In July, Annie Murphy discussed how she was approaching her mental health. She knew there was a problem when seemingly everything was going the right way in her life, and she could not find happiness. She was unable to emerge from her depression and realized she needed help. Annie said that medication and therapy saved her life. A lot of people are still wary of antidepressants and many shy away from discussing them. Annie isn’t, though. She told HelloGiggles recently that she, “didn’t want to need antidepressants,” but now that she’s seen the difference they can make, she absolutely recommends them. Us Magazine has more.
Annie Murphy recalled doing some mental “spring cleaning” after her role as Alexis Rose on Schitt’s Creek came to an end in 2020.
After six seasons on the comedy, the Canadian actress, 34, landed the lead role of Allison McRoberts on Kevin Can F**k Himself, which premiered in June. Ahead of filming the dark comedy, Murphy remembered thinking she made a “terrible mistake,” because she wasn’t in the proper headspace to deal with reporting to work.
“When I got the part, I was not doing super well in the mental health department,” the actress told HelloGiggles on Friday, September 24. “I booked the part and they said, ‘You’re gonna be in Boston next week, No. 1 on the call sheet.’ And I genuinely was like, ‘I can’t do this. I’m not in a place where I can show up to work with a smile on my face every day’ — and then the pandemic hit, like, four days later.”
Murphy recalled in a “very selfish way” that she felt grateful to have filming put on hold amid the COVID-19 crisis, because it gave her time to focus on herself and her well-being.
“I didn’t want to need antidepressants,” she admitted, noting she now takes pills and goes to therapy to deal with her anxiety. “But I could not recommend them more. It doesn’t mean you have to be on them forever, but they truly helped me get through a very difficult chunk of my life.”
“I think that if you’re a feeling human, of course you’re anxious and of course you’re sad, [because] it’s a really scary and really wonderful world that we live in — and it’s hard to process that a lot of the time,” Murphy said. “It has been really encouraging for friends to casually say to me, ‘Time to take my anti-anxiety meds,’ because you take pills for everything else.”
I know a couple of people who felt glad like Annie did when the pandemic sent everyone home and kept them there longer than expected. They were struggling and didn’t feel like they could go back out in the world yet so when lockdown orders were extended, they were grateful as well. I hope everyone who needed it got the chance to do some mental “spring cleaning” like Annie did.
Annie did not say that there is a stigma around medication, those were my words. I think we have come a long way in the discussion of medication, but there’s still work to be done. Someone in my life went on antidepressants during the pandemic. I did not know they needed them or the extent of their suffering. Hearing now that they feel better – I can’t put that feeling to words. I echo Annie. I may not have wanted myself or those I love to need medication, but meds help. And I highly recommend them if they will improve someone’s life.
Photo credit: Getty Images, Instagram and Avalon Red
The only reason I can function is because of my medication and I feel no shame in saying it. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Indeed. I mean, we wouldn’t expect a Type 1 diabetic to just “tough it out” without insulin. For many people antidepressants are just as critical.
I feel like when people say “you may not need them forever” they are dismissing a lot of people who will always actually need meds forever. But Annie speaking out is a good step.
I’m 36 and have been on antidepressants since I was 12 (it runs in my family like WHOA, and yay chikldhood trauma). I use the diabetes/insulin metaphor all the time to get well meaning, but ignorant people off my back. Now I’ve added a stimulant medication to treat my ADHD as well (I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 21), and I feel like a much better version of myself. If I hadn’t gotten my meds adjusted well, there’s no way I’d be able to function in my career (EMS, i’m not a medic but I’m an EMT-Advanced), let alone getting through the classes and testing to get my certifications and licenses! I’m okay with being on anti-depressants, sleeping medication (severe chronic insomnia, also genetic. The medication I take is actually a mild anti-depressant!), and Vyvanse (for my ADHD) for the rest of my life. It’s amazing to go through my life not hating myself for knowing I’m not an idiot, but never being able to prove it.
Agreed. I’m considering to do the same.
This reminded me to take my meds this morning, lol. Good for Annie for speaking up. Medication for depression saved my life, too. If my brain chemicals can naturally mess themselves up, I feel no shame in correcting them.
Also, I highly recommend Kevin Can F*ck Himself.
Speaking as someone who has done both synthetics and herbal treatments– its literally not unlike any other organ in the body. It is physical, it can malfunction, it can mess up- The brain contains your thoughts and self, but the brain is separate from your self. People mistake the brains need for medication, as the self’s need for medication, but forget that the brain is a biochemically functioning organ.
The receptors may be jammed, the chemicals may not be firing. They may fire but too little. Its no different than the heart sometimes not beating right. Why not treat it?
I am all for, once possible, weaning off and trying the natural route. But in hard cases you may need a lot more than just what an herb can do.
And then it is up to you to decide, how you feel best and how you can avoid as much inconvenience or side effect as possible.
Rule #1- take care of yourself. Then the choice of therapies can be more flexible later on.
Beautifully said and very true. It’s a biochemical problem first and foremost and people need to treat it like such – like they would for any other organ.
By herbal, do you mean St. John’s Wort, vs. fluoxetine?
I really like Annie Murphy and I like what she says here.
Regarding medication, I do think we’ve come a long way, although there’s def room to grow. I saw somewhere (poss on Tumblr) “if you can’t make your own neurotransmitters, then store-bought is just fine” and I loved it! For me personally, the concern regarding medication is how much can go wrong while trying to sort out the right type/dose for you. But I’m glad for all the people who are open about their own mental health struggles. I think it helps us to feel less alone.
I thought we had come a long way on this conversation too. But then I heard my college-age niece say to another relative “antidepressants are for people that want the easy way out.” I work in the field of mental health care & research and was floored to hear that. I waited till I could speak to her alone later to explain to her what she said is not true and could be harmful to someone with a mental illness. My hope is that our conversation changed her mind about this issue.
How brave and inspiring! Let’s do what we can to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles.
I finally went back to therapy after a 2 year break when my therapist moved. It’s so hard but I realize I need it. Am thankful more and more people are speaking up about therapy and medication. I used to be so embarrassed that something was wrong with me/my brain that I needed therapy and meds from a young age, it’s been so freeing to know that there are others like me too.. Best decision I ever made was focusing on my mental health. It’s a work in progress but I keep working at it.
I love Annie Murphy and am so thankful she and many like her, celebs and regular people, posters here are being open about this. Makes it a little easier.
I been on meds ( antidepressants) for two years now….and also do weekly talk therapy for my anxiety. I am feeling in a good place now to stop my meds and I am slowly tapering off. Meds saved my life. Anxiety is crippling, scary and very isolating. I’m glad that meds exist and help me through a very dark period. I understand that many people might feel ashamed, I know I did at the beginning but I overcame the shame and focused in my mental health and what I needed.
They’ve saved my life on countless occasions, so grateful they exist. There is no shame in taking medication, whether it’s for a physical or mental condition.
I feel similar, didn’t want to need them but did. I was brainwashed with all the new age spiritual mumbo jumbo from people seeking to prey on others who are not feeling good about themselves.
My happiness or lack of affects my whole family.
I thought i needed to try every natural remedy, plant, meditation, ritual… first. But I missed years of my life because of that self imposed limitation.
I’ve suffered from anxiety all my life. When I went back to work after the Covid shutdown, the anxiety ramped up to panic attacks. It was so severe I could hardly function. My doctor said it was like my body had gotten stuck in fight or flight mode.
I started taking an SSRI. It took awhile to find the right medication and dosage, but I’m so much better now. I feel very grateful for this medication and am sad that there is such a stigma around it. I fought against taking it, and now see how I was white knuckling through life.
I know I need them but don’t know how to find them or get the right type. Basically where to start.
You should tell your doctor you need them, and why. I was lucky enough to be prescribed the one that was right for me right off the bat, which doesn’t always happen.
In my opinion, it has been completely worth it. I went through a bad time with my family, and I wasn’t able to stop thinking about it or being depressed. But anti-depressants help me in every facet of my life. I am able to stay calm and reasonable, and just generally think more clearly.
Good luck, I hope they work for you, too.
Good for you for recognizing it and wanting to improve your life ! I’ve worked in healthcare for many years , and many of my nurse friends are on anti depressants or anti anxiety meds, including myself. Make an appointment with your primary care doctors office to discuss and find the right medication for you. I knew I needed them when I started struggling with every day tasks, crying on my way home from the grocery store. It wasn’t normal, i didn’t want to need them, but I’ve made huge progress with that and talk therapy combined. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you can go to urgent care. There’s no shame in this, you’re strong and brave for asking for help and finding healthy tools.
If you have any siblings and they have been on meds, you may want to try what they are taking. That is how I found mine. My sister was on it, and it worked for her. Saved me the guessing game. I hope you find what works for you quickly. xoxoxox
Don’t be discouraged if the first antidepressant doesn’t work. Or the second or third one, either. It takes a while to find the right one, and you have to give it about 6 weeks before you may see improvement. It’s a journey. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find what works for you. If you have a primary care doctor, you can start with her/him. Years ago, my gynocologist, who knew me well enough, prescribed one that I took for about 3 years before weaning off.
@Mrs Robinson, As a psychologist that works with MDs, I recommend asking your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist to have them work with you on finding the right meds. General practitioners & internists don’t specialize in this area and may not be as up-to-date on research and medication options. Once you have a medication that is working well for you for a while (say a year or more), then you could ask your primary care doc to prescribe it. And PSL’s suggestion to consider starting with a medication that has worked for a family member is a good suggestion if you have that option. I wish you well & hope you can get the help you need very soon!
ETA: If you are in a mental health crisis and need meds ASAP, you can go to an ER. There is a psychiatrist or psych nurse on staff at any ER. And the SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
“SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.”
Can I just say how much I love this community. People here are so kind and caring for each other, it’s a wonderful thing to see.
Good luck getting what you need @Mrs Robinson.
Just start with your PCP, Mrs. Robinson. You can also find providers online. Good luck and don’t stop trying!
I have been on anti-depressants for 26 years. I’d be dead without them.
Going to antidepressants and anti anxiety meds was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I sometimes get upset over my weight gain (not a lot but it’s noticeable) but I’d rather be mentally healthier than a stick 🤷
Longtime Prozac user here: i STILL hear people talking as if you get high on antidepressants. It doesn’t work that way. The drug fills in a missing part in your brain chemistry. If that part isn’t lacking, the drug has zero effect.
I’ve been on the generic (fluoxetine) since 2005, and I can honestly say I would not have the life I have without it. I’ve tested going off a couple of times and all the old irritable misery comes right back. Antidepressants save lives and you can take mine out of my cold, dead hands.
Agree with above posters, it’s not a one size fits all approach. I used to sell a famous SSRI and one of the things we talked about to providers is the two types of depression: intrinsic (meaning, brain chemistry not working right at the time) and extrinsic (external causes like death of loved one, illness, pandemic, basically our lives in the last two years). They are not mutually exclusive nor permanent necessarily. It’s all relative, just don’t compare yourself to others and more importantly, don’t listen to people who are uneducated about your options. My father spent his entire life self-medicating with other substances because of the stigma he believed was on mood meds. He was a very unhappy man his entire life.
Anti-depressants saved my life. There is no other way around it, I would not be here if I hadn’t told a doctor what I was experiencing and asked for medication. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done (why is there still so much shame around needing help?) but I am so proud of myself and everyone else who takes that step to get what they need to live. When I encounter people in my life who think anti-depressants are the “easy” way out or that people shouldn’t “be on them forever” I tell them straight up that I would be dead if it weren’t for anti-depressants. Usually shuts them right up, and hopefully makes them think about what they’re saying and why they believe that.
It’s funny how this article was released today as I had a doctor’s appointment to discuss mental health. We did some blood work (mostly to make sure there’s not anything else going on that might need additional treatment) and then I brought up the fact that I’ve been considering going on antidepressants because I feel stuck on this neverending rollercoaster that seems to go more down than straight ahead or up.
So I’m going back in two weeks to see what the tests show and then to look into what kind we might decide to try.
I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty scared. I’m mostly scared that they’ll somehow make it worse or make me feel even more down. I’m also a little worried about any weight gain (I realise that’s not the main thing I should be worried about, but depression has made me feel very self aware and self-conscious and I don’t want to trigger something in me) but mostly about my sex drive. I realize that sounds odd, but with most birth controls I’ve tried that’s been a real issue and my life is so much better when that’s doing good (and this isn’t about a partner, I’m currently single and not looking to change that, but, I enjoy my quality one on one time with myself if you get what I mean).
I’ll obviously bring all of this up with my doctor, but I’m currently a ball of worry and overthinking.
Hallelujah! I co-sign so much of what’s already been reported in this thread. For me, as well, hearing people talk openly & unashamedly about how helpful medication was for them – finally convinced me to try it for my own anxiety & depression. So, Ragna, yes! Definitely explore this possibility, if it seems like it could be appropriate, once all your test results come back. Various meds operate slightly differently, and affect folks somewhat differently. With any luck, when you consult a trained medication manager (psychiatrist or PMHNP), they can start you on something that seems like it could be a good fit (…so you don’t have to try EVERYTHING, before you find the best one!). And, of course, it’s non-binding. If you’re not happy with the effects, you can stop (or, taper off). I’ve been on a relatively low/moderate SSRI dose for 6 years, and it has really helped me (along with therapy, at times) to manage my thoughts & feelings – and to keep them from completely overwhelming me. …I should note, the SSRI didn’t cause any weight issues for me, but it DID reduce my libido (somewhat) for a while. However, that also bounced back eventually, I am happy to report. Take care & good luck!
Good on you for taking that step. As many have said above, that first step is the hardest one.
And those things can be potential side effects, but they also might not be for you. If you can reframe it, try to imagine all the great possible outcomes instead of the negative ones. You might have more energy. You might feel like reconnecting with friends again. You might find new joy in something you had missed before. et cetera.
I am literally giving myself that pep talk because I need to do it as well. I am in the same position as you. Sending much love. x
I just want to thank all you CBers who have come forth with your own personal stories. Mr. Jaded’s ex-wife suffers from BPD and vulnerable narcissism, but refuses to get treatment for it – she blames everyone else for her roller-coaster emotions, poor impulse control, tantrums, suicidal ideation, etc. I only wish she could read this post and understand that medication and therapy isn’t taking the easy way out, nor is it anything to be embarrassed about.
Except no one talks about what it’s like coming off off those medications. It’s a nightmare , it’s hard and it’s chaotic and it screws with your body and mental health and emotions. it’s not something to be taken lightly at all and used as a very very last resort when yoga and meditation and all else fails.
Yoga and meditation are not cures for serious issues such as bi-polar disorder, OCD, depression and anxiety/panic attacks. Research has shown that changes in certain areas of the brain involved in emotion regulation, impulsivity, depression, anxiety and addiction can cause a number of psychological disorders. These areas of the brain include the amygdala, which plays an important role in regulating emotions, especially the more “negative” emotions such as fear, anger and anxiety; the hippocampus, which helps regulate behaviour and self-control; and the orbitofrontal cortex, which is involved in planning and decision-making. In addition, certain brain chemicals that help regulate mood such as serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins may not be produced at high enough levels to help mitigate sudden and severe emotional ups and downs.
Of course doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists will discuss options for their patients to wean off medications, but I’ve known enough people who thought they could handle their psychological illnesses themselves who ended up in hospital or dead.
Co-signed, Jaded. And thank you!
A friend in university spent three months struggling, doing everything they suggest to get yourself out of a funk — eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep — and finally she went to the doctor and got put on antidepressants.
Two weeks later, she felt completely fine again. Obviously, not everyone responds to treatment that well, but she said afterward that she was so mad she let the stigma keep her away from treatment for so long. If she’d known it would be that easy, she would have gone in immediately.
She also started encouraging people to always talk to a doctor if they’re not feeling good, regardless of whether it’s mental of physical. Screw the stigma; talk to someone.