The short answer is no, antidepressants are not addictive. Withdrawal symptoms can occur with many medications that are not addictive, for example corticosteroids, when used long term.

It’s important to speak with a doctor before stopping them to avoid any unpleasant side effects.

If taken for longer than 6 weeks, antidepressants have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms when they are stopped or reduced quickly. As a result, many people believe that antidepressants are addictive. However, this is not the case because tolerance, cravings and loss of control do not occur with antidepressant drugs. For these reasons, antidepressants are not addictive in the same way that alcohol and nicotine are.

Withdrawal symptoms are more likely to occur when people take antidepressants for a long period of time. However, the types of withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the specific antidepressant drug being taken. Withdrawal symptoms usually start one or two days after coming off antidepressants, and usually resolve within a week without any additional treatment. Occasionally, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and persist for weeks. It is unclear how often this occurs, but it the exception not the norm.

In most cases, coming off antidepressants can be done successfully with professional support and by gradually reducing the dosage over an extended period of time. The recommended period for antidepressant dose reduction is at least four weeks. In all cases, it is recommended that the process is guided by a doctor or appropriate health professional.

This is FAKE.

The popping sound when cracking a knuckle is caused by tiny bubbles of gas; When you crack your knuckles, you pull the joint apart. This reduces the pressure in the synovial fluid that surrounds the joints. The lower pressure allows bubbles to form. When the joint is returned to its normal size, the pressure increases again, and the bubbles pop.

It is reasonable to think that knuckle cracking will lead to arthritis – repeated pushing and stretching of the joints can be painful and affect joint function. But to date, no studies have observed a connection between cracking knuckles and arthritis.

However, even though knuckle cracking doesn't cause arthritis, there's still good reason to let go of the habit. Knuckle cracking can create swelling and a reduced grip strength. Swelling may not cause pain, but it can be uncomfortable. There is also a risk of injury: pushing and stretching knuckles may lead to pain, swelling, immobility of the joint, and in extreme cases, dislocations.

This is FAKE.

Breast feeding is still very much safe and possible if you have mastitis. Mastitis is inflammation of the breast that can be caused by blocked milk ducts (non-infective mastitis) or a bacterial infection (infective mastitis). If a blocked milk duct is not cleared, flu-like symptoms may develop such as fever, body aches and pains.

Treatment for mastitis includes continuing to breastfeed and/or express to drain the breast. It is important to continue breastfeeding or expressing from both breasts. Breastmilk is still safe for your baby even if you have mastitis.

Other things you can do to manage mastitis include: gently massaging the breast towards the nipple when breastfeeding or expressing; applying a warm cloth or heat pack on the affected before feeding or expressing; applying a cold pack after breastfeeding or expressing to reduce the inflammation and pain; varying the feeding position; and if there is a bacterial infection, undertaking antibiotic treatment.

If you think you have mastitis, see your doctor as soon as possible. Mastitis which is left untreated may become a breast abscess. An abscess is a large lump filled with pus from the mastitis infection. If you are diagnosed with a breast abscess you could have the abscess surgically drained in hospital or your doctor may treat you out of hospital, draining the infected fluid from the abscess over several days using a syringe.

Even though the abscess has been treated, your breast must still be kept as empty as possible by breastfeeding or by expressing. By draining the abscess, undertaking antibiotic treatment, and carefully but thoroughly breastfeeding and/or expressing, your breast will begin to heal.

This is FAKE.

In most cases, yes, mothers who have had breast or nipple surgery are able to breastfeed in some way. Some mothers will be able to fully breastfeed, others may need to partially breastfeed (i.e., with some topping up) or breastfeed with the help of medicines to boost supply depending on the situation. It will be difficult to know which group you fall into until your baby is born and you begin the process of breastfeeding.

The type of surgery you have had will likely impact on how fully you are able to breastfeed. The follow information is from the Australian Breastfeeding Association:

• Breast reduction surgery is more likely to cause milk supply problems than breast augmentation surgery. This is particularly so if your nipple was moved to a new position during the surgery. This will have disrupted the nerve supply to the nipple and areola.
• It also depends on how much the surgery disrupted the milk glands and milk ducts. However, nerves can regrow, although slowly, and glandular tissue can develop during pregnancy.
• If you had breast augmentation because you didn't have enough breast tissue, then this may also mean you have problems with milk supply. This is particularly so if nerves and milk ducts were cut during surgery.
• If you have had a mastectomy, or a partial mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast cancer, you are able to breastfeed from the other breast. Some mothers who have had radiotherapy after a partial mastectomy may be able to partially breastfeed on the affected side as well.

If you are pregnant and have had breast surgery in the past, speak to your doctor or to a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant about the best course of action for you and your baby.