Antidepressant round-up

[classicman]

Same as the ADD/ADHD. They change the threshold for diagnosis and then make millions prescribing medications to treat the "illness"

ETA - Not intended to be disrespectful to those with serious issues for whom the medications are necessary.
In fact this whole thing makes it worse for them in some ways.

[infinite monkey]

Lamp, I've had that feeling about other illnesses, so I know what you're saying.

And because the only point of reference I have on the need for medication for mental illness is my long-term use of SSRIs for chronic depression, all I can say is that for me, they've kept me from driving off the proverbial cliff.

I've been to numerous counselors. Really, the time and money involved to "get well" is preposterous. Is taking medication the easy way out? Not for me, I don't have years and years and thousands upon thousands of dollars to go whine to someone who may or may not be able to help me define my issues that have precipitated my depression, in fact I know what a lot of those issues are, having lived this life myself.

Depression is a chemical imbalance. Are they overdiagnosing? Maybe. But I am the 12% and SSRIs have probably saved my life.

[glatt]

Most people don't wear labels on their foreheads announcing that they are taking meds. So I only know of the friends who have told me that they are having troubles and are taking them. And they number in the neighborhood of 10% of my friends. So I think it's very possible that the numbers are true, based on my anecdotal evidence.

[Undertoad]

This thread is a year old now, and I'm not resurrecting it to get
Dwellars to post again their personal experiences.
Instead, I wonder if others feel that pharmaceutical companies
are feeding the flames of mental illness primarily for $ profit.

Here's how I read this statement.

"Despite having been shown otherwise by people's personal experiences, I insist on clinging desperately to my knee-jerk idiotic notion that there is a secret conspiracy among all Big Corporations to harm us for their own greedy ends. I have no proof of this, and I kind of know that others don't either, so I am requesting a WONDERING about a FEELING rather than actual hard evidence. I will show my bona fides by posting a dollar sign because we all understand it is a symbol of evil and backs up my bogus bullshit idea."

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Here's how I read this statement.

"Despite having been shown otherwise by people's personal experiences,
I insist on clinging desperately to my knee-jerk idiotic notion that there is a secret conspiracy
among all Big Corporations to harm us for their own greedy ends.
I have no proof of this, and I kind of know that others don't either,
so I am requesting a WONDERING about a FEELING rather than actual hard evidence.
I will show my bona fides by posting a dollar sign because we all understand
it is a symbol of evil and backs up my bogus bullshit idea."

OK, fair enough for your reading of my intro...

But now please go to the link (Washington Post) and then give your reaction to the article
... use of statistics, methodology, interpretation, etc.
.

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

But now please go to the link (Washington Post) and then give your reaction to the article
... use of statistics, methodology, interpretation, etc.
.

All information given in the story strongly asserts that your proposition is wrong, that mental illness is in fact an actual problem, not something pfizer's board room calculated up, and that it is actually undertreated.

Sorry.

But you know, it's just a *feeling* you have, so actual evidence has nothing to do with it! Screw the evidence, full steam ahead with your shitty narrative!

[HungLikeJesus]

Perhaps, but I'm in agreement.

[Pico and ME]

Most people do not lead healthy lives, they don't exercise and their diet is horrible, and a lot of those people suffer from depression as a result. Yes, the pharmaceutical industry found a cash cow.

[infinite monkey]

I guess that's one way to discourage expression of alternative view points

Well, I didn't read this as an alternative point of view expressed about a personal experience, myself.

Especially in light of the fact that I'd just run across that "beware what you poo poo" thread I'd read just this morning.

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

Most people do not lead healthy lives, they don't exercise and their diet is horrible, and a lot of those people suffer from depression as a result. Yes, the pharmaceutical industry found a cash cow.

Now, I do think there are many ways of dealing with many illnesses. But do you not think that us 'most people' have tried various methods, that we do not know ourselves well enough, that this post was awfully preachy and condescending, and dare I say judgmental?

So it wasn't intended that way? OK. That's fair enough, but in the name of expression of alternative views, I expressed my alternative view, and pointed out in my own unique way how "most of" us have been beaten over the head with "get off your ass and fix it" mentality that keeps so many from getting help.

And much backpedaling ensued.

[infinite monkey]

Yeah, like "fibromyalgia."

Careful what you poo-poo.

[Sundae]

Every person I have known who has admitted to taking anti-depressants has been incapacitated by their condition before seeking help. Their illness has dicked around with their life - unable to work, or caused a relationship breakdown, or self-medicating to the point of a hospital visit.

Oh, I lie. A bulimic friend was prescribed Prozac back in the 90s.
It just made her hyper, so she came off it.

Ideally I would like to receive CBT therapy.
It's supposed to be the very best long term solution for many depressives.
But it is time and labour intensive and only available in a very few places (on the NHS I mean - I couldn't afford it privately).

I've had some other counselling but it just seemed rubbish to me. Sit and have a chat.
I quite liked alcohol counselling, I admit. I would sit and flagellate myself and the counsellor would tell me I had no reason to hate myself so much and instead I was a wonderful person. I used to walk out of there with a spring in my step. It wasn't effective long term re becoming teetotal. But it really helped for a while.

Perhaps I'm not depressed, I'm just narcissistic. Is there a pill for that?

[Lamplighter]

UT, thanks for your perspective.

[infinite monkey]

I've found, over the years, that it's been immensely helpful in my struggle to be able to stand myself to make sure I blame myself hard and blame myself often. Also, I seek the counsel and input of those who are more than happy to also blame me hard and blame me often.

Nothing has helped me on the road to mental health more than they have. I thank them. Think of all the people who can be too ashamed to seek treatment because it means they're weak and lazy and piggish...leaving more meds available for me.

Luckily, I'm stronger than THOSE weak and lazy and piggish depressed and anxiety-disordered folks, who are too easily influenced by the really good and strong people on earth.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

I've found, over the years, that it's been immensely helpful in my struggle to be able to stand myself to make sure I blame myself hard and blame myself often. Also, I seek the counsel and input of those who are more than happy to also blame me hard and blame me often.

Nothing has helped me on the road to mental health more than they have. I thank them. Think of all the people who can be too ashamed to seek treatment because it means they're weak and lazy and piggish...leaving more meds available for me.

Luckily, I'm stronger than THOSE weak and lazy and piggish depressed and anxiety-disordered folks, who are too easily influenced by the really good and strong people on earth.

Im not sure, but I think your ire is directed at my post.

You cannot discount the fact that our brain and body chemistry is directly affected by how we use it and what we eat. Yes, many do suffer from genetically determined afflictions that affect our ability to control our moods. I thought I was one of those people, until I started studying nutrition and then went on the zone diet. The 'twinkie' defense' actually had a point. I can directly control how my body and mind feel by what I eat and whether or not I exercise.

[Undertoad]

Sorry if I got angry, you pressed several of my hot buttons at the same time.