Antidepressants

[Jake]

Wow, sorry to insurges, but I can help asking myself reading all this... Am I the only one that is not on anti-depressant or any type of psychological debalancement medication? I take meds for my diabetes but that's about it and only when low blood sugar is in effect, but reading all your posts here it seems that too many of you are on some sort of anxiety and anti-depressive programs. Sorry for asking, but is being depressed and anxious is part of being gay now? Just asking, because this is not only from this board, it's from many other gay related forums, a large contingent of their member deals with serious depressive and anxiety issues.

[JimmyEcho]

Wow, sorry to insurges, but I can help asking myself reading all this... Am I the only one that is not on anti-depressant or any type of psychological debalancement medication? I take meds for my diabetes but that's about it and only when low blood sugar is in effect, but reading all your posts here it seems that too many of you are on some sort of anxiety and anti-depressive programs. Sorry for asking, but is being depressed and anxious is part of being gay now? Just asking, because this is not only from this board, it's from many other gay related forums, a large contingent of their member deals with serious depressive and anxiety issues.

No, not all are on med. I got depressed but never took any meds.
I slowed down on my drinking and got back into the sports I love, plus I got back into working out, big time. I actually feel pretty good now a days, but I understand depression.
I Drank myself into it heavily, and wanted to end it all. But things got better. We all have highs and lows, sometimes there really low.

Twisttheleaf is right, meds are O.K. They help keep the chemical balance in check.

[Jake]

No, not all are on med. I got depressed but never took any meds.
I slowed down on my drinking and got back into the sports I love, plus I got back into working out, big time. I actually feel pretty good now a days, but I understand depression.
I Drank myself into it heavily, and wanted to end it all. But things got better. We all have highs and lows, sometimes there really low.

Twisttheleaf is right, meds are O.K. They help keep the chemical balance in check.

High and low my friend isn't the case of many people? I don't know, I believe doctors revert too quick to provide meds to anyone that starts feeling down nowadays. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be done, but I have the impression and not only from here, but in real life that I'm surrounded with people that can't deal with their emotions. Perhaps it is because of the Internet they are more exposed.

I am not saying that it is a bad thing, I do prefer to hear that someone is under a medical program to regulate their anxiety, then hearing that yet another poor guy killed himself for not getting proper care, but I have to admit, it's getting out of hand, it's getting way too easy to tell the doctor, I'm feeling down and they get rid of you by giving medications that sometimes make you worst and creates a high level of dependency.

When my son was younger, doctors wanted to prescribe him with medications for ADHD and I categorically refused, I have seen kids on those drugs, they become amorphous, space and lazy. I prefer to have a 9 year old boy running and jumping everywhere, then looking like he has no soul watching a TV for hours that have been turned off. I moved in the countryside, got him a dog, horse and many things to occupy its mind, had some soccer training... In short, I kept him busy, very busy. Just like my parents did for me when I was diagnosed with ADHD.

My husband Alex was on anti-depressant after several depression and suicidal attempts, after 6 months on a drug program to regulate its depression, Alex became addicted to those pills and I couldn't stand it anymore and we worked together to gradually reduce the dose, and have several sessions of discussion and lots of activities. Yes, it took time and patience, but he's no longer on those drugs, he still has his weed on the weekend, but that's it. He cut on alcohol and other substance that was triggering its anxiety and won over it.

But I do understand that some cases do need it. But I still stand that too many people are given drugs too quickly and too easy.

Jimmy I understand depression, what I don't understand is that for many level of of depressions they have a drug for it... I've got depressed too, everyone does, but unless it's a massive lack of lithium in my brain I'll stay away from medication as much as I can.

[ChadCoxRox]

Wow, sorry to insurges, but I can help asking myself reading all this... Am I the only one that is not on anti-depressant or any type of psychological debalancement medication? I take meds for my diabetes but that's about it and only when low blood sugar is in effect, but reading all your posts here it seems that too many of you are on some sort of anxiety and anti-depressive programs. Sorry for asking, but is being depressed and anxious is part of being gay now? Just asking, because this is not only from this board, it's from many other gay related forums, a large contingent of their member deals with serious depressive and anxiety issues.

Uhhh, I don't mean to be offensive, but GS is first and foremost a support forum for concerns. Knowing your great posts, advice and references I don't really buy this as an over-reaction; however, if it is a paradoxical attempt to evoke or challenge some perspective I'm sure it's well intended. None-the-less, the "over prescribing" of mood stabilizers is not nearly as big a concern as the failure of clinical professionals to promote their proper use and the resulting effectiveness given proper therapy or coaching to guide the process since the docs cannot take the time (for whatever reason).

Again, I am NOT intending to dispute your reply...just maybe "egg on" your effort even further. ? I love you for realzzzz.

[Jake]

Uhhh, I don't mean to be offensive, but GS is first and foremost a support forum for concerns. Knowing your great posts, advice and references I don't really buy this as an over-reaction; however, if it is a paradoxical attempt to evoke or challenge some perspective I'm sure it's well intended. None-the-less, the "over prescribing" of mood stabilizers is not nearly as big a concern as the failure of clinical professionals to promote their proper use and the resulting effectiveness given proper therapy or coaching to guide the process since the docs cannot take the time (for whatever reason).

Again, I am NOT intending to dispute your reply...just maybe "egg on" your effort even further. ? I love you for realzzzz.

If I wanted to over-react I'd say it straight out and I believe you know it, it's none of my intentions to piss off anyone. I know that I'm asking very touchy questions here and I know it's affecting a lot of people. YES GS is a support forum, and yes, there is abuse of prescribing drugs - let's not be ostriches here. As per their proper use, I have seen the ads in the USA and I'm also so surprised to see that your government allows such calamity to be exposed to the public, it's almost like it says - whenever you feel down for whatever reason, take this pill. Here in Canada for the most there is support, there are informations, there are therapies, there are coaching and those ads you have in the USA are strictly forbidden - we see them because we get your channels, but that doesn't change that there are a lot of abuse in Canada as well.

Of course I don't want to point fingers, and I know it is a support site, but sometimes I believe it is okay to call a cat a cat and this was an observation, I post it here, I could as well go and do a research about it and make up a bunch of numbers to support my claim, however this is not a debate, I was just wondering, because while GS is a support site, I am registered to many others that are not necessary a support site but the subject does come around, I even start to get active in the gay community here in Montreal and Toronto (slowly but surely) and all I hear is meds here, meds there, from all groups of age and it's rising my concerns and if you know me (which many of you don't) , I'll get to the bottom of it. No offense to everyone, but I am what I am, and I ask instead of judging.

But anyway... sorry OPs I'll let you go on... sorry for interrupting.

[ChadCoxRox]

So Jake's reply to my reply reinforces the VERY IMPORTANT fact that meds are a money making BULLSHIT splinter of a wooden crutch without the therapy! Point very well made. Thanks Jake.

[TwisttheLeaf]

Wow, sorry to insurges, but I can help asking myself reading all this... Am I the only one that is not on anti-depressant or any type of psychological debalancement medication? I take meds for my diabetes but that's about it and only when low blood sugar is in effect, but reading all your posts here it seems that too many of you are on some sort of anxiety and anti-depressive programs. Sorry for asking, but is being depressed and anxious is part of being gay now? Just asking, because this is not only from this board, it's from many other gay related forums, a large contingent of their member deals with serious depressive and anxiety issues.

I don't think being gay has anything to do with my depression. I would be very hard pressed to believe that being gay has anything to do with -most- clinical depression.

There's all kinds of depression out there. Some depression is caused by outside sources and triggers (such as, breaking up with a significant other, being persecuted for sexual preferences, being lonely, etc).
Some depression is caused by physiological issues. Chemical imbalances in the body and/or brain, nerve damages and issues with damage to the mind, etc.

Most -clinical depression- has a factor of physiological to it, thus why medication works for many who are clinically depressed (if you can find the right one). Clinical depression isn't just a "low mood". It's a serious issue that can, in many cases, be fatal and although can be -influenced- by things such as loneliness and self-worth issues (of which I would include being gay under, if it is a factor in one's depression) ... I would venture to say in -most- cases, it's a factor, not the cause.

[Jake]

I don't think being gay has anything to do with my depression. I would be very hard pressed to believe that being gay has anything to do with -most- clinical depression.

There's all kinds of depression out there. Some depression is caused by outside sources and triggers (such as, breaking up with a significant other, being persecuted for sexual preferences, being lonely, etc).
Some depression is caused by physiological issues. Chemical imbalances in the body and/or brain, nerve damages and issues with damage to the mind, etc.

Most -clinical depression- has a factor of physiological to it, thus why medication works for many who are clinically depressed (if you can find the right one). Clinical depression isn't just a "low mood". It's a serious issue that can, in many cases, be fatal and although can be -influenced- by things such as loneliness and self-worth issues (of which I would include being gay under, if it is a factor in one's depression) ... I would venture to say in -most- cases, it's a factor, not the cause.

Thanks, but I was being a bit sarcastic, because I am very well versed in behavioral studies which also involves basic studies of clinical pathological psychology, it's one of my major from University and I participate in several researches... I know very well the multiple facet of depression and their related cousins. But thanks for the definition it will certainly help others . In fact my post was more related to the drugs that are given without proper therapy... with proper therapy post like the previous would have not turned into a show of drugs naming.

[TwisttheLeaf]

Thanks, but I was being a bit sarcastic, because I am very well versed in behavioral studies which also involves basic studies of clinical pathological psychology, it's one of my major from University and I participate in several researches... I know very well the multiple facet of depression and their related cousins. But thanks for the definition it will certainly help others . In fact my post was more related to the drugs that are given without proper therapy... with proper therapy post like the previous would have not turned into a show of drugs naming.

I was pretty sure (from reading previous posts of yours in other threads) that you were familiar. I totally missed the sarcasm tho. Sorry about that. (It happens. Sarcasm is a challenge for me in RT sometimes as well.)

I agree with you that especially in the US, there is a certain abuse involved when prescribing antidepressants. I personally think it should be -required- if you need antidepressants that you must also be in therapy. I don't think the medication should be prescribed without therapy as a contributor to one's treatment.

[Jake]

I was pretty sure (from reading previous posts of yours in other threads) that you were familiar. I totally missed the sarcasm tho. Sorry about that. (It happens. Sarcasm is a challenge for me in RT sometimes as well.)

I agree with you that especially in the US, there is a certain abuse involved when prescribing antidepressants. I personally think it should be -required- if you need antidepressants that you must also be in therapy. I don't think the medication should be prescribed without therapy as a contributor to one's treatment.

It's cool, hahaha, I am king of sarcasms, And you provided a very very good description of what depression is. For many years even though I have not suffered of severe or serious life-threatening depression myself-I have studied the social impact and cause of suicide among youths and other social groups. I have had a life that could make a trilogy of a socio-dramatic movie, I always was this eternal optimist... It even makes some people scream, because they'd like me to be depressed, but I don't allow it, at least not from an emotional point of view. During my studies in psychology I have met many students who claimed that they did not believe in depression, in fact too many people believes that depression is just another emotion that one should get over it. With your description this will bring some more light to those who believe that being depressed is just a myth... anyone who have studied neurological psychology knows about the effect of depression in the brain and the impact on the nervous system and yes digestive system too.

Depression isn't fun and it's a living hell for those caught with it, but as a study it's a fascinating subject.