The Paradox of Antidepressants: A Writer’s Struggle

What do we do when feeling positive becomes the mundane?

Photo by Kyle Cleveland on Unsplash

In the midst of a global pandemic, mental health became an increasingly prominent concern for many individuals. As the world grappled with uncertainty and isolation, the use of antidepressants surged as a means to cope with unprecedented challenges. For me, like countless others, the decision to start antidepressants was a lifeline during the tumultuous times of the pandemic. However, as the fog of depression lifted, an unexpected consequence emerged — my once fervent desire to write had dwindled into nothingness.

The decision to embark on antidepressants was not taken lightly. The overwhelming weight of anxiety and the relentless grip of depression made it difficult to perform even the most basic tasks such as washing my clothes or cleaning the house. Like so many, my work also suffered as schools began to close their doors, and those students who continued online lessons certainly did not receive the best of me. Faced with relentless waves of uncertainty, I sought refuge in antidepressants, hoping to find respite from the emotional turmoil that seemed to echo the state of the world at that time.

Antidepressants proved to be a lifeline. Gradually, the little magic pills brought a semblance of normalcy back into…