Posted by SLS on January 3, 2007, at 8:49:06
In reply to Re: Has anyone here had a remssion for long?, posted by joslynn on January 3, 2007, at 8:41:50
> > sure, but it is impossible to separate those with things like pathological depression from depression from choosing the wrong wife or the wrong job, or childhood issues, etc. can't we try everyone on therapy first then send those that still have problems to get some meds?
>
> I used to think that way too. But through reading different things, I am starting to think that it could be a chicken and egg thing. That is, someone who has a low level of depression already there could make bad choices about a spouse, job, etc., so it may not be the choices that made them depressed, but the depression that made them make bad choices.
>
> Also, even if one does have depression that is only the result of bad choices, the change in their brain chemistry can still, in some cases, be helped by meds. So I don't think it's as simple as: depression caused by lifestyle, fix with just lifestyle changes; depression caused by biology, fix by biological changes via meds.
>
> There is overlap. Bad lifestyle choices can alter what happens physiologically in your brain. And having a depressed brain can cause you to make bad lifestyle choices.
>
> This is at least how I understand it now. I also did not believe in meds the first time I was severely depressed, and just did therapy. The depression did lift after about 6 long months. But years later, it came back, and I couldn't afford to be out of commission for 6 months again. Plus it was worse the second time. So I went on meds. And did therapy. The therapy helped immensely, as did better lifestyle choices, but the question is...would I have been stable enough to get anything out of therapy had I not taken the meds?
>
> It is so very confusing sometimes. I can go back and forth on this myself. But, I am on meds, and I am in remission. So, I don't want to chuck the meds yet.
>
> Just my .02
Good stuff.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:718547
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070101/msgs/718830.html