Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
‘Saving Normal’, a book by Allen Frances, M.D.
Some of what Dr. Frances had to say on an interview on CNN with Christiane Amanpour:
Transient as opposed to clinical or major depression shouldn’t be treated right away with meds. Meds should be a last resort. We should be ‘more afraid’ of the meds than the mental disease. Therapy is usually sufficient for transient depression which comes about after things like job loss or relationship loss. There are too many quick diagnoses when it comes to depression which should take weeks or even months to properly diagnose. Meds are effective in major depression but can be harmful to individuals who have been misdiagnosed.
‘Anyone living a full, rich life experiences ups and downs, stresses, disappointments, sorrows, and setbacks. These challenges are a normal part of being human, and they should not be treated as psychiatric disease. However, today millions of people who are really no more than "worried well" are being diagnosed as having a mental disorder and are receiving unnecessary treatment. In Saving Normal, Allen Frances, one of the world's most influential psychiatrists, warns that mislabeling everyday problems as mental illness has shocking implications for individuals and society: stigmatizing a healthy person as mentally ill leads to unnecessary, harmful medications, the narrowing of horizons, misallocation of medical resources, and draining of the budgets of families and the nation. We also shift responsibility for our mental well-being away from our own naturally resilient and self-healing brains, which have kept us sane for hundreds of thousands of years, and into the hands of "Big Pharma," who are reaping multi-billion-dollar profits.’
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Normal-Out-Control-Medicalization/dp/0062229257?SubscriptionId=AKIAIRKJRCRZW3TANMSA&tag=psychologytod-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0062229257
-
Hi All.... It's great to see all of the new people joining the site... I'm loving it!!...smileI'm not sure if people are aware that if you don't have Bipolar Disorder but have a loved one who has the disorder we do have a board for people to go to in order to share their experiences and seek friendship, support or adviseIt's the Friends and Family of Bipolar Board.... I hope you'll take a...
But if you're a person Diagnosed with Clinical Depression, UniPolar Depression or a Major Mood Depression, Medications are needed to get things under control and back to a stable point. Talk Therapy alone won't accomplish that.
It's unethical and Mal-practice for Dr. Frances, whatever kind of Dr. she is to compare normal people having ups and downs, to compare Diagnosed episodes of Depression or a Mood Disorder as they are completely different situations. Treatment for a Depressed Disorder requires medication and routine Therapy.
It's just flat out dismissive.
It's like saying to someone with a broken leg...not all bumps need a doctor's attention. Washing it, a bandaid and regular exercise is good for bone health.
Well that's all true.
But if you try to treat a broken bone with exercise, you may end up with a seriously deformed leg.
Trying to treat DEPRESSION as though it was just a "bad day"...could push someone to suicide.
...just saying.
You guys have misunderstood. The doc would be the first to agree with you. He's talking about misdiagnosis and quick prescriptions.