Antidepressants: What to know before you decide

(Aging Untold) — Feeling low, disconnected or not like yourself for weeks or months is different from a bad day. When it starts to affect sleep, energy or everyday life, it’s time to talk about support and treatment options. For some people, that could include an antidepressant. Start with a conversation with your provider Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said the decision looks different for everyone. “Everybody is individualized so you can just talk with your provider,” Rogers said. Rogers said to recognize whether you’re feeling depressed and to look at signs such as loss of sleep, loss of energy or loss of motivation. Some people might also experience a triggering event that starts a downward spiral, which they can’t pull themself out of, she said. “When your quality of life is being affected, then you might want to look into antidepressant therapy,” Rogers said. Antidepressants are not “happy pills” Rogers cautioned that antidepressants do not take away sadness. “They