Kramer gives many anecdotes of patients who, when given Prozac, end up faring “better than well.” Not only do their depression symptoms abate, but they experience higher self-esteem and great social ease for the first time in their lives.
For several participants, psychotropic medications (both benzodiazepines and antidepressants) were reported to help manage feelings of depression and insecurity that resulted from social isolation.
Serotonin really changes your chemistry for the better. In fact, some of the most prescribed drugs for treating anxiety and depression like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil work by modulating levels of serotonin in the brain. When serotonin is higher you: Feel confident.
The Evidence for Personality Changes
Study authors suggested that the SSRI may have altered two key personality traits linked to depression—neuroticism and extroversion—independently of their effect on depression symptoms.
“It appears that SSRI antidepressants rewire areas of the brain that are important for thinking and feeling, as well as operating the autonomic nervous system,” said Koliatsos. Axons are long, filament-shaped extensions of neurons that, together with myelin, are the main constituents of nerves.
Antidepressants help you focus and concentrate, which can boost your productivity at work and in life. You may have a better attention span or want to be more productive at work after the antidepressants kick in.
Antidepressants work by balancing chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotions. These depression medicines can help improve your mood, help you sleep better, and increase your appetite and concentration.
They help with emotional balance and reduce symptoms like restlessness, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. As antidepressants work to help treat your depression, they, in turn, can help you sleep better. Depression can sometimes make it difficult to fall asleep or to stay asleep.
Antidepressants balance neurotransmitters in your brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs, do this by balancing the serum serotonin levels to help your brain regulate your moods. While they're called antidepressants, most offer benefits in the treatment of anxiety, as well.
When it comes to antidepressants, the types of “personality” changes are actually side effects of the medication - like agitation, irritability, an increase in anxiety, an increase in extroversion, and more.
Confidence-boosting drugs are substances intended to enhance a person's confidence levels. These can include prescription medications like benzodiazepines and beta blockers, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines.
Kramer gives many anecdotes of patients who, when given Prozac, end up faring “better than well.” Not only do their depression symptoms abate, but they experience higher self-esteem and great social ease for the first time in their lives.
When amphetamines are injected or smoked, they reach the brain quickly and produce a “rush,” or surge of euphoria, immediately. The effects of amphetamines are often different from person to person. Amphetamines can make people: alert, confident and energetic.
If you experience anxiety
If you have a form of anxiety or phobia, an antidepressant could help you feel calmer and more able to deal with other problems. It could also help you feel more able to benefit from other anxiety treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Sertraline boosts Serotonin levels, thereby making you feel confident, happy, and energized.
When you're benefiting from antidepressants, you should feel: A mood that is less depressed, less irritable, happier, and more content.
They also report they can let go of negative thought patterns more easily and they feel less haunted by past traumatic events. People taking antidepressants may have more energy, may sleep better and may concentrate better. Antidepressants are also effective for reducing panic attacks, general worries, and anxiety.
Some antidepressants can also cause feelings of agitation, restlessness and detachment. These feelings may resemble symptoms of anxiety and may add to, rather than relieve, feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some people may become suicidal or violent.
The main use for antidepressants is treating clinical depression in adults. They're also used for other mental health conditions and treatment of long-term pain. In most cases, adults with moderate to severe depression are given antidepressants as a first form of treatment.
You may be tempted to stop taking antidepressants as soon as your symptoms ease, but depression can return if you quit too soon. Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants.
Medications that doctors currently use to treat depression do not improve brain fog symptoms and can actually make them worse. Research into new ways to treat these symptoms is still ongoing, but some at-home tricks may help reduce them or make them more manageable.
For example, antidepressant drugs primarily target the monoamine neurotransmitters (i.e. serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in an attempt to increase the presence of these monoamine neurotransmitters in the synaptic space to activate postsynaptic receptors.
Antidepressants are medications commonly prescribed to treat depression and related conditions. While they primarily work to improve your mood, some antidepressants can also have an energizing effect. These medications can boost your overall energy levels and help you regain your zest for life.