Do You Need Antidepressants? 6 Signs You Might — Talkspace

Reader’s Note: If you or someone you love is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

If you’ve ever wondered if you need antidepressants, we’re covering everything you need to know about this treatment option, including when to consider antidepressants. 

• You feel persistent sadness or hopelessness
• You feel numb or detached from reality
• You have a pervasive sense of emptiness
• Your symptoms affect your daily life
• Other depression treatments don’t work
• You have thoughts of death or suicide

If you’ve been struggling with deciding if you should go on antidepressants to treat your depression, read on to learn more. 

1. You Feel Persistent Sadness or Hopelessness 

Constantly battling a deep sense of sadness or feelings of hopelessness isn’t always just “feeling the blues.” Ongoing despair is a sign of clinical depression or severe depression. 

Depressive symptoms are different from the occasional “down day,” where you feel a little low or sad. A depressive disorder is more like an unshakable gloom and doom that persists, often for no apparent reason. Persistent sadness is one of the key symptoms of depression. Feeling overwhelmingly sad more days than not or feeling like you don’t enjoy activities you once loved can be signs you may benefit from a prescribed antidepressant medication.  

2. You Feel Numb or Detached from Reality

Severe depression can make you feel disconnected, distant, or estranged from loved ones. Emotional numbness can be likened to going through the motions of life while not really experiencing anything. This is a common sign of depression, and people often describe it as feeling like they’re walking through a fog or being detached from reality. 

If you feel a disconnection from your surroundings or that everyday activities — especially those that once brought joy — now feel mundane or burdensome, talk to your doctor. They might suggest the possibility of a prescribed antidepressant medication to help you overcome these common symptoms of depression. 

“Medications for mood, such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers, work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain, helping to regulate mood. They can alleviate symptoms of conditions like depression or bipolar disorder, improving overall well-being. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most suitable medication and treatment plan for individual needs.”

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LPC, LMHC

3. You Have a Pervasive Sense of Emptiness

For some people, depressive symptoms can cause an overwhelming sense of emptiness to take over. 

It’s more than just being lonely or sad — it can feel like you’re stuck in a void, where joy and meaning are nowhere to be found. You might not be missing something specific or tangible. In fact, it’s common to not be able to express what, exactly, is missing. Instead, it just feels like an internal emptiness or hollowness that’s difficult to explain. 

If feelings of emptiness persist, it’s crucial to acknowledge them and seek professional help. How do antidepressants work to help this? Antidepressants can help restore balance and vibrancy in your life so you can fill your days back up with meaningful value and rewarding relationships and experiences. 

4. Your Symptoms Affect Your Daily Life

Depression can disrupt your regular routines and make decision-making challenging. 

In some cases, you may be able to mask symptoms of depression in the beginning. You might feel like you can deal with the fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and lack of motivation from depression Most times, though, symptoms will progress and increase in severity, and even your normal, everyday tasks, like self-care, taking a shower, getting dressed, making your bed, or eating healthy meals, can start to feel virtually impossible to take on. 

If depression is impacting your ability to perform at work or school, interfering with household responsibilities, or causing conflict in your relationships, talk to your doctor or health care provider. Getting the right treatment plan in place — which may include depression medication — can help you regain control over your life and mood.

5. Other Depression Treatments Don’t Work

Depression affects everybody differently, and as we’ve already noted, the same treatment won’t always work the same way for everyone. Sometimes, even the best efforts to manage symptoms through therapy for depression and lifestyle modifications won’t be enough. 

If you’re feeling stuck in a rut of sadness or numbness and other treatment options haven’t provided enough relief, don’t lose hope. You’re not failing, but this might indicate that you need to add another element to your treatment plan. The right medication and antidepressant dose can provide that extra bit of help when other methods aren’t fully resolving your symptoms.

“Therapy and medications are effective for treating depression because they address both the psychological and biological aspects of the condition. Therapy helps individuals explore and cope with underlying emotional issues, while medications can correct chemical imbalances in the brain associated with depression, leading to improved mood and overall well-being. Combining these approaches can result in more successful treatment for depression.”

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LPC, LMHC

6. You Have Thoughts of Death or Suicide

If you’re having thoughts of death or suicide, you must seek emergency help immediately. These are significant signs of depression that should never be taken lightly. 

People living with depression can experience suicidal ideation or thoughts of death when they believe there’s no other way out of their pain. Even if it’s difficult or impossible to see at the moment, there’s always help — there’s always a solution.

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LPC, LMHC

The Role of Antidepressants in Managing Depression

Antidepressants can play a critical role in successful management of depressive symptoms. They work by balancing neurotransmitters in the brain that impact mood and regulate emotion. Balancing chemical levels through medicine can improve mood and your outlook on life while relieving many of the symptoms commonly experienced with depression.

A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that combining therapy with medication offers the most efficacy in treating depression. Further, the review notes that positive effects can last up to 2 years post-treatment.  

Ultimately, using therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes — like exercising, journaling, eating well, and keeping a healthy sleep habit — can be a game-changing combination in treating depression. 

Get Prescribed Depression Medication with Talkspace

Knowing if you need antidepressants can be difficult, but with the help of a psychiatrist, it can be easier. If you’ve been feeling depressed and your symptoms are either worsening or have lasted longer than 2 weeks with no improvement, it’s probably time to consider your options for medicine and treatment. 

Learn more about how Talkspace can help you find the best treatment plan to manage depression symptoms that are stealing your joy. The truth is, you don’t have to live life with the debilitating symptoms of depression you’re experiencing. Help is available, and Talkspace makes it easier than ever to access. Learn how to get depression medication today.