Anti-depressants

[Flinch]

Some points for me,

- Look at crazymeds.org for some information. Don't use it as the gospel, though. Keep in mind that everyone's chemistry is a little different and that what may have affected one person may affect you in a completely different way. The brain is a tricky thing and there are huge variations that can occur.

- The most important thing to keep in mind for this is that you have to WANT to change your life and your situation. You aren't going to wake up one day feeling like you're ready to take on the world. You have to be willing to take risks, challenge yourself and FORCE yourself to get better. No amount of drugs will help you if you cannot get into this mindset.

- I would suggest seeing a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist if you can do so. The difference between the two is that psychologists generally can't prescribe drugs, while psychiatrists can. If you can, ask your doctor for a referral and see if you can find a doctor that deals with CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). I recommend seeing a psychologist because it will help get you into the proper mindset...all it's going to be is you and the doctor, working at trying to get things resolved.

I recommend CBT because it is very effective at helping people who have anxiety and mood problems and it sounds like this is what is bothering you. Also, although psychologists cannot prescribe drugs, they CAN offer insight into things and can make a suggestion to your doctor if they feel that drugs might help.

- If you DO go on drugs, keep in mind that it takes a while for them to work. I'm talking like, 4-6 weeks, minimum, possibly longer, especially if your depression has been bothering you for as long as you described it. If you aren't feeling better after a week, DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR DRUGS. If you are feeling worse, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, BUT DO NOT STOP TAKING YOUR DRUGS.

- Finally, if you would like to try and look at a self-help book, I would recommend: Amazon.com: The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem: Nathaniel Branden: Books

The author, Branden, is basically the guy who pioneered the concept of 'self esteem' as we know it today. It's an interesting read that explains 'teh science' while providing some useful tips and information. Also, he used to be friends with Ayn Rand, and reading about him being butthurt about their falling out is a kind of funny distraction while reading this book. :P

[Flinch]

Originally Posted by Heavens_Myst

In case you haven't been to a doctor's office lately, they have sample boxes of anti-d's laying around like free candy. A bunch of people I know have been recommended them recently after going in to get help for stomach pain or heart burn.

Overprescribing medication isn't exactly confined to anti-depressants and is a problem with health care providers, not the drugs themselves.

Look, if you're a Scientologist, that's fine, whatever, I respect your beliefs (not) If you're not, then bear with me.

If something is wrong with a part of your body, you would want medicine that would help you, right? Say you have diabetes and you need insulin. Or if you have some weird malady that was shown on house and you need treatment for that. You wouldn't view that as a 'crutch' because your body needs help to get better.

Anti-depressants, when used properly are doing the exact same thing. The problem is that many doctors and health care professionals are overworked and overloaded with patients and do not have the time necessary to truly help their patients. Others don't care or have a flippant attitude towards medication, which leads to drugs being prescribed to people who probably don't really need them.

Also, some anti-depressants have some off the label usages that can be used to help treat other physical ailments.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being a dick, it just really bugs me when people treat anti-depressant drugs as some sort of evil witch doctor magic and not what they actually are: medicine that can help people and improve their lives.

[Dethfang]

I tried a few with mixed side effects and gave up on pills all together. Really just taking the steps to try a few things out helped me out with my general attitude.

Lexapro: I felt great overall. I did have a bit of nausea, which resulted in my vomiting once I moved up from 5mg to 10mg, that combined with the near impossibility of achieving orgasm made me quit. Even depressed I have an insatiable sex drive, was way hornier while on the drug, but unable to climax... was my personal hell.

Cymbalta: Mild mood improvement, but couldn't climax... promptly stopped.

Effexor: Took for two days and had a horrible earache (thought I had an ear infection), stopped taking and earache went away.

[Gryeyes]

I completely agree that neuro-chemical imbalances can and do cause mentally issues. I have to disagree that you will get a prescription based on objective science that your brain has physical problems. With USA society at least the paradigm is prescribe first ask question later.

If the requirement to gain a anti-depressant was substantiation of a neuro-chemical problem i would agree wholeheartedly that medicine is good. But that isnt a requirement. Any complaint regarding depression is fucking guaranteed of a prescription. Some people are legitimately fucked up but a majority have issues not involving a brain dynsfunction and a bottle of pills is easier.

And the inclination to remmonend medication before anything else pisses me off. ADD/depression have become so widespread an arguement of a legitimate neurological issue gets pretty thin.

[Azrayne]

On a side note... we also hooked rates up to wires that stimulated their dopamine centers in their brain, basically giving them a rush of euphoria every time they hit a little lever.

Do they have one of those for humans? Crack cocaine at the push of a button, fuck yes please.

[Nakilos]

I don't think it's fair to describe antidepressants as a "crutch" by any means. But they're definitely not a cure, and the pharmaceutical companies and mental health industry seem to be pushing them as though they are. Most responsible psychiatrists will tell you that pills are not enough; you need to develop a long-term therapy plan in addition to filling a prescription. Pills can help you get started on the road to recovery (really, management), but developing a more positive mindset takes time and effort of your own.

This is exactly the problem. Finding a professional who can actually help address your problem is very difficult and very tied to your financial status. Lots of people simply cannot AFFORD to be depressed or rather they can't afford to be properly treated for it.

Zeste makes some excellent points, but the problem is the average individual may not necessarily be able to differentiate whether their problem is an actual chemical problem or just being "bummed", as typically negative situations have a tendency to perpetuate other negative situations which while being external factors can often lead to a prolonged period of a externally driven depression. This is where the mental health industry has the average individual at a disadvantage, they aren't educated enough to be able to personally identify which the problem is, and the mental health industry opts to shove pills in peoples' faces instead.

I'm not anti drug due to being of scientologist or whatever, I've had a bad experience with them due to being mishandled by incompetants who just wanted to shove me to take whatever pill they just received. That being said I don't believe they are incapable of helping, but unfortunately we have to put incredible trust in these people who aren't necessarily looking out for your personal mental health.

[The Ancient]

A snapshot of the brain isn't even really enough to determine whether a person is clinically depressed. Take a "normal" person in an upset mood and his brain is going to show it.

Pills should be a last resort for people who are either in danger of causing physical harm to themselves or are unresponsive to cognitive or behavioral therapy.

[Zeste]

Originally Posted by The Ancient

A snapshot of the brain isn't even really enough to determine whether a person is clinically depressed. Take a "normal" person in an upset mood and his brain is going to show it.

Pills should be a last resort for people who are either in danger of causing physical harm to themselves or are unresponsive to cognitive or behavioral therapy.

Take a "normal" person in a calm, balanced mood, and a depressed person in a calm, balanced mood, and you'll see differences. That's the point. The brains at a homeostatic state are different. If you don't know the difference between holding down the throttle slightly, and having too high of an idle, you shouldn't be making statements like that.

Depression is a normal emotion. Chronic Major Depression is the same normal emotion, just prolonged to the point that functioning and quality of life are both reduced.

[The Ancient]

Originally Posted by Zeste

Take a "normal" person in a calm, balanced mood, and a depressed person in a calm, balanced mood, and you'll see differences. That's the point. The brains at a homeostatic state are different. If you don't know the difference between holding down the throttle slightly, and having too high of an idle, you shouldn't be making statements like that.

What do they do to force the homeostatic state?

My point really was: It's not as simple as chemicals in the brain cause depression because depression changes chemicals in the brain. You can rebalance the brain chemistry in many cases without the introduction of drugs into the system, and any time this can be accomplished without medication it's the preferable path.

[Etoille]

ABC News: 'Disposable Heroes': Mentally Distressed Veterans Used to Test Suicide-Linked Drugs

political messages aside - I linked this as an example of why its super important to research side effects of drugs and make sure the testing that has been done with them is extensive.

[Zeste]

Originally Posted by The Ancient

What do they do to force the homeostatic state?

My point really was: It's not as simple as chemicals in the brain cause depression because depression changes chemicals in the brain. You can rebalance the brain chemistry in many cases without the introduction of drugs into the system, and any time this can be accomplished without medication it's the preferable path.

Right, the mind-body cycle.

But if your brain chemistry has been disrupted to the point that you lack the chemical basis for drive and motivation, how are you supposed to "rebalance" the brain with cognitive/intellectual means when you don't even care enough to get out of bed, let alone read a book or see a therapist?

You do understand I'm talking about Clinical Major Depression, and not just the blues, right? What is your experience and credentials? I don't want to argue semantics.

[The Ancient]

Originally Posted by Zeste

Right, the mind-body cycle.

But if your brain chemistry has been disrupted to the point that you lack the chemical basis for drive and motivation, how are you supposed to "rebalance" the brain with cognitive/intellectual means when you don't even care enough to get out of bed, let alone read a book or see a therapist?

You do understand I'm talking about Clinical Major Depression, and not just the blues, right? What is your experience and credentials? I don't want to argue semantics.

I don't think we have to be arguing period. I said is that Clinical Major Depression isn't trivial to diagnose, which I'm not sure is a point of contention.

I also said that in any instance that it will work and that the individual isn't in danger of harming themselves that behavioral therapy is preferable to drug prescription, which I'm positive we can agree on.

Based on these two points, I drew the conclusion that owing to the difficulty of diagnosing Clinical Major Depression in any single doctor's visit doctor and the preferable lack of side effects and larger possibility of permanent solution that psychological treatment has over medications in cases of non-Major Clinical Depression that behavioral therapy is a preferable first step for any individual who isn't in immediate physical danger. Unfortunately you don't see this very often in modern medicine, it seems many doctors choose either to prescribe the pills alone or issue them congruently with psychotherapy sessions even before an adequate analysis of the individual's mental health can be established.

[Xakk]

I would strongly recommend seeing a clinical psychologist for therapy before seeing a psychiatrist. Medications do not do anything but mask the problem and, as previously posted, can have some shitty side effects.

[Desx]

wow some of the advice on these boards is retarded.

You need to first begin by going to the doctor and getting a panel of tests done such as thyroid levels, liver, etc.. I can't believe the amount of people who have thyroid imbalances that are depressed for years. Depression should not last for years.

Another thing.. Do you go outside a lot or are you constantly inside? When was the last time you had a rush of excitement like bike riding or a roller coaster?

[Malakriss]

Originally Posted by Desx

Another thing.. Do you go outside a lot or are you constantly inside? When was the last time you had a rush of excitement like bike riding or a roller coaster?

You must have your forums confused, the only rush of excitement around here is for legendary drops or server firsts.