I'll give another perspective. While my therapist did not recommend antidepressants to me, I went to a psychiatrist for a second opinion. At that point I knew that I was at my absolute lowest point.

It had been two months of not being able to sleep more than 4 hours a day and falling asleep after 7am each day. Moving back into my parents house, no job, no future, and most of all not my partner anymore. My meds helped me get some form of life back literally.

I still cannot fall asleep without medication one and a half years after my wifes death. I have reduced the dosage so much that I have no side effects anymore (only a fourth of the recommended low dose). I have a job now that I really like and that keeps me occupied and structures my day. I can get through the week without daylie panic attacks again. And most importantly, I can sleep. When I could sleep again, everything else got better too.

I am absolutely pro medication, but of course it has to be supervised. I tried 4 other meds before I found one that works for me. Just simply taking xanax or whatever else is not the answer.

Just wanted to give my view on it here. Everything is good in moderation. Downright opposing meds without trying them for a while can also have negative outcomes. Some people cannot survive without them, some can. We don't know until we try