I'm not sure I understand this entirely, you don't say that you need antidepressants because you look sad, do you? I guess it's more on the surface you feel like you don't need it but there's a big hole inside you...?

I don't think it is possible to solve all problems (as in past time traumas), but just the fact that you have had the feeling that you had solved them is a very good thing. I used to think I was done grieving over my father, but I had to admit that it was something I could never be done with, I could just put it aside a bit more often. I think it is with most sad things like that, it will always be sad, and it will always be one of the weights on your shoulders, but sometimes you are able to put it aside for a moment and do more important things. When you have been doing that a few times, it will be easier and easier to put it aside for longer and longer periods... but it will always be there amongst the rest of your history. It's a heavy backpack, but it's a part of you, and all in all it's also what have formed you to what you are today, in good and bad.
Then what is called "real life problems" (I couldn't think of a better term, though I don't like this one) are those that comes around on a regular basis (lack of money, problems with house, kids in a difficult age etc) and that will always come up at some point.

With all kind of problems the one important thing is how you handle them. And one of the important thing you do with a therapist is to learn how to handle difficult things in your life, how to stop negative thinking, and how to go further. For some people it is necessary with antidepressives to be able to cope... either becaus ethey have been struggling so long that they need a kick off start, or because the emotional pain is mainly hormonal/neurological/biological based, or because they could not find a good therapist, or as an addition to speed up treatment... or other possible reasons. For some even antidepressants are not good enough.

Thing is, I think it is very important that you feel yourself that you need antidepressants, and not necessarily what other people think. If you yourself feel that you don't need it, then don't do it. There's nothing wrong with using antidepressives, but there's no point in taking any form of medication unless you really feel it is necessary. If you manage to struggle out of emotional pain without medication, there's nothing that is better than that. On the other hand, it's no point in struggling and struggling and struggling because you think anti depressants wont work or is bad for you in one way or another.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do

CC