Antidepressants: I don't f-ing get it

[confused2007]

And I don't think YOU'RE bloody qualified to make a diagnosis regarding who is depressed and who is not. Nor are you a Doctor or a Pharmacologist with intimate knowledge of diseases of the brain and how meds interact with the body.

When you finish med school- re-post from an informed perspective instead of a soapbox.

 

Hello again D-Lish. I'm going through my posts and trying to figure out just where I'm diagnosing people as depressed/not depressed. Not sure where you're drawing that conclusion.

 

If you were depressed and tried to kill yourself, but was rescued by your father.... then you know depression and what it can lead to. If your father hadn't have found you, you wouldn't be posting right now. What if meds can help prevent others from progressing to that extremity? They aren't useful for society? That's ridiculous.

 

For me, once I figured out the PROBLEM wasn't depression, and that depression was the symptom of THE problem, I was able to help myself.

 

Meds in conjunction with support and therapy help people, bottom line.

You don't have to buy into it or accept it...

 

I'm not getting a clear picture regarding what your arguement is.

1) over-prescribing 2) is depression actually a disease 3) no one needs to take AD's 4) it's okay to take Ad's as long as someone really needs it and it is only used short term.

 

Go ahead Doc, the soapbox is yours.

 

"Soapbox?" Yes, I'm an emotional person. Why? I feel passioante toward my beliefs. Sorry if I'm too dramatic for you.

 

Let me spell out my points, again:

1. Yes, dr's over-prescribing

2. Society accepting drugs as a "solution"

3. Society not learning how to cope with reality

4. Altering your consciousness has long-term negative side-effects; both mental and physical

5. Alternative methods available that focus on resolving mental health issues and not temporarily relieving it

6. Society is weakening as a whole

 

- Just to name a few

Edited February 28, 2008 by confused2007

[whichwayisup]

There are different types of depression. Situational (due to a death in the family, loss of a child, a marriage ending, cancer, other illnesses) that can bring on depression, and it can go away. Then there's mental illness, something a person is prone to (hereditory) and will have forever but can be controlled with meds/therapy. The situational depression many people suffer from and with the help of talk therapy, and mild meds to help function and cope, but eventually go off meds as that's not a forever thing.

 

Someone who is unbalanced and suffers BP, schizophrenia, etc HAS to be on meds to live and function normally. (well as normal as possible with the help of meds)

[confused2007]

There are different types of depression. Situational (due to a death in the family, loss of a child, a marriage ending, cancer, other illnesses) that can bring on depression, and it can go away. Then there's mental illness, something a person is prone to (hereditory) and will have forever but can be controlled with meds/therapy. The situational depression many people suffer from and with the help of talk therapy, and mild meds to help function and cope, but eventually go off meds as that's not a forever thing.

 

Someone who is unbalanced and suffers BP, schizophrenia, etc HAS to be on meds to live and function normally. (well as normal as possible with the help of meds)

 

When you say there is "situational depression" and "mental illness," do you think one is born with "mental illness?"

 

If not, there has to be a reason for its cause wouldn't you think?

[quankanne]

most often, the "reason" is biochemical in nature.

[confused2007]

The conclusion I'm drawing, as stated in my first post, is that if one is not born with dysfunctinal wiring/mental illness then it's caused by something. If it's caused by something than it can be uncaused by something. Just my analysis.

[Tripper]

The conclusion I'm drawing, as stated in my first post, is that if one is not born with dysfunctinal wiring/mental illness then it's caused by something. If it's caused by something than it can be uncaused by something. Just my analysis.

 

Keep in mind that dealing with depression and mental illness is not an exact science. That said...

Current thinking in the medical society is that depression is caused when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Research that is currently being done is showing this may not be the case in fact. However, since that remains to be seen, let's just assume there's an imbalance of some sort.

AD's if prescribed, should be coupled with psychotherapy. The idea is that you use the therapy to deal with the issues that caused the stress that caused the imbalance. Maybe you can get the balance back, maybe you can't. If you can, then you wean yourself off meds. If you can't well, then you continue on them.

Like any other treatment, there is no guarantee. Your dealing with brain chemistry and there is still a lot of unknown ground.

[Els]

Right, so you didn't take meds when you felt like hanging yourself. Bully for you.

 

Why does it get your blood boiling when other people do take them?

[confused2007]

Right, so you didn't take meds when you felt like hanging yourself. Bully for you.

 

Not sure why you're calling me a bully(?)......

 

Why does it get your blood boiling when other people do take them?

 

I already stated why numerous times. Please see my list of points in my reply to D-Lish.

[confused2007]

Keep in mind that dealing with depression and mental illness is not an exact science. That said...

Current thinking in the medical society is that depression is caused when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Research that is currently being done is showing this may not be the case in fact. However, since that remains to be seen, let's just assume there's an imbalance of some sort.

AD's if prescribed, should be coupled with psychotherapy. The idea is that you use the therapy to deal with the issues that caused the stress that caused the imbalance. Maybe you can get the balance back, maybe you can't. If you can, then you wean yourself off meds. If you can't well, then you continue on them.

Like any other treatment, there is no guarantee. Your dealing with brain chemistry and there is still a lot of unknown ground.

 

You're definetly right when you say there's a lot of unknown ground and you seem to be pretty level-headed in your analysis.

 

I was extremely emotional when I started this thread because I was growing tired of hearing everyone around me say: "I need to lose weight, so I'm starting this X pill." "I'm sad, so I need antidepressants." and so on and so forth.

 

My attitude in this thread isn't toward the ones who need help to function, but the ones who are too lazy to cope with a situation that can be resolved outside of temporary solutions (Drugs).

Edited March 4, 2008 by confused2007

[shanny]

I will honestly say that I think I would be dead or in prison without my Luvox and Seroquel. I'm bipolar attempted suicide 6 years ago... These pills gave me my life back. I had NO CONTROL over my emotions. I am so happy these drugs exist. Mental illness is a REAL problem. I read an article the other day about how someday there may be bloodtest to determine mental illness. That would be great because it would cut down on the over prescribing and misuse.

[mscaprine]

Mental illness is a REAL problem. I read an article the other day about how someday there may be bloodtest to determine mental illness. That would be great because it would cut down on the over prescribing and misuse.

I agree, I think the point is that everyone and their dog is getting meds for something. We're becoming a society that relies on "quick fixes" that don't require any mental or physical effort on the sufferer's part. Some people do need meds, but a lot don't.

[City_girl]

I agree wholeheartedly with the poster. In the West we are almost expected not to have things like depression. We label it medicate it, sweep it under the carpet and even as societies shun those who have mental health and emotional issues.

 

In the middle east, far east and far flung places people experience their emotions. The journey to enlightenment is reached through suffering and so on.

 

I'm not saying that if one is bipolar etc meds shouldn't be used and I don't think the poster is. It's the panacea I object to. If we are solely medicated and not offered talk therapy we aren't in touch with our emotions and people often remain in a state of limbo because issues need to be lived through , worked through. Time doesn't heal the wound of depression in a mind that has no sense of time. When the meds aree discontinued the problem is there having layn dormant. I think unless absolutely vital, anti depressant use is like putting a bandaid over a bullet wound

[mscaprine]

anti depressant use is like putting a bandaid over a bullet wound

I have to say, I really liked that analogy.

[confused2007]

I agree wholeheartedly with the poster. In the West we are almost expected not to have things like depression. We label it medicate it, sweep it under the carpet and even as societies shun those who have mental health and emotional issues.

 

In the middle east, far east and far flung places people experience their emotions. The journey to enlightenment is reached through suffering and so on.

 

I'm not saying that if one is bipolar etc meds shouldn't be used and I don't think the poster is. It's the panacea I object to. If we are solely medicated and not offered talk therapy we aren't in touch with our emotions and people often remain in a state of limbo because issues need to be lived through , worked through. Time doesn't heal the wound of depression in a mind that has no sense of time. When the meds aree discontinued the problem is there having layn dormant. I think unless absolutely vital, anti depressant use is like putting a bandaid over a bullet wound

 

Good to hear I'm not the only one who sees things this way.

[whichwayisup]

CBT! Yoga! Journal writing!

 

If someone is suicidal, or having very disturbing self harm (to themselves or to someone else) then yes, MEDS will help control the thoughts and feelings. That's major depression, the kind of depression that talk therapy will not fix.

 

Someone who is feeling down, has SAD, or just mildly depressed, CAN work through the feelings by talk therapy (CBT), daily exercise, yoga, without taking meds.

[City_girl]

I don't know if you guys over the pondgot this info but in the Uk there's been stuff all over the news about independent clinical trials proving that anti depressants were no more effective than a placeabo.....I can quite believe it as I for one believe that clinical trials are set up to support the drugs they trial in most cases funded by the manufacturers..trials for 8 weeks duration etc, scarey stuff..it's all a wee bit fishey...

[whichwayisup]

Obviously AD's work for some people, it can save someone's life. Those who are mentally ill are living proof the AD's work. Maybe it doesn't work as well on those who suffer from milder cases of D.

[City_girl]

CBT! Yoga! Journal writing!

 

If someone is suicidal, or having very disturbing self harm (to themselves or to someone else) then yes, MEDS will help control the thoughts and feelings. That's major depression, the kind of depression that talk therapy will not fix.

 

.

 

Some people who are feeling suicidal then go on to kill themselves because the anti depressant meds prescribed affect the impulse control that has prevented them from doing the deed. They then of course have the impulse and the means.....

[DanielMadr]

It's ridiculous. It gets my blood boiling. Why does everyone feel the need that they need a drug to regulate their emotions? To regulate toward a nonexisting state of reality - consistent happiness or emotional neutrality. Everyone buys into the bull**** that you supposed to feel happy all day everyday. If you don't, well, you have something wrong with you, right?

 

I can't focus, I have ADD and need adderall. I'm not happy so I'm depressed and need an antidepresant. I have trouble making friends so I'm antisocial and need a drug to make me more friendly. Does anyone realize the consequences of altering your consciousness?

 

Given there are many who NEED a drug to function in society, but I'm talking about the ones who were BORN normal. And I believe that's the keyword.

 

Does anyone learn to cope with reality anymore?

 

Someone please prove me wrong.

 

Medications can help you to overcome the worst- to break the cirle, give you a CRUTCHES. However you should throw out crutches pretty soon or your muscles vanish (atrophy) and you will never walk.

 

I believe there are better ways to fight anxieties and mild depressions than medicaments. Because taking medications can be bad for your self esteem. Double sided sword.

 

People get depressed over nothing these days. Read more history or take a trip to Africa, people.

[DanielMadr]

define 'normal'

 

Any behaviour on good terms with surviving of the specie. How about that?

[WILLIS47]

To everyone on this thread there are a few things you should know, yes I do believe that SSRI's are overperscribed, but the fact of the matter is when someone says that they just dont get it here is the truth IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU THEN YOU WONT UNDERSTAND!! point, blank period, end of story.

 

On 6/247/06 I slit my wrists, I was truly suicidal, I did not call and make any cries for help, I made the descion to end it and went thru, my roomate found me before it was too late and I lived. Naturally the hospital made me seek counciling and ever since i started my medication my life has been %100 better, I have been promoted twice had the best relationship of my life and despite the fact that it is over I have no regrets, i experienced love for the first time and have been infinatley more comfortable, but I have been battleing with OCD and BP as well as social anxiety.

 

The only time that i was upset is when I was dating a gilr who preached the same mind over matter BS that I have seen in this thread.

 

They can and do help, you will also see that people blast specific drugs and everyone reacts differently but that has to be worked out with your doctor.

 

Also in regards to the statement that 3rd world countries dont have these problems.. THEY ARE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES!!! When you day is spent having to focus on the maintining the basic needs to live (food, shelter and so forth) you are less likely to have problems with your brain, here in America we are fortunate that we have a higher quality of life but since our basic needs are incredibly easier to maintain we are left with more time to focus inward and that is when problems surface, sad but true.

 

Moral of the story is dont pass judgement on things that you cant relate to.

[confused2007]

To everyone on this thread there are a few things you should know, yes I do believe that SSRI's are overperscribed, but the fact of the matter is when someone says that they just dont get it here is the truth IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU THEN YOU WONT UNDERSTAND!! point, blank period, end of story.

 

I don't understand, please explain.

 

On 6/247/06 I slit my wrists, I was truly suicidal, I did not call and make any cries for help, I made the descion to end it and went thru, my roomate found me before it was too late and I lived. Naturally the hospital made me seek counciling and ever since i started my medication my life has been %100 better, I have been promoted twice had the best relationship of my life and despite the fact that it is over I have no regrets, i experienced love for the first time and have been infinatley more comfortable, but I have been battleing with OCD and BP as well as social anxiety.

 

I'm happy for you man. If you read my thread you should understand my attitude wasn't aimed at you.

 

The only time that i was upset is when I was dating a gilr who preached the same mind over matter BS that I have seen in this thread.

 

Your mind is a powerful tool.

 

Also in regards to the statement that 3rd world countries dont have these problems.. THEY ARE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES!!! When you day is spent having to focus on the maintining the basic needs to live (food, shelter and so forth) you are less likely to have problems with your brain, here in America we are fortunate that we have a higher quality of life but since our basic needs are incredibly easier to maintain we are left with more time to focus inward and that is when problems surface, sad but true.

 

This is true. The basic needs are definetly thought of before anything else in thrid world countries. However, even if those needs were met I don't think the suicide rate would be as high. In the USA it's shifting toward a norm to feel depressed and suicide is a common coping tool unfortunately.

 

Moral of the story is dont pass judgement on things that you cant relate to.

 

Wow. I'm assuming you haven't read the entire thread? I have and can relate to depression and suicide as I've already stated. I choose not to accept it anymore and either work on controlling or preventing it with non-drug techniques.

[City_girl]

I think the threads being taken personally confused. It's not saying anti Ds are wrong but overprescribed, that's all. I know a bit about mental health issues and there are many more people being prevented from getting well by drugs than are benefiting, that's why cbt is being pushed over here in the UK