My boyfriend wants me to stop taking anti-depressants
I have had on and off depression since I was a teenager. I have always been resistant to try anti-depressants because I felt like I could cure myself naturally - like through diet, exercise, positive thinking, etc. There were periods in my life when I wasn't depressed but when I was, nothing helped. The only thing that remotely helped was therapy and even that wasn't enough to completely cure it.
Finally last year after becoming severely depressed to the point where I had a breakdown, I finally gave in and tried medication. Within a month I started feeling better. It has helped a great deal and I don't even need therapy anymore. I still have some bad days occassionally but nothing like before. However, my boyfriend (who I started recently dating) is concerned about the affects of taking anti-depressants long term and wants me to eventually stop taking them. He thinks I can get better with the right support and finding ways to make myself happy. But I am terrified of having a relapse if I stop. I really don't want to go through that again because I made so much progress. Please advise me on what I should do.
@roxychick94706
Hey, roxy! 
It sounds like you have tried a lot of different ways to treat your depression, but medication was one of the best treatment plans for you. Do you agree with your boyfriend that, if you were to find the "right support and find ways to make yourself happy" then that would treat your depression? The problem is, there are many ways to treat depression BUT, I don't believe that depression is always manageable exclusively through support systems or finding ways of making one self happy (which sadly is a very common misconception). It certainly can and is a vital part of treatment but in many situations, depression needs to be treated with medication due to a chemical imbalance.
It sounds like you have tried other ways of treatment, so medication was a last resort for you. The good news was that it worked, but convincing someone who does not understand the complexities of depression can be difficult. Do you think explaining to your boyfriend how you have tried other ways to treat your depression, could help him realize that medication was and is the best course of action for you? If he understands supportive love ones are essential for recovery, I hope that he can understand that acceptance of what makes you feel better is more important than stopping medication that has helped you feel better, regardless of any side effects.
Good luck and take care! 
@roxychick94706 You can let your boyfriend know that while you understand his concerns, the only people who will be making decisions about your medications are you & your doctor(s). Perhaps you can use the diabetes comparison, letting your boyfriend know that if he was diabetic you wouldn't ask him to stop taking his medication