To medicate?

You've just been prescribed medication for depression (or anxiety), now what?

The decision to start medication for a mental health condition is often difficult. For a long time, I viewed it as the ultimate failure, and resisted it for as long as I could. I'd heard of cases of addiction, of extreme side effects, of withdrawal symptoms. And above all, I couldn’t deny the stigma (a lot of it self-imposed). It felt almost as if I had to wear crutches, that my body wasn't enough on its own. I felt it made me look weak.

But here's the thing: if you have diabetes, you wouldn't say no to insulin, would you?

The point is, we should take care of our body, brain included, because we love it. Not because we hate it or think it's not enough.

Everyone's story is different, as is the decision whether or not to go ahead with the treatment.

First, talk to a licensed professional. Often, effective therapy consists of a mix of meds and counselling/psychological support. You may find that you only need counselling, or CBT or some other kind of support, mindfulness exercises or alternatives to medication.
If indeed you can't avoid medication, share your fears (of stigma, addiction and so on) with your therapist. Many professionals understand this is a hard decision to make, and that you need all the information and the support you can get, including telling you how long the treatment would last. Most fears stem from the idea that it's a life-long treatment, but sometimes a 3-month course is all you need to get back on track!
Make sure you have a support system, especially during the first and last weeks of medication, where the side effects are much worse. This includes a professional, as well as friends/family. A professional can also guide you on how to mitigate the side effects, and the lifestyle changes that you need to make (like getting more sleep), or if you need to change medication if the side effects are too much. No professional worth their salt will let you undertake this process, or getting off meds, alone. I wouldn't start medication in Addis Ababa where I don't have access to support and adequate healthcare, for example.
Ultimately it's about you. You're on a healing path, don't add the extra stress of being hard on yourself. Often the stigma is self-imposed.