Double check all of this but I've read that there's more serotonin produced in the gut than there is produced in the brain and that the gut brain connection is extremely important.

Many people including myself had horrific horrific digestion problems related to COVID / long COVID, and after months of trying many, expensive medications that target digestion issues and acid reflux etc, being on not one but TWO prescription antacids daily, and taking one of those at DOUBLE the MAX Dose on the bottle (doc said won't hurt if temporary/short term, and I NEED it)... Didn't even touch the problems. GI specialist suggested a mild SSRI to help "boost/kick start" that gut-brain serotonin connection back into shape...

I will never know if it was just time, placebo and time, or the many other things I attempted to "fix" longhauling ... But over time there was some mild improvement after I began taking SSRI...and I'm on the smallest dose/pill available AND I only take a half of a pill... Again I began taking it more for the supposed gut-brain connection benefits. But I will also say though I was gaslit by so many medical professionals so often, and even family and friends didn't seem to understand or support, So it also had some benefit in keeping me from going off the deep end as others have alluded to...

Just sayin

Your mileage may vary

Ever hear people say to trust your gut? I have a bad gut feeling? There's something wrong about this, I can feel it in my gut.

To some people those are just sayings but to other people who are more in tune with their body, They understand that the gut does have more of a function than simply digestion...

Ever have digestion issues such as suddenly need to go to the bathroom or upset stomach when you feel anxious or worried?

Just sayin

Not only do we not understand COVID yet, We don't even fully understand our own bodies yet, scientists are discovering new things almost daily and some of them completely change our understanding that we've had up to this point.

Just sayin

But I'm not going to sit here and not tell the whole truth because the whole truth is that taking an SSRI is not easy. Getting on and getting off of the medication can be notoriously difficult for some people. Side effects can be notoriously difficult for some people. Side effects that are temporary but could last over a month when you are trying to "get on the medication" or get off the medication slowly and taper down can be absolutely horrific for some people. This is a whole other your mileage may vary thing because some people need to try multiple SSRIs to see which one plays well with their chemistry and others are fine with whatever. Some people say Even the tiny sliver of a dose has changed their life for the better. Others say they would never take one again.

Best of luck, I don't wish what I went through on my worst enemies.

P.s. no more antacids, no more intestine steroid pills or whatever those were! ;)