Posted by SLS on March 31, 2004, at 8:56:47
In reply to Re: Do antidepressants really work? » snapper, posted by Simus on March 31, 2004, at 1:24:56
> But I am starting to strongly believe that we need to address the underlying cause of our problems, not just put a "band-aid" on the symptoms.
I think this is much too broad a generalization to represent depressive illness. "We" certainly does not include me. My problem has shown itself to be %100 biological. No amount of psychotherapy in the world would makes a dent in my condition. I've tried. My brief periods of wellness produced by medication have been more than simply not feeling "bummed-out". In fact, even at my worst, I usually don't experience dysphoria. I am vegetative and cognitively demented.
It seems that each individual will fit uniquely somewhere within the spectrum of mood illness, with relative contributions ranging from 100% biological to 100% psychological.
I wish my illness were 100% psychological. I wouldn't mind doing the work necessary to bring myself into remission. At least I would have some control as to how I feel.
I know - the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Well, I've been on the other side of the fence. I once experienced a remission for 9 months brought about by a treatment using a combination of antidepressants. Of course, it was wonderful. Cosmic. Ah, but I did get "bummed-out" from time to time during this period. However, this was a totally different experience. I got depressed over the loss of an intimate relationship. But the depression that resulted was transient and felt completely different than how I experience bipolar disorder. They were two very different beasts. As I grieved and accepted the loss, I felt better. It was so cool.
When I respond to a medication, I don't feel so much an end of depression as I do an awakening and emergence from blackness into a new and wonderful world of color.
That's just me, though.
For some people, drugs do much more than simply act as bandaids to treat outward symptoms. They hit targets closer to the underlying neurological abnormality that yields a comprehensive improvement in brain function.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:330066
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040329/msgs/330750.html