Antidepressant Drugs: 10 Things You May Not Have Known, From Their Side Effects To Their Ability To Treat Other Diseases

Far too often, antidepressants are written off as pills for crazy or sad people, or simply “happy pills” that will make your day brighter. But antidepressants are more complicated than that, as they can treat a wide variety of disorders — and they affect everyone differently.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, and it often goes undiagnosed. That being said, there are an estimated 350 million people suffering from depression all over the world, according to the WHO. There are different types of depression, as well as other mental illnesses that often go hand-in-hand, like anxiety. In addition to small lifestyle changes, like increased physical activity, improved sleep hygiene and diet, and social interaction, clinical ways of treating depression most commonly include some form of psychotherapy and of course, antidepressants.

If you suffer from some form of depression and haven't tried antidepressants, don't be scared of them. Discuss them with your doctor or psychiatrist to see what the best individualized approach may be for treating your mental illness. Click on the slideshow to discover ten things about antidepressants you may not have known.