There are lots of ADs that aren't SSRIs. SSRIs were so awful for me that it is somewhat traumatic to remember them. SNRIs were better but eventually led to problems after several years (blood pressure issues which is very weird and I'm still not sure the SNRIs were the problem but it happened on several so I had to stop). Tricyclics were better but my dose had to increase over the years and I eventually hit the line between what I needed for depression and what made me manic. That led me to MAOIs which are last-resort but very effective and I've been on one for nearly 6 years now and it has worked well. I've still had depressions, one quite severe, but it controls it and has treated the depressions well without wearing out. So even if you get to the last resort with ADs the truth is the last resort is very effective, just some drs don't like them because of food and drug interactions. Their reputation is worse than they really are though. I love mine and wish I'd been on it several years sooner.