So You’ve Been Offered Antidepressants, but You Don’t Think You’re Depressed. What Now?

I remember sitting there, hearing the words:

"I think we should try antidepressants."

And honestly? It felt like a punch in the gut.

I smiled and nodded because… well, that’s what we do, right? But inside, I was thinking, Wait - me? Depressed? That didn’t feel right.

I walked out of that office with the prescription crumpled in my hand, sat in my car, and just stared at it. I felt so confused. So heavy. Like, how the hell did I end up here?

Sure, I’d been feeling off. Crying at random things, snapping at people for no reason, feeling so tired even after a full night’s sleep. But depressed? I wasn’t so sure.

And maybe you’re feeling the same right now. If you’re somewhere in this crazy stage of life—perimenopause—and everything feels upside down, I just want you to know: You’re not the only one.

The Unspoken Realities of Perimenopause

It wasn’t until I started really looking into it that I realized: this is what perimenopause can look like. Hormones swinging all over the place. Mood all over the place. Brain fog so thick you forget why you walked into the room.

But no one tells you this. We get handed a script for antidepressants, like that’s the fix. And maybe for some women it is—and that’s totally valid.

But deep down, I just knew this wasn’t the full story for me.

Listening to That Inner Voice

You know that quiet voice inside you? The one that whispers, “Hang on, there’s something else going on here”? That voice got louder and louder until I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I wasn’t trying to prove my doctor wrong. I just needed to figure out if there was another way. Because something in my body was out of balance, and I wanted to get to the root of it - not just put a band-aid over it.

Maybe you’re feeling that too. Maybe you’ve been handed that script and something inside you is saying, “Is this really what I need?” If that’s you - I get it. I’ve been right there.

What Helped Me (And Might Help You Too)

Here’s what I did, in the simplest way: I started paying attention to my body like I never had before.

I changed the way I nourished myself - not just with food but with proper sleep (not the 5-hours-and-hope-for-the-best kind), movement that felt gentle but strong, and deep rest when I needed it. I learned about the nutrients my body was desperate for in this phase. I connected with other women - real conversations, no sugar-coating - and that alone was like therapy.

And little by little, things started to shift.

Trusting Yourself

If I can share one thing with you, it’s this: Trust your gut.

If something doesn’t sit right - if that prescription doesn’t feel like your answer—it’s okay to pause. Ask questions. Explore. Look at options like hormone therapy, supplements, changing up your routine.

And if you do decide that medication is right for you? That’s okay too. This is about you feeling empowered, not boxed in.

You Are Not Broken

Perimenopause is bloody wild. It shakes up your body, your mind, your emotions—everything.

But you are not broken. You are changing. Evolving. And yeah, it’s uncomfortable and messy sometimes, but it doesn’t mean you’ve lost yourself.

So if today, all you can do is say, “I’m not okay, but I’m figuring it out” - that’s enough.

You’ve got this. And if you need someone to say, “I see you, I get it” - I’m right here.

If this hit home for you, drop me a comment - let’s talk about it. You don’t have to go through this alone.