SSRIs aim to block the sending neuron from taking back serotonin that it's released. This means more of that chemical becomes available within the synapse. It changes the chemical structure of your brain to be more receptive to serotonin and dopamine. So what is your brain like on antidepressants? If we have this kind of chemical understanding of how they work. They're not trying to push you to the other side and make you deliriously happy, they want to kind of stabilize your brain.