Posted by stjames on September 19, 2000, at 15:33:47
In reply to Re: Treating Depression without Medication, posted by josh on September 19, 2000, at 14:24:03
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> When you say, "AD's correct mood to normal," what does that mean? What exactly IS normal? I could say my depression is a "normal" reaction to a very unfortunate situation, and if I can take steps to remedy that situation without antidepressants, I will have made much more lasting changes in my behavior and/or cognition. Many studies have shown that cognitive therapy is equally, if not more effective than AD's.James here.....
The depression spoken of here is clilical depression, generally, not situational depression, as you speak of. AD's are not
very effective in situational depression. With clinical depression one is depressed despite positive surroundings and for an extended time.
Therefore clinical depression is not a normal reaction and "normal" would be defined as having
approprate reactions to postive surroundings.
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> When I refer to AD's "making depression worse," I do not mean while a person is on them. It is when one goes off medication after prolonged use I am concerned about. Perhaps AD's, specifically SSRI's and the newer AD's, which have seemingly not been subjected to any extensive longitudinal testing, permanently alter one's brain chemistry for the worse, i.e. making the brain dependent on these sorts of drugs.James here....
This has not been my experience. Given that clinical depression in cronic in nature, that is to say life long, and is a medical problem stoping the meds means the depression comes back.
No one has ever said AD's are a cure. They are very effective in controling clinical depression.
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> Also, you did not reveal your profession. Are you a psychiatrist, G.P. or some other medical professional? I just what want to know where your perspective is coming from. Again, thanks for the feedback, and I would like to continue any discourse on the matter...Reveal ? I think this indicates I am hiding something ? Far from it ! i have been on this list
for 2 yrs. If you were not new you would of come across the fact I am a network admin person. Also few of us here are professional med people. Pls reread the current thread " I am not an expert" on the babble page.
poster:stjames
thread:522
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/583.html