The anti-depressants in general act as a safety net to stop you cratering while you go through the other therapy based treatments. They are just one part of the

The anti-depressants in general act as a safety net to stop you cratering while you go through the other therapy based treatments. They are just one part of the holistic solution to depression and anxiety (therapy, dietary changes, exercise and mindfulness being other parts). Sadly too many doctor prescribe them as a cure without the additional steps needed to actually treat the underlying condition and help the patient make a recovery. Also insurance companies generally aren't willing to pay or will only pay for a certain number of sessions which doesn't help the situation. That said there are a number of doctors that are starting to take a more holistic approach to the treatment of anxiety and depression so hopefully things will change.