May I babble for a moment?

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by amber

ITA.

I would imagine severely depressed people may also have trouble exercising, or eating well, anyway.
I wouldn't say it does nothing, It helps people who don't need meds, too, right? It just doesn't help either one with depression...

Thank you very much for the well wishes. I haven't quit smoking completely, but I am down dramatically, and feel confident about quitting. But, more importantly, how stoked am I with all the cleaning I've been doing? And the homework? I mean, I clean or organize, almost everything I look at, and trust me, my house needed it. Plus, I dance a lot while I'm doing my chores.

That's so cute Amber. I've often wondered if you might be mildly depressed without realizing. I am glad you feel good.

And you are right, exercise helps severely depressed people, it just doesn't help them with their depression! Ms Snarky. It does help with mild depression though.

[amber]

Originally Posted by The Tower

My own personal experience bears out the suggestion that anti-depressants are over-prescribed and wrongly prescribed. I think the drug companies are promoting the use of anti-depressants to a much wider group of people than actually need them. Just because one feels bad does not a "clinical depression" make. This is not to detract from those that actually have chemical imbalances beyond their control and benefit from the use of these types of medicines.

All of the studies on the effects of anti-depressants that I have read have said that these prescriptions require constant monitoring by a doctor while taking them. My doctor handed me the stuff and that was that. No monitoring- no revisits- no checking for violent behavior- no checking for suicidal thoughts. These are very powerful drugs that can have very disasterous effects on people who probably don't need them.

I am absolutely in favor anti-depressant drug therapy for those who suffer from clinical depression. However, the prescription drug companies constant pushing of these medicines to the public as "happy pills" has contributed to the notion that depression is not a serious disorder and that they can be taken as if they are no more than a Claritin or a vitamin pill.

Great post, Towie. I have no doubt about the pharmaceutical industry's culpability when it comes to overprescription. Yeah, I didn't even know that mine required constant doctor monitoring. She patently told me she would not moniter me, in fact.

There is a lot of great info here, from all different kinds of people, and I think that is the important part about this discussion. Maybe DavidMn, or anyone else reading this, will recognize themselves through one of our perspectives on depression and medication and various other information we have. It may then inspire them to help themselves, and perhaps educate them on the different avenues and choices they have in regards to getting help.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Omigosh, what is up with that woman? She is an odd character for sure.

I think she was losing her battle with the bottle there for a while. She still may be.

[amber]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Are you taking it in the morning? If not, you might want to try it that way. I'm glad you feel better honey.

yes, right when I wake up. I switched to two pills a day on friday, which I think is the problem. She said switch to 1 1/2 pills if I feel too "awake", so I'll do that.
Thank you for the good wishes.

[amber]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

I think she was losing her battle with the bottle there for a while. She still may be.

That makes me sad, because I love her. LOVE. Adore. etc. Stupid Scientology.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by amber

That makes me sad, because I love her. LOVE. Adore. etc. Stupid Scientology.

I like her. I'm not sure about love but I definitely like her. Her character on Friends as Chandler's father was hysterical. Also, Serial Mom?

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Also, Serial Mom?

Are those Pussy Willows, Dotty?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Touche. According to Perez, it's working for Kathleen Turner.

I read that! But I don't think she'd run to the clams, honestly. She supposedly kicked her addiction to the bottle and is feeling great about her career after her latest stint on Broadway. She was savaged when she did The Graduate, but now she's getting outright raves.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I like her. I'm not sure about love but I definitely like her. Her character on Friends as Chandler's father was hysterical. Also, Serial Mom?

"Now, Chip, you know how I HATE the brown word."

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by dissention

"Now, Chip, you know how I HATE the brown word."

Haha, I don't remember any specific quotes, just that I loved that crazy movie!

[Moony]

Originally Posted by dissention

Heck no. I'd tell them to take vitamins and read the works of L. Ron Hubbard.

I just did, and it really turned my life around!

[Moony]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I know you didn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings but the types of comments that you've made are the types that keep depressed people from talking about it or getting treatment. I mean, imagine telling a diabetic to just will away their problem with blood sugar? Depression is a disease.

Thank you for understanding, Suze.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by dissention

I read that! But I don't think she'd run to the clams, honestly. She supposedly kicked her addiction to the bottle and is feeling great about her career after her latest stint on Broadway. She was savaged when she did The Graduate, but now she's getting outright raves.

I'm glad to hear it. I've always considered her looks and voice to be unique.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by lbelle1214

More people share this problem than you know....most are just afraid to share. My life is, has been, and probably always will be...an open book. I've dealt with major depressive episodes since I was 16. Valium does not work...they thought it did back then...30 yrs ago. Attempted suicide once, and it has definitely crossed my mind many times since. You are not alone. In 2000, I voluntarily admitted to a psych hospital after a major event in my life. During those four days I learned a lot about myself...and suprisingly enough...to laugh again. However, I was placed on antidepressants, which only dulled any emotion that I had...if I wanted to cry, I couldn't. If I wanted to sing, it was like 'what's the use'. I recently got off all medications in January. They made me so numb, so useless, so fat, so without a personality that I couldn't stand myself anymore. Now I laugh until I cry...I can feel again! Yes, there is still pain. But you must learn how to cope, how to fight for your own life...and most of all, how to love you, in spite of yourself. I used to worry about everything...what people thought about me...how I kept my house...NEVER AGAIN! You are the only person who has to live with YOU, if that makes sense. Let your conscience be your guide...if you spent a little too much $$ on concerts...didn't we all? I depleted my savings, everything! Sacrified so much just to be there. But that is what made ME happy at the moment, my husband understood, and it didn't hurt anybody! The memories of the last few months I will cherish for the rest of my life! You only go around once (we think!)...be kind to others...find happiness in yourself, or nobody else will...take every opportunity to laugh and to love and to reach out to those who need much, but ask little. And if you ever need to vent or to talk, I'm willing to listen...as I'm sure many here will...

Thank you so very much. I'm not one that usually shares these things, but I'm really tired of living like this. It's good to know that others care. My god, if it wasnt for Stevie, I'd be 6 feet under for sure. It's really hard to put that into words for sure.

[DavidMn]

I realize too that I have to take the initiative to solve the problem, and I havent done that yet. So in a way, I'm responsible for the mess I'm in. I'm so thaknful for all the encouraging responses I guess sometimes it helps to open a vein huh?