Healthy, happy...with my antidepressants | YouAlberta

Health & Wellness

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My name is Gurleen Kaur (she/her). I am a third-year student in the Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Honors program at the U of A. I like to spend my free time productively working or studying. You can sometimes find me hanging out and studying with friends. I like to explore cafes or do yoga (my favourite mindfulness activity!).

What is your background and what is your healthy, happy… story with mental illness about?

Jordyn: My name is Jordyn-Ameriah, and I am in the second year of my psychology degree. I am diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I am hoping that by sharing my story, it will help other people know they aren't alone!

Tell us a bit about your journey with antidepressants.

Jordyn: My relationship with taking antidepressants is long, dating back to when I first started taking them at 13 after a dual diagnosis of anxiety and depression. The combination of illnesses was causing me to miss school and do poorly on my schoolwork. I also had a long family history of mental health issues, so my doctor, mum and I decided it would be best for me.

Do you have an understanding of how these medications work?

Jordyn: All the antidepressants I took are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin by neurons in the brain. This allows for more serotonin to pass through the neurons. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain which is thought to have a positive impact on mood. Depression and anxiety seem to be caused by a combination of environmental and physiological sources. Medication mainly aims to help the physiological aspects.

Here is a video on SSRIs for those interested in hearing more.

Why did you decide to take antidepressants?

Jordyn: I went through all of high school unmedicated and in and out of therapy when it was needed. After graduating, I moved cities for university, and my mental health started to go downhill quickly. I was struggling to get schoolwork done, drinking too much and not participating in my old hobbies. I felt like I couldn't get out of bed most days. However, I didn't want to admit there was a problem, so I kept pushing through.

The worse my anxiety and depression got, the worse I felt about asking for help. I realized I needed to talk to someone when I was considering going to a psychiatric centre because life had become so exhausting, and I just wanted a break. Luckily, I have an amazing doctor who helped me create a plan. We decided I would try another antidepressant for my anxiety and depression symptoms.

Did your medications "fix" your depression and anxiety?

Jordyn: My doctor wanted to ensure that medication wasn't my only treatment method. We discussed therapy and also some personal wellness activities that I would try to get back into. I was shocked at how much happier I was feeling. My motivation started to come back, and I was sleeping better due to lower anxiety. I was pursuing old hobbies, working out and getting more productive at school.

All that being said, I wouldn't call medication a "fix;" it was more of a bandaid. It alleviated my symptoms to a point where I could get to school and start working on the root causes of my depression and anxiety. Even with medication and therapy, there are times in my life when my symptoms are worse. External stressors like school and moving play a big role in my ability to manage my symptoms. When my external stresses are high, medication helps bring me back to a place where I can function at my normal again.

What would you like to share with your fellow students?

Jordyn: A couple of important things I want to share with people who feel like I did is the sooner you reach out, the better. You don't have to wait as long as I did to get help. Asking for help doesn't make you weak or lesser than anyone else. It's just taking care of yourself. If you break a bone, you go to the doctor right away - why not do the same for your mental health? You're allowed to, and it will get better!

If you are interested in being featured in our next article of this Healthy, happy… series for YouAlberta, reach out to [email protected]

What is the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being?

The National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being of Post-Secondary Students is a Canada and university-wide initiative aiming to improve student well-being on campus and trying to make mental health a priority. It focuses on all areas of mental health, such as crisis intervention, mental health supports, accessibility and much more. Through various engagement activities with all campuses, the National Standard team has collected feedback on how students want their mental health and services to be improved. The What We Heard report and Action Plan are in the works and will be released soon.