I agree, Nick. Anti-depressants merely treat the symptoms. However, every doctor I've been to has been extremely insistent upon seeking counseling or therapy for that very reason. Anti-depressants are not a cure.
I'm glad you've had that experience and understanding but oftentimes that is not the case. Many doctors prescribe anti-depressants and as far as the patient understands that's the fix to their problem. But depression is a lot more complicated than a chemical reaction in the brain. And I believe that the chemical malfuction is
a result, not the cause, of something having gone wrong that needs to be addressed -- and way too often is not.
The idea that "clinical" depression is a "disease," the brain is misfiring and a drug will correct that and therefore alleviate depression, is neat and tidy but it's also misleading. The words being used and the implications made are misleading people into thinking they're getting rid of the problem when in reality they're only getting rid of the symptom.
And giving anti-depressants to children and adolescents is, in my opinion, just flat-out irresponsible. Childhood and adolescence is our most intense period of learning how to respond effectively to both our Selves and the outside world. Using a drug to alter our mood response during that time strikes me as, ultimately, a crippler. We're letting the pharma industry convince us to drug our children rather than putting in the time and effort needed to properly socialize our children. Put away the pills, put away the video games and tv and computers and ipods and gameboys and all the rest -- spend TIME with children and teach them how to deal with feelings of disappointment, anger, hurt, fear of rejection and abandonment. Pills give them no TOOLS for dealing with life, just as those same pills give depressed adults no tools for dealing with the problems that lead us into and get us stuck in depression.
I having nothing against the use of anti-depressants. I'm sure they can be useful in at least relieving some stress while one is working to figure out the real problem and a resolution to it. But they are WAY too easily and carelessly prescribed, just as sleeping pills are today, and the marketing strategy by the pharma industry is cynical and has nothing at all to do with the best interests of people suffering from depression.
Healing takes time and work, but an effective medicine can allieviate the suffering of the patient much more quickly.
I'm not sure that's true. It can alleviate a certain depth of suffering but most people who suffer from depression do not experience an end to that suffering by taking medication. With due respect, your characterization sounds like a result of believing the marketing by pharmeceudical companies. Don't believe marketing schemes, especially by corporations that rely on people who believe their marketing to make them obscenely wealthy -- they are inherently dishonest.
Ludolfo, I'm done with you. You sound like a conspiracy theorist and are too caught up in the history of psychiatry, while offering nothing useful or helpful.
He has offered thoughtful and in-depth posts that deserve respectful consideration. I think your dismissing his contribution as "offering nothing useful or helpful" is unkind and, in fact, cruel. Especially in a thread about depression. It's clear he's dealt with depression himself, as have I and as have you. We're on the same side.
I shudder to think that anyone depressed should read your posts and take them to heart. You know the message you're conveying? "Your feelings aren't real, there is no hope, the professionals won't be able to help you, you might as well off yourself this moment."
That's not what he's posted here. Not at all. He's encouraged people to inform themselves. There's nothing frightening or wrong in that.
And, for the record, he's right about the history of psychiatry, therapy in general, and homosexuality. And depression as well. Read about it, it's stunning. And I'm not talking ancient history. My own experience, when I was 16, my parents sent me to a therapist to help me deal with my depression. A very nice man, gentle nature and good looking and kindly, we connected instantly and that felt wonderful and safe. When, after a few sessions, I revealed my feelings for men, our relationship changed immediately and not only was he of no help but he damaged my ability to confront and deal with my homosexuality. I went running back into the closet and stayed there for five years (despite sleeping with a few guys and feeling suicidal about it). Dr. Gates was not a mean man but his professional response to me, my concerns and my depression were harmful. That's not to say all professionals are that way, but some are and we have to be careful -- and INFORMED. We have to take responsibility for our own bodies, our own minds, our own functioning and malfunctioning selves.
I think the poster you dismiss as having nothing useful to offer on this subject is spot-on in the way he's questioned, informed himself, and has the courage to speak out in opposition to a multi-million dollar marketing campaign.
you know, theres no WAY i is gonna fall out with ya. but seriously , dont pretend to know me. you really dont. i have been to such dark places you MAYB wouldn't believe....i toked for 30 odd years nearly everyday. i sooner tyhat than them shrink drugs. i cant pretend to like what they stand for. i kreep spelling out what they laid on gay men in the past. not ONE challenger to what i have said so far has took me up on this HISTORY which i find strange. but its true. these shrinks with their phony medicine made out being gay was mental disease. whats that tell you......??
