What do SSRIs actually do for people with stress or anxiety?

I'm not talking about the pharmacology - that's easy to find on the web or in a book. What I'm asking is the actual effects of SSRIs in the real world person.

I took Sertraline for a few years and it basically didn't do anything tangible for me in terms of helping my state of mind.

So what do 'YOU' get from taking SSRIs? I ask as I'm considering giving
Citralopram a go to help with what I (and others) now call stress - a mixture of worry, self doubt, anxiety, obsessive thoughts and depression.

I respond okay to Diazepam and find a bit of relief if I take around 10mg if I'm getting myself worked up. So I know that some drugs do help.

So then what does the average person who has difficulty with stress/anxiety/depression etc get from using Citralopram or other SSRIs once they get past the initial unwelcome side effects?

What do they do for you?

Please take the time time to write down your experiences.

Thanks.