Posted by fenix on January 29, 2006, at 18:38:52 [reposted on January 30, 2006, at 0:34:59 | original URL]
In reply to I strongly disagree » fenix, posted by Racer on January 29, 2006, at 17:16:43
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> > The whole thing is ridiculous about the imbalance, and this is where I will have to be more specific. It is not that a chemical imbalance doesn't happen, it is that drugs are not the answer, at least no the ultimate answer. The real problem is, you are in a trap, you are given drugs to cope in the trap, the suffocating box. The trap is the environment that you are in, what the environment is doing to you, it is established deeply in the survivalist nature of humans and of course in that of other living species.
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> This is the only part I'm going to respond to.
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> The research I've read pretty well agrees that bad situations will trigger a depressive episode in those who are susceptible to depression. But those same environmental triggers will not trigger depression in those without that underlying susceptibility. Even the researcher in NZ who found the "depression gene" a while back said that having adequate social support could mitigate stressful situations in those with the genetic predisposition to depression. Genes are not destiny, in other words. But in an environment that contains the sorts of stresses that trigger depression, in the absence of that support, in individuals with a genetic predisposition to depression, depression will be triggered.
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> That doesn't happen to people who do not have this susceptibility. Yes, everyone can become unhappy, dissatisfied with their lives, frustrated by their situations, etc. That's normal. Depression, though, is different from unhappiness. It's different from being stressed out.
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> And depression is also a disease that tends to have an active phase of about nine months for most episodes, so doing nothing can often improve things if you give it enough time. Of course, you can do a lot of damage to your life in those nine months, but if you choose not to take drugs, you can assume that you'll feel a bit better inside a year. Of course, depression is also an episodic disease, so you're likely to experience another depressive episode if you choose to take this route.
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> Psychotherapy will also improve things. It is one flavor of that social support that can help those with a tendency towards depression to avoid becoming depressed when confronted by triggering events.
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> But the bottom line to all of this is that, for many people, medications are part of successfully treating depression. The medications work for many people, they help alleviate needless suffering, and they make it possible for those of us who suffer depression to function.
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> More to the point, though, this board is about providing support and education about these medications. Perhaps you truly believe that you are offering that -- but in a community in which the members are here because we have chosen to take medications to treat our mental illnesses, don't you think it might be a bit less than truly supportive to state that medications are not going to help us? Many of us here already feel helpless, we don't need to get more of it from outside.
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> I'm glad if you've found the answer FOR YOU in treating whatever ailed you. I'm glad it worked for you. I'm glad you had the options to get out of your situation and that it was enough to cure your ills.
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> That ain't an option for a lot of people, and it would be respectful to keep that in mind.
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> And I wonder, based on your posting name, if you see this place as a henhouse?Concerning my posting name, it is the name of my pet iguana. I am not sure as to what this henhouse is you are speaking of however.
I know that medicine helps people, it can also harm them as well. But why limit yourself to just that one solution? If you have the power you should ask yourself "are there things that are happening in my surroundings and environment everday that could be contributing to the way I feel?". It may be so, but I have some more thinking to do about things that are difficult, in other words, past experiences.
For instance, you could leave a bad environment, but you take the traumatic memories with you no matter where you go.
I know what it feels to be helpless, and that is why I turned to medicine three years ago, however, it was my mistake because of the harm it did to me. I came to realize that what was causing my problems was my surroundings. And thus, problem solved. No more depression and no more anxiety.
Something that is most disturbing to me is that many people start these medicines without prior knowledge of what the drugs are and their risks. And from my experience, many doctors won't tell you these things either.
"That ain't an option for a lot of people, and it would be respectful to keep that in mind." I know it isn't, but what if it was? That is my point.
poster:fenix
thread:604370
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060124/msgs/604379.html