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Originally Posted by SuzeQuze
Thanks for your thoughts.  After 4 weeks on meds my brother was a different person. It was amazing. 
On Edit: Jinx about the "different person" thing Brad.  But that is how it is! Actually when I was depressed I met a friend's boyfriend. A couple of years later I saw him again after treatment. He was like, "That was you? You're like a different person." |
You owe me a Coke! How retarded was that game?
Glad to hear things worked well for you and your brother. That's really great.
And IMO, again just my opinion, there is no reason why someone should have to suffer with depression. There are so many different meds out there with different mechanisms of action that if the first one or two don't work, there will almost always be one that does...and shock therapy (no, it's nothing like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
) works very well for people who fail to respond to meds. And of course there are side effects...there are side effects to taking Advil. That's why it's important to followup with your doctor every couple of months or so. Don't let the likes of Jim Adler (or insert the name of another lawyer commercial) convince you that these are evil. I hate when I tell a patient that they should probaby be on some drug and they're like "I've heard about that on TV...they're supposed to be bad for you" and then refuse to take it. I mean, you're going to trust a lawyer on TV who's out to get your money above your own doctor's opinion who is looking out for your best interest? That amazes me and pisses me off to no end. It's like "well, it's on TV, it must be true." Sorry, me on my soapbox for a second there.
And I failed to mention earlier, but having support is key too. People often feel like crap at the beginning of treatment, and having people who support them (e.g. family, friends, counselor or psychiatrist, THE LEDGE) helps keep them motivated. A lot of the newer drugs take like a month or so to actually kick in, so a lot of times people stop taking them because they don't feel like they're working or they may in fact be feeling worse. Imagine already feeling down on yourself and having people around you that make fun of you for being on meds or telling you to "cheer up." Luckily, I think a lot of the stigma of being on antidepressants is fading whether it's because of education about the subject or that it's more socially acceptable...I don't know. I'm just glad more people are willing to reach out for help before something tragic like suicide occurs.
Brad