed in order to help a person gain control of their life.

It's sad that even among people with depression, the stigma of medicine remains. If you have a heart problem, do you question how long you should be on it if you know your condition lasts a lifetime.? How about type 2 diabetics? No one bats an eye about a lifetime need for medicine.

Depression affects your most complex organ, your brain. And the consequences of no medication when you really need it can also be deadly.

I've had severe depression for a decade. It took a decade to get the right medicine combo and ect treatment to finally stabilize me. I will more than likely need them for life. Just because one doesn't work or makes you feel numb doesn't mean you should stop trying. I'd be dead if I stopped trying.

The most effective treatment is usually a combination of medicine, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Don't be afraid to try again. It takes time to get it right.

And you may not need it for a lifetime like me. But you should give it a try to see if it's what you need.

I'm coming off anti depressants after 22 years on them,I'm starting to feel sensation again and coming back to reality,i found them helpful during periods of counselling as they relaxed me more so enabled me to release some painful emotion, but the danger is you become dependant on them so short term is advised.

I agree with what has been said by Pepperman. Your issues are more then likely from events that have occoured in your life. A good therapist will help to get at these core issues, as these are things which you need to work out. Medication truly is for as Pepperman put it brain chemistry issues.

For example, somebody who has bi-polar disorder, or schizophrenia, those are conditions which require medication. I am really glad you lined up a therapist, thats what you really need. A good therapist can help you to open up, so that you can get to your core issues to find out what is wrong.

I have been on many different ant depressants over the years. Only one ever made me feel sluggish. Some did plain old not work. But I never had a problem with them numbing my other feelings. My psychiatrist monitors me closely. If I don't like how I am feeling on something, she listens and we discuss options. Might I add that I remember how I felt without them, and how I feel now is definitely preferable.

If you are working with a doctor you trust then you should be able to bring up concerns like feeling numb.

I have only been on antidepressants for a year but they have worked wanders for me. And not to cause a controversy but i have deprsseion because of my brain chemistry being off from a different illness i have. I know this because i get depressed for no reason and ive never had any sort of trauma in my life. That being said everytime i try to get off my meds because at one point i thought they were bad for me i get my depression back. But with my meds i feel normal and happy. But i realy think it just depends on the person and the medication. I hope that helps

I take them and I remember being resistant to all medications....but I got so sick that I needed help....so if you need help take the meds...do not worry about feeling numb....they do not really make you numb to the best of my knowledge they help control your emotional downs....elevate your moods....hope you are ok with them...thing to be careful of the side effects things like dry mouth or constipation...those can be nasty side effects....

Everyone has offered great replies and pepper, I've never heard you give bad advice...ever! If you are afraid to take meds and I completely understand this. Look up a supplement called SAMe. It's a naturally occurring substance that speeds up ones methylation and even helps people with osteoporosis, don't mix it with anything that you might be taking but look it up on the treatment site on here and it's a very serious mood lifter that is all too often unnoticed.
I'm no Dr and I'm not trying to offer medical advice...it's only a suggestion but I don't really think you have much to lose at this point!

((((HUGS))))