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.
If your depression is the result of trauma to your brain, drugs may be the ultimate and only treatment for your depression, and you might even need them for the rest of your life. If your depression is the result of a 'chemical imbalance' if such a thing even exists, drugs might help. But what if your depression is the result of your life circumstances?
Let's say you are living in a high-crime area and you have to spend most of your time inside because it isn't safe for you to go outside, with the television and internet providing nearly all of your social needs, which obviously they can't truly. Your life becomes lonely and horribly depressing. Or you are in an abusive relationship right now and don't have a way to escape it. Or you have a past in which there was horrific abuse, whether spousal or child abuse or another type of abuse. You become depressed, and the only thing you're aware of for treating depression is psychiatry, so you go on prescription drugs, because that's all you know of and all everyone else knows of for treating your depression.
Come on now, can't we as a society come up with effective ways for treating depression that comes from people's life circumstances and is not the result of brain damage or chemical imbalance? I think we're failing miserably in recognizing what many depressed people really need in the way of help. People are suffering and we're saying to all of them, whether it helps or not, "Go take these pills and go home."
Let's say you are living in a high-crime area and you have to spend most of your time inside because it isn't safe for you to go outside, with the television and internet providing nearly all of your social needs, which obviously they can't truly. Your life becomes lonely and horribly depressing. Or you are in an abusive relationship right now and don't have a way to escape it. Or you have a past in which there was horrific abuse, whether spousal or child abuse or another type of abuse. You become depressed, and the only thing you're aware of for treating depression is psychiatry, so you go on prescription drugs, because that's all you know of and all everyone else knows of for treating your depression.
Come on now, can't we as a society come up with effective ways for treating depression that comes from people's life circumstances and is not the result of brain damage or chemical imbalance? I think we're failing miserably in recognizing what many depressed people really need in the way of help. People are suffering and we're saying to all of them, whether it helps or not, "Go take these pills and go home."
I was bullied for many years, and the effect that it had on me infiltrated into every part of my life. I had no confidence, and my bullies taught me to hate myself as much as they hated me. My depression was learned.
Fortunately no one pushed pills on me. I had many friends tell me that I should take an anti-depressant, but I never wanted to because I needed to feel, I needed to deal with how I felt and help myself to heal. I have had a number of therapists, conventional and unconventional. They all, in one way or another set me up to succeed on my own, and I did.
I completely agree with you that drugs are not always the answer. When depression can be blamed on circumstance, treatments should consider therapy. In some cases, a balance of therapy and medication may be necessary, as it's not always that black and white. It just happened to be black and white for me - first time, circumstance; second time, chemical.
I think not. If
I could only find someone to love me would I still need all the meds I take?
Again, I think not.
But finding someone to love me has proven impossible.
So I take meds to try to ease some of the pain.
Early April - depressed, anxious, not sleeping well, lost weight and feeling hopeless
Today - in a MUCH better place. I have hope back.
I reached out for help and some of it came in the form of an SSRI and another medication. Also enlisted the help of a therapist. Nothing in my life has changed from April until now. I still have the same challenges but now feel much better to be able to tackle them.
Btw, this was after trying the "natural" route with different vitamins and such. Maybe I could have meditated my way out of it but I'm not so sure I wanted to do the controlled experiment on me.
No pill or pill will solve something entirely. However, I believe they can get you out of a deep rut and position you to move forward.
imbalance. 40% of people who have heart attacks have depression, even if they didnt have it before. Since heart damage does not affect
brain chemicals , it is the adverse life changing event that causes the
brain chemicals to change..The same could be true for death of a spouse or child.Lack of sunlight can even make depression much worse. I dont think its as claer cut as medical [chemical] vs life situation because
they affect each other.
Yes, it sucks if you live in a high-crime area and can't venture outside the house out of fear for personal safety.
I think free community basketball leagues and inner-city YMCAs where all can work out their angst and financial strife in healthy ways would mean less crime.
If you consider some circumstances are never going to be temporary then it could be medically necessary for meds, as in physical pain being your trigger,, constant trigger, constant treatment. I think when we go to a doctor we are saying to them we consider what ever is going on is serious enough for us to be there asking for help and they are responding. Sometimes we have to decide for ourselves whether we think it will take long term meds or not and if it's worth it.
I know for certain that research is concentrating on this all, right now, with great fervour.
Personally speaking, meds have profoundly improved my personal situation, and probably, literally saved my life--- and continue to do so, with a secondary diagnosis that confirms something I believed all along.
I've seen huge improvements in countless ways, since finding the right doctor for me.
Meds are not the enemy. It's just that they might not be "The" answer for everyone.