I'm Still Human: Understanding Depression With Kindness (Expanded Edition - 2021)

Before you stop your antidepressant, it’s important that you
strengthen your non-medication methods (e.g. changing pessimistic
attitude and passive lifestyle) to cope with depression. Or else, you
may easily get a relapse upon stopping the antidepressant. It’s also
not helpful trying to stop medicine during stressful periods, e.g.
working in a new company – it’s more likely to be unsuccessful.
Some may need to take antidepressants for a longer time, e.g. 3, 5
years or even life long, depending on situations, e.g. a person with
repeated suicidal attempts, several hospitalization, unresolved
stressors, and poor family support. The good news is
antidepressants are generally safe even if taken for a long period of
time, if taken correctly with monitoring.
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