Psychiatry expert Müge Yaşar says antidepressants restore brain balance, not fake happiness

Dr. Müge Yaşar, a psychiatry lecturer at Medicana Health Group, explained that antidepressants do not provide a false sense of happiness but work to re‑establish the brain’s disrupted biochemical equilibrium, similar to how medicines treat diseases in other organs. She stressed that antidepressants are not addictive, noting that withdrawal symptoms after abrupt cessation are a physiological response, not a substance‑dependency crisis. Treatment typically lasts 6–12 months of protective therapy, after which medication can be tapered under medical supervision. Yaşar also highlighted that the most lasting recovery comes from combining medication with psychotherapy. "Antidepressants do not make you happy; they help the brain regain its balance," Yaşar said, adding that prolonged sadness affecting daily function should prompt professional help.