Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of antidepressants that increase the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. SSRIs like Lexapro, Zoloft and Prozac are the most commonly prescribed medications used to reduce symptoms from major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.  

Minneapolis resident Tanya Ngo, 18, said she started taking Zoloft to treat her depression in middle school, and it has been helpful in alleviating her symptoms.

“I definitely think that it was a good way to get me to be more motivated and be more lively,” Ngo said. “I feel like they have helped me a lot throughout the years.”

University of Minnesota first-year student Victoria Bohl said she started struggling with severe anxiety her senior year of high school. She started taking Zoloft, which helped her manage the stressors in her life.

“Ever since I started taking it I’ve been able to focus a lot more, and it’s been a lot easier to go through stressful situations,” Bohl said.

University first-year Abby Christensen said she has struggled with MDD for most of her life, but was only diagnosed when she was 16 years old and decided to receive treatment.

“I just decided enough is enough, and I want to try this because if it actually makes me feel better, then it’s going to be worth it,” Christensen said. 

Christensen said she spoke with her provider and began taking Zoloft, which has been very successful in treating her symptoms.

“It took some dose adjusting, but that’s what’s worked for me,” Christensen said. “I feel great when I’m on it, and I love it.”

I have dealt with MDD and GAD for as long as I can remember. My symptoms left me unable to focus in school, struggling to make friends and constantly on the verge of panic. I was in a state of constant mental paralysis.

When I was 11 years old, I started on Lexapro, and I have never looked back. Suddenly, I could exist in the world without worrying about the dangers lurking behind every corner and brushing my teeth no longer felt like a Sisyphean task.

But medication is complicated, and there is no miracle cure for our mental health.

Bohl said she initially dealt with side effects from her medication, like nausea and heartburn, but over time, she found ways to decrease these symptoms by changing when she took her medication and what she took it with.

Ngo said she experiences withdrawal when she takes breaks from medication.

“Sometimes I forget to order them before they run out,” Ngo said. “I feel like I can’t do anything.”

Earlier this year, I went off my Lexapro for several weeks. Like Ngo, my depression and anxiety worsened quickly. 

This withdrawal, called antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, is very common, with one study finding 15% of participants experienced symptoms when they stopped taking their medication.

Bohl said before she started on her medication, she made a mistake by obsessively researching the possible side effects of taking SSRIs without consulting her doctor.

“Don’t do what I did and go down a rabbit hole and freak yourself out,” Bohl said. “If you’re sick, talk to your psychiatrist, and they will help find a medication that’s right for you.”

With so many factors going into receiving effective mental health treatment, it can be difficult to navigate the maze of medication. This is why it’s so important that those of us on antidepressants feel comfortable sharing our experiences.

One 2024 study from the Healthy Minds Network found that 22% of college students have taken an antidepressant in the past year.  

Despite the large proportion of students taking these medications, I know very few people in my life who speak openly about being on antidepressants. This is due to the significant stigma that accompanies receiving mental health treatment. 

The same study found that 41% of students believe other people would think less of them for receiving mental health treatment. 

Christensen said some of this stigma stems from people thinking they are weak for needing medication for coping with mental health problems.

“We need to get rid of the idea that taking medication is weak,” Christensen said. “Seeking help should feel normal and proactive for everyone.”

It would be ridiculous to assert that an individual should feel weak for taking insulin when they have diabetes. Why would taking Prozac to treat depression be any different?

Mental health treatment is not a sign of weakness because mental illness is not a failure. Seeking treatment for depression is like going to the doctor for flu symptoms. It is normal and healthy to want to feel good emotionally.

“It kind of does make you feel helpless to rely on a chemical to fix the chemical imbalance in your brain,” Christensen said. “But once you actually try it and realize, like this is just what I needed, then all that goes away.”

To prepare for writing this column, I took to Snapchat to find students who would be willing to share their experiences with SSRIs. I had over 20 people respond to my inquiries. This is more than double the response I have received from any prior inquiry.

If so many students are willing to speak to a reporter about their own experiences with SSRIs, why are there still so few people I know personally who speak openly about their medications?

The number of responses I received demonstrates that students want to speak openly about their experiences with mental illness and treatment. They may just not know how to do so in their personal lives.

So, I’ll start. I take Lexapro to treat anxiety and depression. It’s not always easy, but it improves my quality of life in countless ways. I am not ashamed.

“I’m proud of myself for being medicated and trying to be the best version of myself,” Christensen said. “I don’t feel any shame for it.”