Can antidepressants, designed to treat depression and anxiety, really change who we are?
- The goal of antidepressants is to influence mood and behavior regulation to help the person get better.
- So when a person begins to regain pleasure in their usual activities or shows a better acceptance of daily challenges, this usually indicates that the treatment is working and not that their personality is changing.
- However, distinguishing between the expected effects of antidepressants on psychological and emotional functioning, and the functioning of one’s personality, is not easy to do. Talking to a psychologist can help.
Personality is a unique combination of traits and behaviors that define how we think, feel, and act. When taking antidepressant medication to treat psychological disorders, some people, and their loved ones, may experience changes in their behavior, but is this really a change in personality?
Understanding the effect of antidepressants
Antidepressants are thought to act on the brain by adjusting the levels of certain messengers between neurons (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin for example. Their goal is to influence the regulation of mood and behavior to help the person feel better.
While in theory these drugs are designed to help restore chemical balance that has been disrupted by the disease, in practice some people may experience changes in their emotional responsiveness or energy levels, which can be perceived as a change in their personality.
Distinguishing between expected effects and personality changes
Because antidepressants correct chemical imbalances in the brain, they typically result in improved mood, focus, and energy. These changes can include increased motivation, reduced anxiety, and better stress management, which can feel like a personality shift.
These changes are actually manifestations of a return to healthier functioning, not changes in the personality itself, which they cannot change. Thus, when a person begins to regain pleasure in their usual activities or shows a better acceptance of daily challenges, this generally indicates that the treatment is effective, not that their personality is altered.
Talking about it with your shrink
Distinguishing between the expected effects of antidepressants on psychological and emotional functioning, and the functioning of one’s personality, is not easy to do. This is why it is essential to regularly discuss one’s feelings with one’s health professional: psychologist, psychiatrist or doctor.
Antidepressants are tools to relieve suffering, not personality change agents. Talking about them can help prevent misunderstandings and adjust treatment if necessary.
Learn more: “Antidepressants, anxiolytics, sleeping pills” by Eric Charles.
