Hi @tant,

thanks for sharing your story with us. It's good that you have a positive attitude towards your treatment for depression, which is your case includes taking medication. 

I think it was very misguided of your ex partner to try and get you to stop taking your meds. People who care about us say things that they believe are in our best interests, but sadly, they are ignorant of the facts. I think you should only ever try to come off medication under direct medical supervision. And this must happen at a time when you are very motivated to do it.

Medication for depression helps most people who suffer from this terrible disease. It helped me immensely.  However, I have had a different experience to you....

Even though my G.P. told me that I would have to take antidepressants for life, I was not convinced. I decided to tentatively try and reduce and then cease my medication at a time in my life when I felt very happy and everything was going very well for me. It was crucial that I tried this while my life was stable and happy. I would not have tried it while things were in a mess.

Happily, I was able to get off my meds without too many side-effects and now I mainly feel better than I ever have. I am not saying it has been easy, only that in my case I believe it was for the best. I also underwent around 10 years of counselling for depression and anxiety which I believe was essential.

I don't think I am cured. I still have some anxiety. I would be very happy to pop benzodiazepines on an occasional basis for my anxiety, but doctors seem to be dead set against this for some reason!  Go figure!

@tant, if the medication suits you and you are living a good, stable and productive life, then by all means - stay on it. Many, many people do just that. There is nothing wrong with it. 

As for the stigma associated with MI; yes, I have experienced this too. I absolutely never tell people about my experiences with anxiety and depression, through fear of being discriminated against. I often feel that this is such a pity, because it is a very interesting story and and I secretly even believe that it makes me a more interesting, deeper, more well-rounded person. Not that I would wish it on anyone. 

I had an experience a few years ago where I did tell a cousin of mine all about my depression, as we were having a very deep and sincere conversation. Her reaction was....... nothing. It's like she couldn't or didn't want to accept what I told her..... it was very strange. She sort of ignored my disclosure and changed the subject!!