Original wording (Cantonese): "你一食葯就会食到老嘅啦“ (Once you start, you will need to continue till you get old (aka: till your death))
Oh okay mom… “唔食藥而家死咗就唔使到老囉” (If I don’t get medicated, I die now and no need to get old) (didn’t actually say it, but really want to)
This culture is gonna kill me 😭
I’m not an expert, just a depressed person myself. I guess you already know that what your mother tells you is wrong, but just in case here’s what my doctor told me:
The point of antidepressants is to get your messed up brain chemistry going again and to a level where you can start with other therapy methods. Basically get you in a position where you can work on your problems. Once you are getting better and you start being able to think more clearly again (for lack of a better term), you should eventually phase them out.
Depends on the person and the meds. So that’s not true for everyone. Some bipolar people, for example, are in meds for life and need minimal therapy. Some people are on meds for vwrys Hort periods and therapy is the big part. Some, the meds allow a level of functioning that allows lifestyle changes that allows them to not need meds or therapy.
However, in each case, it can be trial and error. You need proper diagnosis, and a food for with therapist and meds. Sometimes that needs shuffling a lot, which can make the journey difficult and slow, making it seem neverending or hopeless. Of course feelings of hopelessness are one of the side effects of mental illnesses and also many meds.