quote:Originally posted by BFred07:quote:Originally posted by Buttercup:quote:.
ms. wonka,
I would never wish for you (or anyone) to take your own life. If you've tried other options and they don't work, then certainly you should take anti-depressants and stay alive.
I have done research on the chemical causes of depression, low serotonin levels, etc., because I've had issues with depression too. I took an anti-depressant for several months and, yes, it leveled me out but it also dulled what I think is the best part of me: my creative side. And it didn't make the underlying cause of the depression go away because I wasn't dealing with it.
So then I started doing my own research about the long-term use of anti-depressants. They are drugs, you know, and all drugs come with risks to your organs, but I won't get into that. You're smart and can research it for yourself.
I finally made myself face what was causing my depression. I had serious trust issues because of a horrible step-father. So I talked to someone who helped me straighten it all out, got myself some very good books to read on alternatives to drug therapy, became a vegetarian and started exercising and basically stopped worrying about the future and the past.
I'm not saying that will work for everyone; it obviously won't for you. I'm just saying there are too many people relying on pills for too long and NOT EVEN LOOKING at other methods; I thought my earlier post cleared that up.
Some of these people need to do something as simple as turning off their t.v. and computer because all the negativity - from 24 hour news, etc. - can get to those who aren't equipped to handle it and that alone can cause depression.
Do you not think anti-depressants are over-prescribed in many cases? Do you really think everyone who's on them really needs to be taking them?
Not bad, I could not agree more about meds being over prescribed and to think I had you pegged as one of those "there's a pill for everything" types. I once followed the advice of a counselor and allowed one of my sons to be put on medication for ADD, sure it calmed him down and he did a better job of concentrating on the tasks at hand but at the same time my witty, funny, and very smart son was gone too. Long story short, I took him off the meds. After taking him off the meds he was back to his old self and I just whipped the hyperactivity out him (sorry I had to throw that in somewhere) not really, I just learned to embrace the good with the bad because the bad was not all that bad and the good is awesome. Growing up he just learned to deal with it and has grown into a well adjusted (although somewhat flakey) adult without having to be on meds.
You seem somewhat kinda alright for a liberal vegetarian.
I'm a walking contradiction, Fred. I am staunchly anti-drug (for myself) but am for legalizing them for recreational use. Now before "What?" comes out of your mouth, see my thread about the "war on drugs" in News for an explanation.
*Let me be clear: What you are about to read is about drugs other than anti-depressants.*
People seem to take medication for every kind of pain in this country - even if the pain isn't at all severe. Aches and pains are normal and should be felt to a degree because they are the body's way of communicating to the brain. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could have made it through childbirth without that lovely epidural, but childbirth is real pain.
Anyway, I had surgery a few years ago and my doctor prescribed both Vicodin and Percocet - and I mean a lot of it, when I only needed the Vicodin for like the first two days and I slowly stepped myself off the recommended dose of that. At day three, I threw away the remainder of the Vicodin and ripped up and threw away the Rx for the Percocet because I didn't need either of them.
So doctors need to take a closer look at this over-prescribing too. I know there are people who experience real pain due to real injuries and diseases, but some are taking way too many medications and for too long, which sets up the addiction cycle.
Back pain, like depression, is a major reason for visits to the doctor in this country. And just like depression, back pain complaints almost always result in a prescription for medication. I'm just being honest when I say some of these back pain sufferers need to get off their butts and lose weight. At the very least they need to walk and stretch, stop bending and twisting to lift, and stop lifting incorrectly. If they'd do that, the back pain would most likely subside, without the use of drugs.
It comes down to this: Just like with anti-depressants, people who take medications should be more proactive about their own healing. Just because a physician prescribes several refills of it, that doesn't mean you need to keep taking it if you no longer need it. Stop relying on it as soon as the pain stops. Don't set yourself up for the addiction path that destroys so many lives.
I don't know, maybe I just don't happen to have a so-called "addictive" personality. Then again, maybe I'm just that much of a control freak...or maybe I'm just not that weak.
*stepping off soapbox*
As for me seeming like a "somewhat kinda alright liberal vegetarian", Cage called me a maneater in another thread, so I'm unsure if the vegetarian part is still true.
