NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/09/antidepressants/index.html

Kind of depressing, isn't it?

I must be doing something wrong. I don't have a prescription for anti-depressants.

That must mean I am not normal.




*gets depressed*

I must be doing something wrong. I don't have a prescription for anti-depressants.

That must mean I am not normal.




*gets depressed*

Freak! :p

*is depressed but not on pills*

Hmm. I wonder why.
http://www.violentacres.com/archives/169/most-people-are-depressed-for-a-very-good-reason

*begins hoarding pills*

MypillsminemineallmineNOYOUCAN'THAVEANYTHEY'REMINEINEEDTHEMALL!
*fidgets so much there appears to be two of him*

So they are beating out Ritalin now?

A little snip from the article:

"25 percent of adults will have a major depressive episode sometime in their life, as will 8 percent of adolescents."

It is my view that the majority of people will face some kind of adversity that might lead to them being less than happy at some point in their lifetimes, and that it is the mental act of facing up to these episodes that helps us to grow into fully-functional human beings. Medicating away the downtimes is not the answer. Soma, anyone?

I can't say that the idea of spiralling prescription rates being driven by aggressive pharmaceutical marketing really surprises me either.

Have to agree with Lunatic Goofballs and Katganistan... depressing.

I must be doing something wrong. I don't have a prescription for anti-depressants.

That must mean I am not normal.




*gets depressed*

Welcome to the majority!

*is depressed but not on pills*

Hmm. I wonder why.
http://www.violentacres.com/archives/169/most-people-are-depressed-for-a-very-good-reason

Pessimists and depressives have a more accurate world-view than optimists and happy people.

True, that. And also very amusing.


Edit:
Soma, anyone?

I'll take two grams!

They're not happy pills, they're anti-homicide pills. Because without them I would rip out my co-worker's spine and beat him with it.

They're not happy pills, they're anti-homicide pills.
Unless you are a teenager, then they are suicide pills.

Because without them I would rip out my co-worker's spine and beat him with it.
I think you have confused depression with anger issues and the fact you have anti-depressants just proves the topic.

*begins hoarding pills*

MypillsminemineallmineNOYOUCAN'THAVEANYTHEY'REMINEINEEDTHEMALL!
*fidgets so much there appears to be two of him*
You want the Mall?

You want the Mall?

He needs the Mall.

Unless you are a teenager, then they are suicide pills.


I think you have confused depression with anger issues and the fact you have anti-depressants just proves the topic.

Why thank you Doctor Pantless. I'll alert my shrink immediately.

You want the Mall?

It makes more sense if you play Rogue Trip.

The way we live, it's no wonder.

It makes more sense if you play Rogue Trip.
Rogue Trip? Is it like road trip or somethin'?

I blame video games (http://www.slightlywarped.com/arcade/happypill.htm)

curse the level with the multiple balloons!

He needs the Mall.

Are you trying to keep the mall from me?

No sir, I don't like it (http://www.conspiracyinc.com/RenNStimpy/srs0003r.jpg)

Are you trying to keep the mall from me?

No... Not at all...

<.<
>.>

...

Rogue Trip? Is it like road trip or somethin'?
It's a Playstation car destruction game. One of the levels is DC called "The Maul" and on top of the White House is some giant girl sign and if you shoot her once she strips to bra and panties.

Are you trying to keep the mall from me?

No, that's schyzophrenia.:eek::mad::fluffle:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/09/antidepressants/index.html

Kind of depressing, isn't it?

thanks for reminding me, i haven't taken mine today (no j/k) ;)


it wouldn't surprise me, however (especially from that opening anecdote) that antidepressants are being prescribed for lots of other minor things other than actual depression.

it doesn't say how long the average prescription period is, which would be interesting. is it a week? a month? six months?
for major depression a typical diagnosis criteria is feeling depressed for 2 weeks or more. major depression can go fairly quickly, too, as its often caused by single experiences/problems rather than necessarily neurochemical imbalances or problematic learned behaviour/thought patterns.
catching and treating a major depressive episode early is no doubt a good thing and can prevent these more long term issues (or even dysthimia) from forming, so perhaps in overprescription real depression is truly being better handled and not left to fester and turn into recurring depressive issues. that said, they are powerful drugs... and lets not forget effective treatment for clinical depression can only really come from a combination of councelling/therapy and treating neurochemical problems with drugs. but then everyone in america has a shrink, right? ;)

It's a Playstation car destruction game. One of the levels is DC called "The Maul" and on top of the White House is some giant girl sign and if you shoot her once she strips to bra and panties.
Oh. I don't have PS. No money.

thanks for reminding me, i haven't taken mine today (no j/k) ;)


it wouldn't surprise me, however (especially from that opening anecdote) that antidepressants are being prescribed for lots of other minor things other than actual depression.

it doesn't say how long the average prescription period is, which would be interesting. is it a week? a month? six months?
for major depression a typical diagnosis criteria is feeling depressed for 2 weeks or more. major depression can go fairly quickly, too, as its often caused by single experiences/problems rather than necessarily neurochemical imbalances or problematic learned behaviour/thought patterns.
catching and treating a major depressive episode early is no doubt a good thing and can prevent these more long term issues (or even dysthimia) from forming, so perhaps in overprescription real depression is truly being better handled and not left to fester and turn into recurring depressive issues. that said, they are powerful drugs... and lets not forget effective treatment for clinical depression can only really come from a combination of councelling/therapy and treating neurochemical problems with drugs. but then everyone in america has a shrink, right? ;)

Kind of appropriate for someone name 'Pure Metal', hm?
I always hated the sense of warped consciousness. But you gotta be a productive member of society, don'tcha?

Nothing wrong with needing these pills for a while. There however is something seriously wrong with taking them for too long. or solving all problems with them. It seriously FUBARs you :(

Kind of appropriate for someone name 'Pure Metal', hm?

buh? :confused:

have to say the pills i've been on for the last year or so don't do any sort of "warped conciousness" thing :)

buh? :confused:

have to say the pills i've been on for the last year or so don't do any sort of "warped conciousness" thing :)

Same with mine. Although I did get yelled at for stopping them just to see if there was an effect I wasn't noticing

I self medicate for my depression.

Same with mine. Although I did get yelled at for stopping them just to see if there was an effect I wasn't noticing
yeah, the last couple of weeks i got out of the habbit of taking them and my mood is all over the fucking place. been taking em for a year or more and twice now i've had a spell of not taking them. i revert back to depressed-me pretty quickly (albeit better than i was). meh.

I self medicate for my depression.

used to do that with weed, booze and ecstacy. just hid the problem from me for 2 years. as soon as i stopped hiding it i could start to get better :)

used to do that with weed, booze and ecstacy. just hid the problem from me for 2 years. as soon as i stopped hiding it i could start to get better :)

I stopped taking extacy quite a few years ago and rarely drink (I don't even remember the last time I got a buzz from it) but I never did those for my mental issues.

Pot keeps my thoughts from raging which makes me a anxious, angry, sad, nervous wreck and unable to get anything done. When I smoke I feel happy and relaxed and can enjoy a pretty good quality of life, while getting my life duties accomplished with little worry. Worry/anger/depression that is seemingly unprompted, rather than by some event in my life (although I could be blocking some past event from my memory).

I don't see much difference in using one chemical over another to ease the tension unless one is really abusing a substance to the point where they cannot function in society.

It appears that one can become much more dependent on a prescribed anti-depressant than on smoking pot, although I do not deny that I depend on smoking pot to help maintain a better mood, but I hear that mood swings after coming off of anti-depressants are intense, while I have not found that when I don't smoke pot for a week or two.

I stopped taking extacy quite a few years ago and rarely drink (I don't even remember the last time I got a buzz from it) but I never did those for my mental issues.

Pot keeps my thoughts from raging which makes me a anxious, angry, sad, nervous wreck and unable to get anything done. When I smoke I feel happy and relaxed and can enjoy a pretty good quality of life, while getting my life duties accomplished with little worry. Worry/anger/depression that is seemingly unprompted, rather than by some event in my life (although I could be blocking some past event from my memory).

I don't see much difference in using one chemical over another to ease the tension unless one is really abusing a substance to the point where they cannot function in society.

It appears that one can become much more dependent on a prescribed anti-depressant than on smoking pot, although I do not deny that I depend on smoking pot to help maintain a better mood, but I hear that mood swings after coming off of anti-depressants are intense, while I have not found that when I don't smoke pot for a week or two.

The difference in dependence is that for some drugs, such as heroin, you might be fine beforehand, and dependent afterwards.

For antidepressants, you're depressed to begin with - and if you aren't, you shouldn't be taking them. Correctly prescribed, there are some people who cannot go off of them, even if you work through your life issues and get therapy. Some people just don't have the correct balance of neurotransmitters to get through life.

That said, taking antidepressants alone is a bad idea. You need the therapy and help with dealing with your life issues (and change the way you live your life).

Some of the newer antidepressants are far, far more effective than the drugs of just a few years ago. But they are not a replacement for changing your life and getting the life skills to help you out of depression.

Aren't just about everybody depressed in some way? That is what the studies seem to say anyway!

No sir, I don't like it (http://www.conspiracyinc.com/RenNStimpy/srs0003r.jpg)
I less-than-three you.
Aren't just about everybody depressed in some way? That is what the studies seem to say anyway!
Well, kinda...every person will fit the diagnosis for depression at some point in their lives

A lot of people nowadays seem to think that any sign of anxiousness or sadness signifies a broken brain, and immediately upon discovery will run with their asses on fire for their prescription of Happy Pills.

“My brain doesn’t produce enough serotonin!” they chirp. “This is why I’m always sad!”

It’s always the serotonin. It’s never the lousy job or the loveless marriage or the helplessness one feels when they finally realized they’ve been pressured into living a life they would have never chosen for themselves. No, it’s never that. It’s always a broken brain.
*shakes fist angrily at writer*

Seasonally-affected depression - absolutely IS to do with serotonin defficiency!

But hey, let's just go along with the new 'there's nothing wrong with you, really, it's just self esteem / a crap job / life in general!' fad, eh?

*shakes fist angrily at writer*

Seasonally-affected depression - absolutely IS to do with serotonin defficiency!

But hey, let's just go along with the new 'there's nothing wrong with you, really, it's just self esteem / a crap job / life in general!' fad, eh?

Doesnt SAD have to do with living our lives out of sync with the seasons and times changes? As in sticking to a work or school schedule and not getting to bed and waking up at times that our body might expect thru millions of years of evolution? I heard something about light therapy that can help with this, btw.

I personally think the additives, preservatives, hormones and whatnot in much of what we eat likely change our body chemistry in undesirable ways and probably add to these mental disorders more and more people seem to be facing.

*shakes fist angrily at writer*

Seasonally-affected depression - absolutely IS to do with serotonin defficiency!

But hey, let's just go along with the new 'there's nothing wrong with you, really, it's just self esteem / a crap job / life in general!' fad, eh?
Well, as you might have seen the problem was the over-diagnosing of anti-depression medicine.

And I agree that I would like to see the duration of descriptions. I mean... how long someone is on these drugs. That should clarify who has more of a point.

I stopped taking extacy quite a few years ago and rarely drink (I don't even remember the last time I got a buzz from it) but I never did those for my mental issues.

Pot keeps my thoughts from raging which makes me a anxious, angry, sad, nervous wreck and unable to get anything done. When I smoke I feel happy and relaxed and can enjoy a pretty good quality of life, while getting my life duties accomplished with little worry. Worry/anger/depression that is seemingly unprompted, rather than by some event in my life (although I could be blocking some past event from my memory).

I don't see much difference in using one chemical over another to ease the tension unless one is really abusing a substance to the point where they cannot function in society.

It appears that one can become much more dependent on a prescribed anti-depressant than on smoking pot, although I do not deny that I depend on smoking pot to help maintain a better mood, but I hear that mood swings after coming off of anti-depressants are intense, while I have not found that when I don't smoke pot for a week or two.

that's what i used to think, while i was "on pot" (god i hate that phrase), but i guess the difference is i couldn't live a normal life on it. i was high pretty much 24/7 from waking up till going to bed drunk & high every night. during the day i would just veg out, accomplish nothing, do nothing, and - despite the weed - feel joy in nothing. i used it more as a sedative than anything else. and while i was on it and thinking (kidding myself) i was fine, my problems just mounted. when i stopped using i could deal with my problems, work out what was wrong with my life, and - yes - a year later went back on another drug for the same problem, but at least this time i knew what my problems were :)

these days, while still dependent on a drug to live a normal life, i am able to feel joy in things, feel accomplishment for the things i do, and actually lead that 'normal life'
and this drug will eventually - i hope - lead to not being dependent on it and actually be "cured"

i'm not trying to say you're wrong at all, just that equating weed and narcotic drugs, used in a non-recreational, 'self-medicated' way, with modern antidepressants doesn't seem right to me, having used both.

We shouldn't be so quick to judge people about this. One's consciousness is his reality. If he does not feel comfortable with it, then he should try something to get better. If you guys want someone to blame, try doctors, who are too inclined to prescribe these than to reccomend therapy. But sometimes, therapy isn't enough by itself.

Of course, the inner daemons can be pretty bad, but then, there often are other solutions than being on pills for years.

I must be doing something wrong. I don't have a prescription for anti-depressants.

That must mean I am not normal.




*gets depressed*

If I ever make a satire on modern society, I am using that.

Eh, I'm nearly done a prescription of painkillers from my wisdom teeth extraction on Friday, bloody miserable things they are. They're why I'm depressed at the moment. On the topic...well doctors probably do prescribe them too much, but some people do need them.

Yeah, one of my clients said that her depression was back, and described many common symptoms of serious depression. She wanted me to recommend a general practitioner that she could go to (since her insurance had just changed) so she could get some more depression meds. I was like, "Why on earth would you go to a regular doctor for psychotropic medication?? You need to see a psychiatrist, for crying out loud. They actually went to school for this." I don't understand why regular doctors are allowed to prescribe these kinds of medication at all.

I refuse to take drugs for mental nonconformities--most of which isn't real.

On depression, if you can't deal with it like I have, do the world a favor and remove yourself from the gene pool.

It is my view that the majority of people will face some kind of adversity that might lead to them being less than happy at some point in their lifetimes, and that it is the mental act of facing up to these episodes that helps us to grow into fully-functional human beings. Medicating away the downtimes is not the answer. Soma, anyone?

Some people can handel it, some can't. For some people, they dp need medication, some don't. It isn't a one size fits all. They may be nessicary for most people at one point in there life, maybe not. However, while I do agree that they are over-perscribed I disagree that you can catagorise anti-depressents as wrong like that.

I refuse to take drugs for mental nonconformities--most of which isn't real.

On depression, if you can't deal with it like I have, do the world a favor and remove yourself from the gene pool.

:rolleyes:

Wow. Looks like another good reason to count my blessings. I didn't know depression was that widespread. :(