what do you do for a living? - Page 9

estranged4life · #**121** 04-27-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

And some people do use their depression as a crutch, "oh feel sorry for me, I'm depressed" bleh. I'm not saying that's not true. It just bugs me that meds are so demonized when they are so helpful to so many.

I have been through lately ("Hey God, I'm still here....") I have yet to feel sorry for myself. I was in too much shock to be depressed, And that shock of late has turned to anger...Thus stress.

I actually feel great today (I've actually slept more than 6 hours)...So I guess the lexpro has worked 'its wonders' on me.

tynan88 · #**122** 04-27-2005, 09:44 AM

It seems like a different culture with mood drugs in America, anti-depressants are given out to people here as a real last resort.

I don't think it is some kind of epidemic of anxiety today either, it is just now people are aware of things to help them, so they will use them, whether that is a bad thing or not is a personaly choice, but yer, I think it is the same with ADD, it isn't a new thing, but it has only recently been labelled and it allows for better treatment...

The question is are the drugs always necessary?

SuzeQuze · #**123** 04-27-2005, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tynan88

It seems like a different culture with mood drugs in America, anti-depressants are given out to people here as a real last resort.

I don't think it is some kind of epidemic of anxiety today either, it is just now people are aware of things to help them, so they will use them, whether that is a bad thing or not is a personaly choice, but yer, I think it is the same with ADD, it isn't a new thing, but it has only recently been labelled and it allows for better treatment...

The question is are the drugs always necessary?

Actually, anxiety and depression are becoming an epidemic. The rates keep rising and rising. This may be due to a great disconnect from the community. People do not feel part of a larger whole so much anymore. We feel like we're on our own.

No, the drugs aren't always necessary. I was in therapy for a year with no relief from my depression before I started. A really great book about all of this is Feeling Good by David Burns. It explains when antidepressants are necessary and when they may not be.

SuzeQuze · #**124** 04-27-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

I have had bouts of depression on and off all my life. Sometimes they are like the sniffles and other times they are like the flu. The minor ones are now things I consider normal. Everyone gets bummed out sometimes. But, I have had a few times that were pretty bad. Never did the medication. I just exercise like a madman and go to my shrink twice a week and that seems to kick my ass out of it. The other things that snap me out of it are helping other people and playing with my parrots. Well, that and writing. Great suffering, great art, right ?

As an adult (over 21), I have only had two of these bad times and they were both related to life events.

I sure know a lot of people who take medication these days though. I think it is disturbing and wonder what is up with the epidemic of anxiety and depression. Sometimes I think it is more of an epidemic of people afraid to have negative feelings. There is such a stigma associated with being ANYTHING other than HAPPY all the time. This is not to discount authentic depression because I know that monster and it SUCKS.

Thank you for sharing all of this. I will try to get off of them at some point. It's just that I was depressed for like 10 years before I realized that I was. I was moderately depressed which I thought was a normal state. It wasn't until I was extremely depressed that I sought treatment and realized I had been living in black and white for years. The medications keep me from going really low. I still get sad and low but rarely "depressed".

tynan88 · #**125** 04-27-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Actually, anxiety and depression are becoming an epidemic. The rates keep rising and rising. This may be due to a great disconnect from the community. People do not feel part of a larger whole so much anymore. We feel like we're on our own.

No, the drugs aren't always necessary. I was in therapy for a year with no relief from my depression before I started. A really great book about all of this is Feeling Good by David Burns. It explains when antidepressants are necessary and when they may not be.

I think it really must be an American thing and I think it has a lot to do with the media, I suffer sever depression at times and have therapy, but again I ask are there actually more people with mental illness such as anxiety (yes I class it as a mental illness) or is there more awareness and so more people are able to seek treatment, I guess that's what I am trying to say.

SuzeQuze · #**126** 04-27-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tynan88

I think it really must be an American thing and I think it has a lot to do with the media, I suffer sever depression at times and have therapy, but again I ask are there actually more people with mental illness such as anxiety (yes I class it as a mental illness) or is there more awareness and so more people are able to seek treatment, I guess that's what I am trying to say.

According to this http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/3/14/15253/7082 the answer is yes, Americans do have more mental illness.

strandinthewind · #**127** 04-27-2005, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

According to this http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/3/14/15253/7082 the answer is yes, Americans do have more mental illness.

I heard an interesting speaker last weekend who suggested that the reason Americans have more is because commercialism preys on that that. We are constantly told via suggestion that our lives would be better if we had this product, the underlying message being something is wrong with your life. Anyway - food for thought.

tynan88 · #**128** 04-27-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

According to this http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/3/14/15253/7082 the answer is yes, Americans do have more mental illness.

Thanks for that, I find it interesting really. I personally feel it would have a lot to do with the media but I am not an expert so I don't know real stats but it wouldn't surprise me if it has increased in particular in the last four years.

SuzeQuze · #**129** 04-27-2005, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tynan88

Thanks for that, I find it interesting really. I personally feel it would have a lot to do with the media but I am not an expert so I don't know real stats but it wouldn't surprise me if it has increased in particular in the last four years.

I think this is true, and what strand said is part of it. We constantly think we don't have enough, aren't thin enough, don't look good enough, etc. It's something to battle every day. Damn media. A commercial says, "you feel too fat, don't you? well, we have the solution." And we're just bombarded with that.

estranged4life · #**130** 04-27-2005, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I think this is true, and what strand said is part of it. We constantly think we don't have enough, aren't thin enough, don't look good enough, etc. It's something to battle every day. Damn media. A commercial says, "you feel too fat, don't you? well, we have the solution." And we're just bombarded with that.

how many people are suffering post-traumatic stress disorder from watching and/or surviving 9-11?

I agree with the media saturation of that Americans have to look perfect, That all females have to have that supermodel figure with Playboy playmate cleavage while all men should have Chippendale dancers bodies & abs...What a big steamin' pile of cow chips!!!

Anyways, I'm in the minority when it comes to being on medication, I'm on anxiety meds to calm me down from becoming, dare I say, rather homicidal...I have a rather short & quite the explosive temper

SuzeQuze · #**131** 04-27-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

how many people are suffering post-traumatic stress disorder from watching and/or surviving 9-11?

I agree with the media saturation of that Americans have to look perfect, That all females have to have that supermodel figure with Playboy playmate cleavage while all men should have Chippendale dancers bodies & abs...What a big steamin' pile of cow chips!!!

Anyways, I'm in the minority when it comes to being on medication, I'm on anxiety meds to calm me down from becoming, dare I say, rather homicidal...I have a rather short & quite the explosive temper

Or those returning from war. And feeling homicidal in your circumstance is probably "normal" although I'm glad you're not going to go out and off anybody. For your sake that is, cuz jail or death stinks.

estranged4life · #**132** 04-27-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

And feeling homicidal in your circumstance is probably "normal" although I'm glad you're not going to go out and off anybody. For your sake that is, cuz jail or death stinks.

never say never...Right???