Some years back I got SSRIs for half a year. Long story short, it wasn't a success. The longer version: I flat lined completely emotionally, and couldn't draw or be creative that half year. When I started to feel that I couldn't be happy anymore, I stopped taking them (Someone, somewhere hadn't told teenage me that going cold turkey on SSRIs was a bad idea) And I didn't have any emotions half a year after. Like I knew what I was supposed to feel, but it didn't "register" so to speak. It triggered a lot of angxiety I'm still struggling with years down the line (Or it was always there, but since everything else was blocked out I first noticed it there). So in general not a dream scenario.
But I'm trying again. Depression is knocking on my door yet again, and literally yesterday I started on SNRIs. I had a long talk with my doctor and she understood my concers from last time, so now we are trying a new brand. I hope this time goes better,
Even though my story sound like a worst case scenario, it's worth remembering it was almost ten years ago. Medicine has developed a lot since then, and there are many different brands, and it's very individually how they affect people. You need to find the one that fits you, and that can take some trial and error. Also worth noting there are three different groups of antidepressants, SSRI, SNRI, and a third I don't know the name of (My doctor mentioned it) That affect the brain differently. So I think it's worth trying.
Also a thing that really helped me, was figuring out which nerutransmitters I have trouble with. There are theere different kinds: Serotonin, dopamin and noradrenalin.
Serotonin is like your mental shield, it's what makes you able to have a distance between you and others so to speak. Makes you able to shrug things off.
Dopamin is the pleasure drug. when you feel good and rewarded, this is what is released in the brain.
Noradrenalin I'm a bit shaky on. It is created when you get stressed, after adrenalin. as far as I know it's not good to have too much of this, but it also plays a role in focus and concentration.
(Please check up on these facts yourself I'm a bit rusty)
In general, finding out what your brain is missing can be a help. Was for me.
Good luck to you all, and hope you will get better
EDIT: About sideeffects, first time around I was very hyper the first week, but other than that I can't remember anything. This time araound (Mind I've only been taking them for two days, side effects can last a week) I'm very dizzy and nauseaus, and dry mouthed, which is all in the normal of side effects. I can give an update after the first week is over.