The Blues
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Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:04 pm

With the recent, irresponsible public comments made by actor Tom Cruise about the use of anti-depressants and/or Ritalin, I am wondering what you think of using medication(s) to correct depression, anxiety, social phobias, etc? Anyone out there `ever taken an SSRI ?

free skin care · Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:20 pm

I'm not against it but I do think that doctors in the UK are too quick to prescribe anti-depressants. So many people in this country claim to have depression. I think a lot of them are not really depressed. This means that those who are genuinely ill don't get the attention/recognition their illness deserves. I hate people using the expression 'I feel depressed' when really all they are feeling is a bit miserable. Depression is a serious illness and shouldn't be used as a general term for feeling a bit miserable on the odd day when things aren't going well.

free skin care · Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:21 pm

i think the stronger things are dangerous,couse you quickly can get dependet on it...but things like Bach-blossoms(i dont know, if youre write them this way)javascript:emoticon('

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Very Happy or homeopathic-pills are okay, i think you really have to belive at them(like at these Lourd Source waterjavascript:emoticon('

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Laughing) couse if you belive at them you see evry little result,cause you want it tojavascript:emoticon('

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Very Happy

free skin care · Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:41 pm

I agree with Toe, so many people are too quick to self diagnose themselves with depression. Consequently those with 'real' depression are not taken as seriously and the illness is then somewhat undermined. Again pills are handed out far too readily but this may be because here in the UK the NHS Mental Health Service is very under resourced. Its quicker and easier to chuck pills at people than to try and get them a referral to a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Ive taken around 12 different psych medications in the past few years and im 22! Some of them have very undesirable and uncomfortable side effects and so I agree more consideration needs to be tken before they're handed out. In my experience more often than not medication is pushed on patients as the first line of treatment when in fact in lots of cases meds should be used as a last resort or in conjunction with therapy.

free skin care · Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:53 pm

There is a big difference in the blues and Clinical Depression. IMO a person that is Clinically Depressed needs medication. Years ago they did not have the drugs they have today to help people.

I have a big problem with doctors handing out tranquilizers (controlled substances). Habit forming drugs are scary. Of course at times there is a need for them. Most all antidepressant drugs are not habit forming.

Over the years I have seem several people go through bouts of Clinical Depression and been relieved greatly from the right drug.

free skin care · Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:41 pm

Hi to all,

At the risk of sounding like a spoil sport and Miss Serious, can i urge you all to please be very careful with any comments you make on these kinds of controversial topics.

Yes, we all have a right to free speech and a forum like this is a great place to share, but everyone who visits should also feel comfortable, happy or enlightened about this forum, not go away feeling angry or upset, especially when generalisations are made, or one persons opinion gets in the way of anothers reality.

Depression affects so, so many and most of us (if not all) will have known someone, if not personally affected by this illness - we all know it can result in disastrous or life altering consequences for sufferers and as such I am always wary of holding this type of public forum, where people often make sweeping generalisations.

As a Medical Scientist and previous Medical Representative working for a pharmaceutical company and talking to GP's everyday about the challenges they face, most of them would agree that depression is an illness difficult to treat and that current diagnostic guidelines and therapies are somewhat inadequate. However, I am certain that those who have been around for a while would agree that things are much, much better than they were 20 years ago, or 50 years ago - when you had a frontal labotomy instead, and I second Winnie's comment that many people are effectively returned to a life of normalicy with the right meds.

Please be sensitive when commenting on this issue - a very important one that sometimes hits close to home. Neutral

Thanks,
Melissa

free skin care · Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:31 am

yes,youre right,Melissa...My mum was two times in a psychatric clinic with depressions,as i were a child.But you really can get dependet on it...thats the reason why i dont have sleeping pills for my insomnia...

free skin care · Wed Jul 13, 2005 6:45 am

I agree with Toe, I think pills are far to easily handed sometimes.

My mother-in Law was put on anti-depressents as she was saying to the Doctor her nerves couldnt take any noise and she was fed up, a year later it came to light she has progressive alzheimers.

We weaned her off the anti-depressents only for her to go back and him put her back on them, she is totally off them now...

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 3:56 am

I have mixed feelings about this.

I do think it's an easy thing to say. I also think it seems more acceptable in the US to medicate, even young kids, rather than look at why people are feeling low.

Folks I have a confession. Very few people know this - since it's a forum and we're never likely to meet I'll say it. I used to self harm. I considered myself to be depressed. I also figured it was part of who I was, something I had to deal with, admitting a problem meant I was weak. The one and only time I went to see my doctor, I was made to feel worse, like there wasn't a problem..sorry but taking a razor blade to yourself is not a problem? I wanted help but was told to go out and take some exercise Shock

Not everyone gets pills thrown at them. Some people aren't helped at all. I was very fortunate that I met someone at university who had similar issues and we worked through them together.
So you see I have mixed feelings about it, at the time I wanted something from the dr. if I had would I still have worked through it with my friend? I don't know.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:10 am

One of my best friends jumped in front of a train when she was 18. Miraculously enough, the train was able to stop. She went on meds, started therapy and lived a normal life. The stigma associated with "people like her" and therapy and meds prompted her to try to live with out them. The very attitude the TC expressed on TV was expressed to her on more than one occasion, by many unqualified, overly-opinionated individuals. Now, 7 years later we are right back where we started; trying to get her the right meds in the right quantities... again. Not a day goes by at the moment where I am not scared to death that she is going to do something.

I think some depression is chemical, and some is situational. In my opinion, both are equally as serious, and medication is often the fastest way to get people out if the danger zone. When I hear people say negative things about medication I get incredibly angry. Depression is not just feeling sad, it is so much worse than that. I don't think that it is possible to even understand unless one has experienced it. Meds on their own are not enough though, and I think that if a Dr feels that medication is the way to go, they should also be giving a referral to a specialist. Just my opinion.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 4:49 am

Eve,do you still do that? Ive done it for a long time,(started with 11years)and its verry hard to get ride of it...Im verry sorry for you, and know how you probably feel...javascript:emoticon('

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javascript:emoticon('

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free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:25 am

Hi Sweety, no not anymore. I worked through it - I'm a stubborn cow and decided enough was enough. If you ever want to private message me about it please do. I won't tell you to stop if you haven't even though you know I would like you to. It has to come from you.
As someone who's been through it I feel for you.

I think it is very difficult for people to understand why someone would do that to themselves, I think it has more stigma than if someone has an alcohol or drug problem - at least people can see the initial enjoyment in driking or trying drugs Cool

Honestly I see them as being tied together, they are all ways of coping, symptoms of something else. It is addictive and turns your frustrations inwards. If someone had a drug or alcohol problem you wouldn't know unless they told you. For folk like me and Sweety it's written on our skin. You can't hide from it.

I think it's also made me more empathic towards other people problems - I don't even like calling it a 'problem' as I see that as being negative. It's something I did and it's part of me.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:44 am

Oh, ive stopped about a year ago...youre really right!But my scares are not that bad,my skin heals verry good,thanks godjavascript:emoticon(' Smile

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Smile

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 7:47 am

I suffer from clinical depression it first started with post-natal depression 18 years ago. But i have been on medication for 10 years now and i know without it i would not be here. And yes i do get annoyed at people when they complain they are depressed when its obvious they are just a bit low or fed up. I think more should be done in the way of counselling and psychology because understanding what causes the problem helps to treat the illness. Doctors are too willing to dole out pills rather than actually listening to a patient.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 8:05 am

I think that having to endure the "opinions" of lay persons who are are neither patients nor doctors causes a great deal of pain for people who are suffering from any sort of emotional trauma - the stigma associated with mental illness can be isolating and further debilitating... I also don't think it's anyone's place to make a determination regarding the degree or severity of someone's voiced depression or upset. Who is to say, or rather who has the right to make a measure someone's degree of sorrow? I don't think I do, anyways. Pain and emotional suffering is an intensely personal thing...unless you are the patient or a treating professional then I think that neither I, nor Tom Cruise or anyone here has the right to judge - either way.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:24 am

Pud. You make a good point. I've often felt what is the point is psychiatry/psychology - no one is going to know me better than me. However one guy I knew who was on antidepressents felt the other way, he wanted to speak to someone else because they may see the problem in a different way.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:49 am

Eve and Sweety Smarty,

Pleased to hear that you have both been able to work through your self-harming. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be to break a cycle like that. Forgive my ignorance but I just wanted to know if you now feel 'cured' or do you feel that you could turn back to self-harming at any point? Eve - you mentioned that it addictive much like drink and drugs are addictive things and as most people know you can never really be cured of alcoholism or drug * spam alert *. I was just imagining that this must be similar in that there might always be a nagging doubt in the back of your mind that placed in a stressful/traumatic situation you may return to self-harming. Confused

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:00 pm

hey Toe. I would never do this again.Ive accepted that ive done this,i had a really hard childhood,but im totaly over it.I think its a really importand thing,that ive accepted my past,so i can live in the present.I think that all just made me stronger,and now i can understad other people much better,and can better help them.And this is really important for me.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 1:26 pm

I actually take a drug called Elavil (generic name: Amitriptyline). It is a mild anti-depressant, but my migraine doctor/s actually prescribed it for me because it is both a sedative and mild pain reliever. Sometimes when I get a really bad migraine episode and the only thing that will help is crawling under a cool, dark rock while I pray for death but blessed unconsciousness is elusive because the pain is so severe, the Elavil can take the edge off the pain just enough that I can finally fall into a healing sleep. The hell with Tom Cruise for begrudging me that little measure of relief.

free skin care · Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:02 pm

Pudoodles wrote:

I think that having to endure the "opinions" of lay persons who are are neither patients nor doctors causes a great deal of pain for people who are suffering from any sort of emotional trauma - the stigma associated with mental illness can be isolating and further debilitating... I also don't think it's anyone's place to make a determination regarding the degree or severity of someone's voiced depression or upset. Who is to say, or rather who has the right to make a measure someone's degree of sorrow? I don't think I do, anyways. Pain and emotional suffering is an intensely personal thing...unless you are the patient or a treating professional then I think that neither I, nor Tom Cruise or anyone here has the right to judge - either way.

I can't add one more word to Pudoodles post, she's summed up my feelings completely. Annette

free skin care · Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:25 am

I have been on anti-depressants for a couple of years now.

My depression has been milder/low-grade than what many people suffer from, but I finally came to the realization that it was having a negative effect on my life.

Depression is a tricky ailment - it manifests itself in so many different ways. Some people have wild mood swings and are bi-polar. Some people have incessant crying jags. Some people become completely incapacitated and can't leave the house. Others feel terrible but are able to hide it and go about their daily business. Because of this, I don't think anyone has the right to judge who is & isn't truly depressed.

In my case, I was able to function normally, but constantly felt exhausted and unenthused about life. I felt like I had cement in my veins, and was only interested in sleeping during my spare time. My thought patterns were often stuck in a negative groove.

I was very resistant to getting help because of the perception that "pills are handed out like candy". I thought it was something I should be able to handle and fix myself. But I couldn't.

So I went to my doctor and we worked together to find the right medication and dosage. It gave me enough of a "lift" to get on with my life more productively and to see my future with more optimism.

free skin care · Fri Jul 15, 2005 1:33 am

Toe wrote:

Eve and Sweety Smarty,

Pleased to hear that you have both been able to work through your self-harming. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be to break a cycle like that. Forgive my ignorance but I just wanted to know if you now feel 'cured' or do you feel that you could turn back to self-harming at any point? Eve - you mentioned that it addictive much like drink and drugs are addictive things and as most people know you can never really be cured of alcoholism or drug * spam alert *. I was just imagining that this must be similar in that there might always be a nagging doubt in the back of your mind that placed in a stressful/traumatic situation you may return to self-harming. Confused

Hi Toe, interesting point. Cured? that would mean saying there was a problem Very Happy

I still can't bring myself to say I had a problem..more that it's part of who I am Wink

It's a strange feeling, unlike Sweety I think something like this does sort of hang over you, just like the there's no such thing as a cured alcoholic, you're only one drink away from falling off the wagon Laughing

I do think something like that stays with you, its part of your past, part of you and you can't change it. The big difference is that (can't speak for Sweety) you learn the signs when you're going in to a -, you learn different ways of dealing with stresses. I guess it makes you self aware. But the further it is in your past I think the easier it is to leave it behind. Would I do it now, no, can I hand on heart say never? no. I don't think anyone can say that.

Hope that helps Confused

it is difficult to set out our thoughts about a complex issue in an easy to read way.

free skin care · Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:46 am

Eve,lets be honest..It IS a problem,and if you see that,you really can accept it!javascript:emoticon(' Wink

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Wink btw: If im stressed,i meditate,or do kickboxing..i know,it dont fit together,but it helpsjavascript:emoticon('

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Very Happy I had a lot of different problems in the past,now they are a buch,and im over evry one of itjavascript:emoticon('

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Very Happy think the buddhism helped me such a lot...javascript:emoticon(' Smile

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Smile I really wish you to come over it...

free skin care · Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:51 am

Eve and Sweety,

I think you are both strong people, I applaude you both for dealing with this and coming out the other side...

My sister-in-law works in a womans refuge and things she goes through whilst looking after these ladies is so sad, some of the stories are heartbreaking....

free skin care · Fri Jul 15, 2005 6:07 am

Cheers Gucci, but it could be worse. I really feel for those ladies.

Sweety -I understand what you are saying but the way I look at it 'problem' for me is an unhelpful term. Some people need the definition of mentally ill because it's something they can cling to - they have a name for what is happening to them. Others find the term negative and restrictive.

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