Depression

[dcentity2000]

Although one in four of us will experience depression at some point in our lives, only one in ten of us will ever suffer a "clinical" depression. Despite this, doctors remain trigger happy when it comes to prescribing anti-depressant medication, especially Fluoxetine (Prozac).

I'm curious as to the gap between depressions that are medicated and depressions which are clinical; this forum is a prime place to do some casual research.

Please vote in the anonymous poll above and bump this thread when you do; take a look at the results too, whilst you're here. We may be in for a shock.



Rich::

 

[C.Ann]

Can I respond to this - or would you just prefer voting?

 

[dcentity2000]

Well, any response is good



Rich::

 

[trappednabox]

I spent a few years in a state of depression, but I always refused meds

 

[luvmydogs]

I suffered from severe PPD and refused to tell my doctor until I literally became suicidal. I never had thoughts of hurting my son, but I had horrible thoughts of how badly I just wished I were dead, I cried/sobbed all the time, and never, ever felt so hopeless and worthless before. A good friend finally convinced me to see my Dr. who immediately put me on meds and monitored me--weekly at first, then monthly. When the meds. finally kicked in, it was like someone had switched on a light in a very, very dark room--I didn't know I could actually feel well again. I stayed on for @ two years, and was then weaned off.

Receiving treatment for my depression may have saved my life.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I'm another one who KNOWS FOR A FACT that the 2 yrs I've been on Lexapro for anxiety / depression have been SOOOOOOO much better than the 20 yrs I suffered in silence.

Curled up in the corner crying your eyes out is no way to live.

 

[C.Ann]

Well, any response is good



Rich::

---------------

Okay - here's my story.. (And please keep in mind that I have LOADS of experience via myself and my adult DD..)

A number of years ago, I was diagnosed (correctly) as being "clinically depressed" and went through several months of counseling and being medicated.. (Ironically it was Prozac - everything else made me deathly ill..) The proposed treatments worked, I went off the medication, discontinued the counseling, and all was well..

Since that time I have had bouts of "minor" depression - nothing serious enough to require medication - and have managed to pull myself out of the minor episodes via what I learned in counseling and what I made a point of learning on my own..

This past January, I lost my husband of 28 years to a long list of illnesses.. I think (and I've been told) that I have handled that loss (along with a lengthy list of others that have occured since last fall) remarkably well.. I know what "depression" is and thank God I have not fallen back into that black hole - neither clinical nor minor.. Once in awhile I'll get a little frustrated.. Once in awhile I'll have a problem sleeping.. Once in awhile I'll start to worry about things that cannot be changed by "worrying".. But the point I'm trying to make is that if I were to go to a doctor right now - list for him all of the losses and changes in my life since last fall - tell him that my DH just passed away in January - I am 100% positive that he would INSIST that I am depressed and want to put me on medication..

So in my case, I believe there is a good chance that I would be medicated for a condition that doesn't currently exist..

On the other hand, my DD has suffered from severe clinical depression for years and until just recently was 100% unable to manage WITHOUT antidepressants and weekly counseling.. She's finally turned the corner and is doing remarkably well.. Her condition has reached a point where she's able to think about alternatives to managing her life and use much of the same methods that I do to get her over the "minor" episodes.. The only thing she requires now is a sleep aid - and with any luck, she'll eventually reach a point where she doesn't need that either..

So the bottom line is there are times when medication is needed (and appropriate) and other times where medication is pushed on people who really don't need it.. It's really not a "one-size-fits-all" situation..

 

[grinningghost]

I've been on anti-depressant meds since 1991, and if I wasn't, I'm sure I wouldn't be here to respond to this thread right now.

Some people, due to severe depressive disorder (which is what I have) will have sudden recurring attacks, which is exactly what I need to avoid. There is no darkness blacker than true clinical depression.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I've never dealt w/depression but I have a friend that takes meds for it. One time she ran out of her meds and forgot to get them refilled for a few days. She was a completely different person off the meds and it was a little scary. Medication has really helped her.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure about the difference between medicated depression and clinical depression.

I suffered with PPD in silence and finally spoke up and was given meds no questions asked (okay--no additional ones...i was pretty straightforward).


Now--I medicate with chocolate!

 

[s&k'smom]

Give me the meds. I like the person I am on them more than off. I feel I'm a better parent too. I became very depressed a few years ago and nearly had a breakdown. I did try to wean off the meds but that didn't last very long. I think I definately handle things better back on the meds. They arent' for everyone but they definately helped me.

 

[eeyore kelly]

As a teen, I had "acute clinical depression," and needed meds. If I was off of them for any period of time, I would spiral downward into suicide attempts, and need to be hospitalized.

As an adult, I have small moods of depression at times, but I usually do not need meds. Every now and then, a big bump comes up, and I need meds for a short period of time.

 

[spacemountain]

I had times where I was pretty severely depressed twice but I came out of it by myself both times without medication. Although if I am ever severely depressed again I might think differently.

 

[Chuck S]

I had times where I was pretty severely depressed twice but I came out of it by myself both times without medication. Although if I am ever severely depressed again I might think differently.

Like Spacemountain, I've had a couple of bouts with depression, they lasted about a month, and I did not seek medical attention. For me, it seems to be linked to sever allergy attacks, depending on our weather (I'm very allergic to cedar pollen)...maybe it is having an overall affect on my immune system/brain chemistry. I've also had a few days now and then where I've had a general case of "the blues"...but not nearly as serious as the two episodes that lasted about a month. I was considering making a doctors appointment to see about meds, when I quite suddenly started feeling better. In the future, I've decided anything longer than a month, and I will definately make an appointment.

 

[Rajah]

I have dealt with depression in some form since high school, but it was mild enough that I wasn't on antidepressants until after losing my dad.

Losing my dad put me into enough depression that I wasn't doing anything (I mean no work, just sitting staring at the tv or computer, none of the books or games or cross stitch, etc), so I was put on medication. It has made such a huge difference in my life.

 

[ZachnElli]

I've had "situational" depression before. I saw a pshyciatrist for it and he said he could prescribe something. But when I came off them, I'd probably grieve anyway. I chose to just get the grieving out of the way unmedicated.

 

[Sonya]

I had severe PPD and was on Prozac for 9 months. Like another poster, I never wanted to hurt my baby, I just wished I would be dead. Now 2 years later I'm on it again for panic attacks. Don't know where they came from, they just popped up! I would rather live with medication than suffer in silence.

 

[Aidensmom]

I do think antidepressants are overprescribed, but I also think that clinical depressions is very true and sometimes the only thing that will help is medication.

I have both worked in the mental health field, and been a mental health "patient" myself, so I have a lot of experience with this. Clinical depression is a physical disorder in which your brain does not correctly produce or use the chemicals that naturally occur there. There are some things, like good diet and daily exercise that will help (sorry if I sound like Tom Cruise ), but this does not help everyone. I was raised in an abusive, alcoholic home, there is pretty much no way I could have made it through life without some kind of problems....I have clinical depression and anxiety disorder. I take medication on and off. I will take it for several years, go off of it, go back on it when the symptoms reappear to the point I am unable to control them. When off of the medication, I do use diet and exercise to control it. Currently I have been off of medication for 5 years.

I believe it is normal for most people to go through small periods where they temporarily feel depressed, and it is usually situational (lost a job, etc). Medication is prescribed for this a lot, and in most cases I do not think it probably should be. A lot of people will tell you that antidepressants did nothing for them, and I would be willing to bet most of them fell into this group, as their depression was more likely emotional than physical.

 

[Aurora63]

I have suffered with depression on and off since about age 10. Call it an effect of growing up in an alcoholic home. I truly feel this is where it stems from, could be partly genetic too, who knows. But I digress...

I decided to do something about it when I left home to go to college...because for the first time in my life, I could! We had a free mental health clinic for students at my university, and I could go see a real medical dr. for very little money. Both the psychologist and the medical dr. agreed that I was suffering from clinical depression, and I started taking Prozac then. Before this point, my parents had neither the means nor the desire to take me to a dr...I guess their own problems were so huge that they couldn't see mine...I don't hold any bad feelings about this anymore.

Anyway, I think the Prozac with counseling helped a lot, but I only stayed on Prozac for about four months...my boyfriend at the time said I was like a robot while I was on it, but after going off, I actually had emotions. I think he was right, I was very "go with the flow" at the time. Had no low lows, but no high highs either.

It's been about ten years since then now, and I have not taken meds since, though I have had a few boughts with depression since. But I've been able to deal with it, so I don't think I needed the meds any time after '95...yea! Having your own life and being in control of it does wonderful things for a person!

That's all...hope it helps.

 

[DopeyRN]

You can look at pics of me as a child and see a sadness underneath (I had great parents and family support). It wasn't until my mid 30s that I sought help and was diagnosed with clinical depression, which I might add was a huge relief. The meds help, though it is time for a change I think. The one that worked best for me was zoloft, but oh did I gain weight on it.

I think most people fall under situational depression, they have problems and feel the depression or anxiety. Even when all is perfect in my life, I have an underlying sadness. When things are NOT going well, like right now, the anxiety and irritability get bad. I still am "mild" as I have never considered suicide. (Although the psychiatrist once asked have you thought of homicide, and I looked him in the eye and said "Almost daily...I have teenagers. )