First week it made me feel like there was a very light electric current running through my body. Not unpleasant, just a bit odd. Tingly. And yawning uncontrollably for a few hours after taking them for a few weeks.

Again, not unpleasant. But I absolutely embraced them, I did not fight the effects. I was very, very glad to try medications.

Now, after like 4 or 5 years, I can clearly tell the difference between before and after - the difference is, instead of downward spiralling into a hideous pit that I couldn’t climb out of, that spiralling downwards still starts, but it stops.

Instead of falling into the pit, I can just choose not to keep going down.

Things are still upsetting and I still take things worse than other people but I dont become out-of-control spiralling downwards forever until I can’t function. I have gained the ability to shrug and go “that sucks but, whatever”.

Small, oblong, smooth but not slick. Very similar to many other pills.

Grey, faded, like everything was some distance away.

Totally not for me.

This is too broad of a question. There are many SSRIs and the people giving answers have not tried them all.

Taking SSRIs, I feel like I’m living with an anvil strapped to my back.

Before I started on them, I felt like I was wrapped around the singularity at the center of a massive black hole. Utterly, utterly crushed; reduced down to the size of something that may as well be nothing. So far past the event horizon that I couldn’t even see it anymore.

At least an anvil can be useful for smithing something practical, hearty, and if one has the skill, something artful.