Like a lot of people, I started meds when I literally was barely functioning anymore. I wasn't doing much of anything. Just sleeping and barely eating. I didn't leave the house almost at all and it just got worse and worse so eventually I realized it was either medication or death. And so I chose to give medication a chance. It got me at least functioning and I worked through therapy to stop negative thought patterns and etc although the meds definitely helped stop the bad thoughts too. And then I bumped up the dosage for school and tasted happiness for the first time in a quite a while. I woke up and wasn't tired. I was in a good mood all day. I wanted to skip and prance in the streets. It was lovely.

I don't believe medication is the answer all the time but I do believe they can really give you a boost when you need it. Yes they alter your brain but maybe that's a good thing. Maybe your body isn't making enough seratonin right now and you need it. So with meds you get back to a normal state of mind. Eventually you can ween yourself off of it but if you need it, then you need it. Living through chemistry is much better than not living at all.

I'm currently taking Zoloft (an SSRI drug that uses sertraline) and am contemplating switching over to Bupropion (it's more active for more energy and etc. Targets dopamine more). Usually, the doctor will ask your medical history and recommend what's best. Generally the best thing is to ask lots of questions about potential side effects and the worst side effects that happen in people. Ask how long it's been used for and how many people it's treated. Etc.

Best of luck and keep us updated!