Posted by Cam W. on May 5, 2000, at 20:50:52
In reply to Re: Now how do you do that?… anyone?…any ideas?, posted by allisonm on May 5, 2000, at 20:25:57
Allison - In my opinion, I think your doctor is correct about medication. I do not believe that antidepressants can "cure" depression, only resolve its symptoms. In acute, reactive depression (as opposed to endogenous depression, due to genetics) the cure comes about by resolving the issues that caused the depression in the first place (eg coming to terms with an abusive situation, changing your mindset toward life in general, or, as in my case, dealing with the death of my son and learning how to grieve properly, rather than internalizing it and being the "strong one").Basically you have to fix the sh** that caused the depression in the first place. Antidepressants alone cannot do this. Therapy, whether in the form of formal cognitive-behavioral therapy or just talking out your problems with friends, is what "cures" your depression. The antidepressants just bring you to a level where you can cognitively understand why you are depressed. Sometimes the reason isn't very clear at all. Sometimes the issues surrounding what caused our depression are something we don't want to face; but we have to face these issues and deal with them, resolve them, or otherwise come to terms with them, if we truly will be able to recover.
As someone so eloquently stated a few months ago, "Antidepressants just put the floor under your feet."
Just my opinion, for what it's worth - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:32334
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/32488.html