Quote from: Ian AbsentiaI'm curious, Bill, why do you ask?

!i!

Purely curiosity and nothing more. To be honest, I was not even expecting anyone to post any explanations.

Bill

Edit: And since other mention it, except for medications for diabetes and migraines, I do not take any other medications and nothing for mental illness.

Quote from: HinterWeltPurely curiosity and nothing more.

I'll confess that I'm curious to see if the increasing acceptance treating acute and/or chronic depression with pharmaceuticals has filtered down into this population.

Generally people deal with acute depression with the bootstrap mentality, feeling that they need to just put their head down and push on through it, or that taking a simple, limited regimine of a mild anti-depressant is an admission of "mental illness".  Times are changing, though, and it's becoming increasingly common to encounter people who have used a prescribed medication for a relatively brief duration to help get them off a bad stretch of road and handling their very normal depression and anxiety without benefit of meds.

!i!

Screw the pills.

Only "medication" I take is the occassional aspirin or swig of Maalox.

- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarScrew the pills.

Why screw the pills?  Because you don't need them?  I think I presented a pretty reasonable case for where some people may find great benefit from them.  And, yes, they might be used or prescribed inappropriately, too, but such is life.

!i!

In my job I work around a lot of people who are seriously mentally disordered, and have no real control over it-I mean they can't even give themselves medications, even if they wanted to (They're that fucked up.)-and as such I have come to change my views on mental illness.

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaWhy screw the pills?  Because you don't need them?  I think I presented a pretty reasonable case for where some people may find great benefit from them.  And, yes, they might be used or prescribed inappropriately, too, but such is life.

!i!

 Because my father almost died when doctors didn't account for the synergy of 3 different medications.

 A friend of mine I believe got misdiagnosed....and was overprescribed stuff that made him worse than he was before.  Not really sure he has recovered from that yet or not.

 The only friend I have that is actually "benefitting" from medication is one of my players in the group. She can actually get normal sleep because of what she is taking....same for her husband. a year opr 2 ago ...she tried to get to sleep by natural means.  This is working better.

 For most of my circle of friends and relatives I have seen mostly BAD results from drugs and medication - its like a crapshoot and the Doctors and professionals really DON'T KNOW what they're doing - but are loahe to admit that its trial and errot going on.


So yeah "screw the pills" . If I get "depressed"...rather find a more natural way to get myself out of it.

- Ed C.

If you get "depressed", that might be enough. If you get depressed, be prepared to sacrifice on the altar of modern medicine

Quote from: KoltarBecause my father almost died when doctors didn't account for the synergy of 3 different medications.

 A friend of mine I believe got misdiagnosed....and was overprescribed stuff that made him worse than he was before.  Not really sure he has recovered from that yet or not.

 The only friend I have that is actually "benefitting" from medication is one of my players in the group. She can actually get normal sleep because of what she is taking....same for her husband. a year opr 2 ago ...she tried to get to sleep by natural means.  This is working better.

 For most of my circle of friends and relatives I have seen mostly BAD results from drugs and medication - its like a crapshoot and the Doctors and professionals really DON'T KNOW what they're doing - but are loahe to admit that its trial and errot going on.


So yeah "screw the pills" . If I get "depressed"...rather find a more natural way to get myself out of it.

- Ed C.

Its not the meds fault. Its the doctors. Much like any other business its hard to find doctors that are competent and/or give a fuck.
 
Fucking quacks killed my grand father because of the conflicting meds they gave him. It wasnt the meds fault. It was the assholes that didnt talk to each other or even consult his chart or files to know what he was on.

Ronin has it right.  Of course, that raises the question: If appropriate and effective meds are only available through a doctor's prescription, and you feel you can't trust the doctors to whom you have access, how can you trust the prescription they provide you?

The best answer, as with any serious investment in your personal welfare, is to do your research.  Find out what you can before seeing the doctor.  Ask your doctor questions.  Report your symptoms as accurately and honestly as possible. Find a doctor who will work with you on your course of treatment.  Of course, all of this assumes: A) that you are in a competent frame of mind; and B) that you can find a doctor who wants and will accept your input.

All in all, though, for those times when more natural courses of action just can't help you shake your depression and/or anxiety (not just a bad mood or a bit of a blue funk -- weeks or months of effectively debilitating mood), medications are an increasingly viable option to seek help.

!i!

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOf course, all of this assumes: A) that you are in a competent frame of mind; and B) that you can find a doctor who wants and will accept your input.

Yeah I can't stress this enough-second opinion folks. I see way too many people who got hooked up on the wrong advice, and then decided they'd never trust a doc again.

You wouldn't buy a car with out looking at it, and test driving it? (Or at least seeing if it turned on right?) Same goes for meds-why would you swallow something that could potentially significantly alter your life on one guys recommendations?

Quote from: KoltarSo yeah "screw the pills" . If I get "depressed"...rather find a more natural way to get myself out of it.

Genuine depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and it will not resolve itself without medical intervention and that will almost always involve drugs.

Thats possibly ALL good advice .... but - I'm NOT depressed.
 It was a hypothetical.


- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarThats possibly ALL good advice .... but - I'm NOT depressed.

Then your answer should be a simple "No", shouldn't it?  Hypothetically, if you ever do become clinically depressed, then, like the vast majority of people, your initial reaction will be to say "Screw the pills."  However, if, hypothetically, after 4 to 12 weeks of persistent mood disturbance that profoundly affects your ability to function on what you would normally consider to be your baseline daily routine, you should perhaps consider finding a doctor whom you trust to explore short-term (6-month to 1.5 year) medicinal options.  All hypothetically, of course.

!i!

(P.S. I should hasten to add, if you're going to pursue medication as a means of addressing depression and/or anxiety, seriously consider counselling, too.  Again, short-term, usually just for the duration of the med prescription, and doesn't even need to be weekly.  Just some help in understanding and adjusting to the changes in mood, including an adjustment to your improved mood on medication.)