Depression Options

[*disco infiltrator*]

A couple of days ago on Channel One, there was a segment on growing cases of depression in teens. They showed many examples of teens who had been diagnosed as "clinically depressed", "depressed", or "mildly depressed", and went through the symptoms of depression and behaviors commonly linked with depression. The segment poured a can of gasoline on the part of my brain that controls anger and the teens presented in the segment all contributed to lighting the spark.

Depression is not a disease. More often than not, it is brought on by a traumatic or life-changing experience that the person is unable to cope with. Even if nothing terribly awful has happened to a person, they can still be upset about something, or just be changing their views and opinions on life. Being a teenager is a tough time for anyone. Some have issues with even existing.

Some of the symptoms they discussed on the segment were irritability, antisocial behavior, a lack of motivation, a change in grades, and an unwillingness to participate in activities one once enjoyed. These are all absolutely normal occurrences in a teenager's life. I know that I, myself, have been exhibiting a large amount of antisocial behavior lately, simply because I am becoming more and more critical of human nature and do not enjoy spending time with many people. That does not correlate to depression. The bounds of normality seem to be rapidly imploding in our world and the desperation for everything to be happy and good is getting tiresome.

When one thinks of diagnosing people with mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, one must think of prime examples of the destruction that such a thing can cause. Brave New World is a wonderful literary example of this and it was written 40 or so years ago (maybe even 50, I'm not clear on the date of publication). People are supposed to feel sadness and anger, fatigue and doubt. Feeling these emotions and overcoming the effect they have is a large sign of maturity. It's OK to feel sad; the problem comes when one cannot move on from the sadness. But, even if the person is having trouble, there is no call to put the person on medication to make them feel better. They need to cope with sadness, loss, and disappointment in order to grow.

Everyone needs to stop diagnosing and treating.

[HakunaMatata]

I am extremely split on the ability to diagnose depression. I've seen clinical studies of scientific evidence to prove that imbalances in the brain lead to depression. And despite my dreams of becoming a doctor, I can't help but think that something like depression isn't so much a disorder/disease as just something that happens.

However, I do know people that have taken anti-depressants and claim that they worked. Whether it was a mental healing or a physical one I"m not sure, but they were up and out from their bout of depression.

Going back to the diagnosing of depression, perhaps it's the severity of those symptoms that is used? You're right, we all go through those times, but for others, those times can last for months, even years. After a very long, sustained period of time, isn't it normal to believe that maybe it isn't just a phase, but an actual medical disorder?

[*Frénésie*]

You know, I think that depression is becoming more of a trend. Also, I still don't get how anti - depressants work. Do people just stop feeling pain?

[I'm not in a 'research' mood right now.]

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

There are so many people in the world, is it that hard to believe that not all of them deal with emotions like you? Some people have chemical imbalances or traumatic events in their life (sometimes both). There is nothing wrong with someone who doesn't feel normal seeking help. Anti-depressants are anything but strong or overwhelmingly effective unless you take them in high doses. Telling someone to just "get over it" will not only have an undesired effect... it's just plain insensitive.

[pinacoolada]

Everyone needs to stop diagnosing and treating.

I concur. =]
All my friends, well most of them, are on different types of medications for disorders they don't even have. I'm fine with people taking anti-depressants or meds if they REALLY need it. Otherwise, taking these medications can just mess with you. Your body becomes dependent on it, and you continue to move on to stronger meds. If you're just a teenager who thinks your life sucks for no reason, then you really shouldn't be taking any of these. You just learn to deal with it, because that's life.

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

I concur. =]
All my friends, well most of them, are on different types of medications for disorders they don't even have. I'm fine with people taking anti-depressants or meds if they REALLY need it. Otherwise, taking these medications can just mess with you. Your body becomes dependent on it, and you continue to move on to stronger meds. If you're just a teenager who thinks your life sucks for no reason, then you really shouldn't be taking any of these. You just learn to deal with it, because that's life.

Thinking life "sucks for no reason" isn't Life. Someone who thinks that life "sucks for no reason" needs help. There really is no way to deal with those emotions and feelings except for medication and therapy. Wouldn't you rather see someone doing that than commiting suicide?

[*disco infiltrator*]

I am extremely split on the ability to diagnose depression. I've seen clinical studies of scientific evidence to prove that imbalances in the brain lead to depression. And despite my dreams of becoming a doctor, I can't help but think that something like depression isn't so much a disorder/disease as just something that happens.

However, I do know people that have taken anti-depressants and claim that they worked. Whether it was a mental healing or a physical one I"m not sure, but they were up and out from their bout of depression.

Going back to the diagnosing of depression, perhaps it's the severity of those symptoms that is used? You're right, we all go through those times, but for others, those times can last for months, even years. After a very long, sustained period of time, isn't it normal to believe that maybe it isn't just a phase, but an actual medical disorder?

I do think that anti-depressants work, but only because this "chemical imbalance" that people speak of is sadness, since, by default, it is "normal" for one to be happy until something happens to interrupt that happiness.

It's not normal to believe anything really, and even with long-term cases of sadness, I wouldn't think that the person has a disorder, but is just, in general, a sad person. If someone really genuinely thinks that there is nothing good about them and that they have nothing to offer to the world, they will continue to be sad, however long that is, until it comes to a point where someone convinces them otherwise. I think that actually dealing with the sadness and having others to help you (I know not everyone has others, but maybe people should just look out for others and help them to give everyone someone, and that's a completely different issue) will help anyone who is sad much more than just diagnosing and medicating and treating their concerns as an illness or malfunction so much more.

There are so many people in the world, is it that hard to believe that not all of them deal with emotions like you? Some people have chemical imbalances or traumatic events in their life (sometimes both). There is nothing wrong with someone who doesn't feel normal seeking help. Anti-depressants are anything but strong or overwhelmingly effective unless you take them in high doses. Telling someone to just "get over it" will not only have an undesired effect... it's just plain insensitive.

I didn't say one should just tell someone to "get over it", but to give them the ability and capability to move on from sadness, to give them the strength to make themselves happy rather than becoming dependent on outside sources for their happiness. Equipping someone with the mentality that they themselves can make their lives better, that they have the power to change things for themselves, that they don't need others to tell them that everything is OK and can convince themselves that they're worth something is so much more help.

[pinacoolada]

Thinking life "sucks for no reason" isn't Life. Someone who thinks that life "sucks for no reason" needs help. There really is no way to deal with those emotions and feelings except for medication and therapy. Wouldn't you rather see someone doing that than commiting suicide?

My point was, people should be able to help themselves through things like this. They should not just ALWAYS depend on medication when they feel down and when they feel like the world has turned against them.
I think an individual should only take it when they have tried their BEST to get over this period of sadness on their own. I don't think it's fair to be tied down to a pill for the rest of your life just because without it, you're pretty much a mess.

Quite frankly, I believe that it's laziness (and I'm not generalizing because there ARE people who need medication...) to rely on these medications to "cure" you. As disco infiltrator said, it's normal to feel down sometimes, because God knows I do too. Besides, a teenager's emotions are also affected by hormones...it's not always a chemical imbalance.

[*I Shot JFK*]

Cause out on the streets
Are so many possibilities
To not be alone..

This thread made me think of that.

I can understand the reasons why people seek treatment for depression, and why people are diagnosing it so much more readily nowadays. And, if that helps individuals, al well and good.

I'm just not sure that the label of 'depression' is in itself a good thing, simply because it is so broad. I probably tick a good 3/4 of the symptoms on that list at any given moment, and I think that if I went to the doctor's office, I could quite easily get myself diagnosed. But, I don't, because I know I'm just an angsty brat. There isn't anything wrong with ME, medically speaking, it's to do with the way I see the world, and the people in it, in a similar way to what Sammi described.

I could probably be pretty perky if someone slapped some Anti-Ds on me, but frankly, I'd sooner be 'Depressed' and find a niche which will eventually suit the way I feel and look at things than I would change me. Sometimes, 'depression' is just an easy label to stick on people, so that we can get on with 'curing' them.

So I'm not sure whether or not people really NEED Anti-Depressants, or if they just need to find themselves. And with that last sentence, I feel I have turned into a hippie. So I'll leave it there before I go on a vision quest of some description.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

I went into a psychiatrist's office several years ago. It was recommended that I go by several individuals, including co-workers and family. So I did.

First thing that lady said, before even asking me what was wrong or why I was there was, "How do you feel about medications?"

To me, that was such indication on a personal level that treatment and diagnosis for something as simple as feeling miserable had reached all time lows. I have little to no respect for most psychological professions.

All I needed was an ear. I didn't need to be categorized or sedated.

What makes me angry is that my kid, who does have a cognitive disorder, is already getting pigeonholed. He's FINE. He's more mellow and more attentive than most kids I know. That doesn't necessarily relate to "depression," but something that did involve a so-called professional still puts me off.

I was told that I needed to put him on Adderall, which is a common medication for children with ADD. Now, he doesn't have ADD, but he wasn't "focusing." Mmmk. Then, to make things even more interesting, I was told that I needed to give him something to help him sleep at night. SO, I was needing to give him something to sedate him and night AND mellow him out during the day.

Essentially, what I did is I obliged them... for a while. I cut his dosage in half. He was only on it for a few weeks and then I took him off. They didn't NOTICE A THING. All this crap, wanting to sedate a damn five year old, because society deems it necessary to suppress children with any behaviors that exist outside the norm and it didn't mean a damn thing.

I fear for those who are feeling down and visit counselors and psychiatrists. The over diagnosis and unnecessary prescriptions are stripping people of raw emotions that are natural.

Sorry for the soap box and as a disclaimer, these are obviously my opinions, nothing more.

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

Okay, let me add my personal experience to this.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with "Depression". I went through one of those clichéd self-harm phases, but to tell you the truth I was never very happy when I was a kid... especially once my parents divorced. We've lost half of our family in the past five years. There is no "its just life" moment when you're at your third funeral. I was diagnosed and given Zoloft (an incredibly common anti-depressant). A few months on Zoloft made me realize that I felt the same horrible feelings but there was only a thin veil cast over them. It was incredibly angering, so I decided I wouldn't take it anymore.

There is a very real history of mental illness on my grandmother's side of the family and my immediate family is all on Zoloft. These are serious people. If they say they need medication, they need it. With that in mind it's no wonder my therapy appointments failed miserably. (However, I have the sneaky suspicion that she was a quack.) It's only by a recent discussion with my friends that I realize that I may have something much worse than depression. And that scares the shit out of me. Don't you think I've tried to convince myself that "this is just life"? Don't you think most people who seriously suffer from depression and other mental illnesses have? There is so much emotion in me. I've tried to let it go and to live life to the fullest. I cannot.

Instead of saying that we should stop treating depression with medication I think we should realize that pharmaceutical companies are COMPANIES. They want people to buy their product and they'll do a hell of a lot to get people to do it. Treat medicine like any necessary product you buy, get it when you need it. And if people want to take it because it makes life a little better everyday, let them take it. It's not your problem. If it's being forced on you and you don't believe in taking it, then use common sense and don't take it just like Rebecca did.

[*disco infiltrator*]

I understand that sometimes sadness cannot be overcome, but I still wouldn't call that a disease. Being sad is not a disease, even if it's perpetual. You're just a sad person, and you said it yourself - nothing can be done. Diseases can be cured (yes, I know some don't have cures yet, but they probably will in the future). You can't cure sadness. The person has to overcome it themselves. Taking antidepressants is a mind fixture. Studies have shown that if you give patients something and tell them that it's making them better, they will feel better. Antidepressants do the same. They give the person "assistance" and the person thinks that since they are taking these things, they can get over it - that whole enabling thing I talked about. Once they have the idea that they can overcome it, they will. So, when antidepressants work, it's because of the person's willpower and because they were convinced that they could overcome the sadness.

[*Intercourse.*]

Hmm, really interesting Sammy. I agree though with a lot of things you said and what others said. I have never thought anyone needed medicine/drugs to help them feel better about life. They need to deal with them on thier own. Also if they take these meds they could just end up being someone their really not which isn't a good thing when people in their teen years are trying to 'find" themselves.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

Taking antidepressants is a mind fixture. Studies have shown that if you give patients something and tell them that it's making them better, they will feel better.

That is something I particularly liked in Donnie Darko: The conversation that he has with his doctor that the medication he is taking isn't actually medication at all. The pills he was given were placebos.

I think that sometimes (not always) much of the medications' (particularly for a psychologically related diagnosis) power is in the suggestion that it will help.

That's not at all to say that all these things are psychosomatic.

[*Monochrome.*]

I went into a psychiatrist's office several years ago. It was recommended that I go by several individuals, including co-workers and family. So I did.

First thing that lady said, before even asking me what was wrong or why I was there was, "How do you feel about medications?"

To me, that was such indication on a personal level that treatment and diagnosis for something as simple as feeling miserable had reached all time lows. I have little to no respect for most psychological professions.

All I needed was an ear. I didn't need to be categorized or sedated.

What makes me angry is that my kid, who does have a cognitive disorder, is already getting pigeonholed. He's FINE. He's more mellow and more attentive than most kids I know. That doesn't necessarily relate to "depression," but something that did involve a so-called professional still puts me off.

I was told that I needed to put him on Adderall, which is a common medication for children with ADD. Now, he doesn't have ADD, but he wasn't "focusing." Mmmk. Then, to make things even more interesting, I was told that I needed to give him something to help him sleep at night. SO, I was needing to give him something to sedate him and night AND mellow him out during the day.

Essentially, what I did is I obliged them... for a while. I cut his dosage in half. He was only on it for a few weeks and then I took him off. They didn't NOTICE A THING. All this crap, wanting to sedate a damn five year old, because society deems it necessary to suppress children with any behaviors that exist outside the norm and it didn't mean a damn thing.

I fear for those who are feeling down and visit counselors and psychiatrists. The over diagnosis and unnecessary prescriptions are stripping people of raw emotions that are natural.

Sorry for the soap box and as a disclaimer, these are obviously my opinions, nothing more.

I do believe that riddilin [sp?] and adderol[sp?] are unnecessary drugs given to children just because the teacher or caregiver or even sometimes their own parents cant handle them. The reality is that children aren't always gonna be focused on things-they are kids! Still even at the age of 5 is a child still exploring the world around them I honestly think they give children these drugs so they can get rid of the kids who stand out "the class clown" has to be thrown in BD because he's too dysfunctional and there must be wrong with him."The daydreamer" MUST be thrown on adderol so he can focus more."The average perky kid "MUST be thrown on riddlin because he's just to much for his own parents and teachers cant handle his energy so there msut be something wrong with him. I believe if you child "stands out" they find fault in that and they try to drug them up. My neighbors son was so active, so happy and just really energetic but his mum couldn't handle him so she had him put on riddlin.He ended up being normal after all but that lazy bitch of a mother still wanted him on the drugs.NOW HE NEEDS THEM FOR THE REST OF HIS BLOODY LIFE.

I don't have any children of my own yet. But it still hits me hard in the gut to see what doctors and people do to their beautiful children because they cant handle them. They are too busy to deal with them and would rather press the easy button and drug em up cause' they will mellow out and think that its so God damn easy to just take them off the meds.People need to understand that these drugs do more than mellow your kids out. They take a part of their beautiful innocence that children are supposed to have away from them. Not everything is like an Office Max easy button-you cant just press it and all of your problems are solved.you just are creating more.Thank God there are some people like Rebecca and I who can see right through this bullshit . And that Rebecca took her son off of that shit.

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

I understand that sometimes sadness cannot be overcome, but I still wouldn't call that a disease. Being sad is not a disease, even if it's perpetual. You're just a sad person, and you said it yourself - nothing can be done. Diseases can be cured (yes, I know some don't have cures yet, but they probably will in the future). You can't cure sadness. The person has to overcome it themselves. Taking antidepressants is a mind fixture. Studies have shown that if you give patients something and tell them that it's making them better, they will feel better. Antidepressants do the same. They give the person "assistance" and the person thinks that since they are taking these things, they can get over it - that whole enabling thing I talked about. Once they have the idea that they can overcome it, they will. So, when antidepressants work, it's because of the person's willpower and because they were convinced that they could overcome the sadness.

Who said disease? It's a disorder. I've been put on many anti-depressants and told that I would feel better and I never have. If taking something that's even a placebo helps someone... who the hell cares? I'm not talking about children on adderall; I have a strong problem with doctors prescribing anything like that to children. I'm talking about adults. Not everyone is as strong as you think they should be.

[*disco infiltrator*]

On the program I was referring to in the first post, they called it a "disease that affects millions".

But, either way, I don't think it's a disorder either. Abnormal, yes, but not a disorder. Not every abnormality is a disorder.

The reason I care is because I really strongly think that it would be more beneficial to a person to give themselves the ability to get over trauma, loss, sadness, whatever, than to have something else give them that ability, because they then think that the thing that helped them (woah alliteration) is something that they must rely on and that they cannot possibly be happy without it, that they cannot be fixed without it and are broken without it, and I don't think that that's the case for anybody.

[pinacoolada]

Okay, let me add my personal experience to this.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with "Depression". I went through one of those clichéd self-harm phases, but to tell you the truth I was never very happy when I was a kid... especially once my parents divorced. We've lost half of our family in the past five years. There is no "its just life" moment when you're at your third funeral. I was diagnosed and given Zoloft (an incredibly common anti-depressant). A few months on Zoloft made me realize that I felt the same horrible feelings but there was only a thin veil cast over them. It was incredibly angering, so I decided I wouldn't take it anymore.

There is a very real history of mental illness on my grandmother's side of the family and my immediate family is all on Zoloft. These are serious people. If they say they need medication, they need it. With that in mind it's no wonder my therapy appointments failed miserably. (However, I have the sneaky suspicion that she was a quack.) It's only by a recent discussion with my friends that I realize that I may have something much worse than depression. And that scares the shit out of me. Don't you think I've tried to convince myself that "this is just life"? Don't you think most people who seriously suffer from depression and other mental illnesses have? There is so much emotion in me. I've tried to let it go and to live life to the fullest. I cannot.

Well in that case, it's okay to take anti-deppressants because you need it. I was referring to those who just take it because they're feeling a little down.

[Jane Doe.]

Antidepressants have never been a wonder-fix given by psychs. Depression can be caused by so much more than a traumatic event---or it could be worsened, in addition to another physical or mental condition. Take me for example: I've suffered from anxiety as a child; it got worse to the point of panic attacks; then, depression hit, where EVERYTHING was affected in my life. Not just sadness. Lack of energy, lack of interest, oversensitivity, impending doom, paranoia, and then constant loss of memories (and hell, days)--and not just by being wrapped up in myself--I was just gone. And then the physical symptoms got worse and I was tested and oh, I have a thyroid problem. I was told that could have been a factor of my worsening condition.

Antidepressants do the same. They give the person "assistance" and the person thinks that since they are taking these things, they can get over it - that whole enabling thing I talked about. Once they have the idea that they can overcome it, they will. So, when antidepressants work, it's because of the person's willpower and because they were convinced that they could overcome the sadness

And what about therapy? Honestly, treatment for someone who is suffering from major depression is usually meds+therapy. Now, I've never been diagnosed with 'mild' depression; it's always 'major' and always followed up with intense therapy. I do see where you're coming from, Sammi, but not everyone can be slapped with a smiley face and told to deal with his/her shit. It is a condition, usually chronic, that needs to be treated early on or else it can worsen and lead to much worse conditions. So while it does annoy me when I see doctors on television talking about how so many teenagers are depressed, I do realize that they are doing what they should: they are treating symptoms early on, in hopes of it not worsening. Who is to say they may not be manic depressive or have a panic attack disorder? Not you, not me, but a doctor.
When I was younger, no one ever really took into consideration I could have something more than laziness; then my social worker came along, and she listened to me. So she told me that hey, this isn't normal, and you can get help. So two years later, after being on about 7 different medications for different conditions, I'm still alive. Had I not seen a doctor, a therapist, been diagnosed and treated, I would be dead. That is not to say I am 'fixed'; far from it. The medication only curbs the symptoms slightly, but they actually do help me function; but sadly, I have trouble when I miss a dose, but I deal with it.
I am trying to recover from my mental conditions, disorders (oh yes, I do have disorders.) and it would not have been possible without my doctors and therapists. Maybe you have the wrong idea of what depression is, but I just felt the need to give my opinion.
Ta.

[kimmytree]

^ Agreed.

I am extremely split on the ability to diagnose depression. I've seen clinical studies of scientific evidence to prove that imbalances in the brain lead to depression. And despite my dreams of becoming a doctor, I can't help but think that something like depression isn't so much a disorder/disease as just something that happens.

That's true, some people are just naturally more prone to being depressed (which I'm guessing that's what the chemical imbalance is).
But whether or not it is a disease or not, I still feel people should have the option of taking medication to help them cope.

It does seem to be a little over diagnosed though.

[phoenixpyre]

omg it's funny that i should come across this topic today.

my poor friend just had a nervous breakdown today from stress and a crappy home situation... i feel so terribly for her

[*disco infiltrator*]

Antidepressants have never been a wonder-fix given by psychs. Depression can be caused by so much more than a traumatic event---or it could be worsened, in addition to another physical or mental condition. Take me for example: I've suffered from anxiety as a child; it got worse to the point of panic attacks; then, depression hit, where EVERYTHING was affected in my life. Not just sadness. Lack of energy, lack of interest, oversensitivity, impending doom, paranoia, and then constant loss of memories (and hell, days)--and not just by being wrapped up in myself--I was just gone. And then the physical symptoms got worse and I was tested and oh, I have a thyroid problem. I was told that could have been a factor of my worsening condition.

And what about therapy? Honestly, treatment for someone who is suffering from major depression is usually meds+therapy. Now, I've never been diagnosed with 'mild' depression; it's always 'major' and always followed up with intense therapy. I do see where you're coming from, Sammi, but not everyone can be slapped with a smiley face and told to deal with his/her shit. It is a condition, usually chronic, that needs to be treated early on or else it can worsen and lead to much worse conditions. So while it does annoy me when I see doctors on television talking about how so many teenagers are depressed, I do realize that they are doing what they should: they are treating symptoms early on, in hopes of it not worsening. Who is to say they may not be manic depressive or have a panic attack disorder? Not you, not me, but a doctor.
When I was younger, no one ever really took into consideration I could have something more than laziness; then my social worker came along, and she listened to me. So she told me that hey, this isn't normal, and you can get help. So two years later, after being on about 7 different medications for different conditions, I'm still alive. Had I not seen a doctor, a therapist, been diagnosed and treated, I would be dead. That is not to say I am 'fixed'; far from it. The medication only curbs the symptoms slightly, but they actually do help me function; but sadly, I have trouble when I miss a dose, but I deal with it.
I am trying to recover from my mental conditions, disorders (oh yes, I do have disorders.) and it would not have been possible without my doctors and therapists. Maybe you have the wrong idea of what depression is, but I just felt the need to give my opinion.
Ta.

I have absolutely no problem with therapy. I said in an earlier post that other people, listening and giving advice and helping, can be one of the greatest reassurances of your own strength. A therapist is a great option for those who feel as if they have no one else to talk to. All I have a problem with is categorizing deep sadness as a disease and something that needs to be fixed. It's getting to the point where we feel as if we must fix every "problem" with us when really, these problems are normal occurrences (no matter how strong). There's a strong tendency for people to think that it's abnormal to have a bad day and that one must be happy no matter what. My own mother keeps trying to put me on antidepressants when I am so far from clinically depressed or anything, just because I'm somewhat of an antisocial misanthrope. The lines of normality are being drawn into a very small box and the mentality that everyone outside that box has a problem is a problem within itself.

I really don't think that any sort of sadness requires medication; perhaps for very, very serious cases, but then the person needs to be weened off of the medication, because the use of their own strength is the only thing that will make them happy.

[Señorita Semi-Au...]

No offense, but how do you know what will make everyone happy?

[*disco infiltrator*]

I don't know, I'm proposing a hypothesis and seeing if I can convince others of my viewpoint with examples, evidence, and logical thoughts. It's just a discussion.

[Jane Doe.]

Happiness? Do you not think those who are depressed laugh or have things cheer them up? Or do you think it's a constant state of sadness? Depression to me is so much more than sadness. It's an uncontrollable state of being where you can be fine one minute and feel like you want to seize the world and the next you're in a 50-foot hole trying to dig yourself out. When I was hospitalized, it came as such a shock to everyone around me--including my own doctor. They all thought I had been doing better, had been happier and then, well.. it hit me very strongly and went past any emotion, as it was completely overwhelming. So sadness? No, no.

Meds increase seratonin levels; those who are depressed have low levels, so to increase it, is thought to help them be more active--it is NOT a miracle fix but a push to their bodies that their mind cannot help. And trust me, telling me a med is working will not make me feel like I'm being fixed. I can feel the difference between them, if they're making me feel different, their side effects, et al.
Having a "bad day" or a "bad week" is normal; feeling depressed and having depression are two different things. One is, as you call it, sadness, and the other is a mental and physical condition that is chronic and gets in the way of living. So yeah, I don't agree with calling it sadness when it goes way past that.

[*mona lisa*]

Those with depression cannot always control their emotions so telling them to simply get over it and be happy won't do much, if anything. There are different ways to get help. Not all methods will suit a person but he/she should at least take the first step and try to get help. Though this may be difficult, I think there should be stricter regulations on giving anti-depressants and medication for those who are clinically depressed, midly depressed, etc. It's similar to prescribing antibiotics for trivial things. The bacteria/virus has a high chance of evolving into a resistant form of the virus that can no longer be treated with antibiotics if they are used too frequently.

Isn't putting people on medication that is supposed to make them feel better and telling them that they are getting better giving the patients false hope? Medicine isn't perfect; each body is unique so there can be many, many consequences, and you can't predict their severity. If you're in a position where you help or do make a decision regarding someone's health, it's in your best interest to stay honest (I learned the correct term/explanation for this a while ago but cannot remember it clearly).

[turntabletux]

A couple of days ago on Channel One, there was a segment on growing cases of depression in teens. They showed many examples of teens who had been diagnosed as "clinically depressed", "depressed", or "mildly depressed", and went through the symptoms of depression and behaviors commonly linked with depression. The segment poured a can of gasoline on the part of my brain that controls anger and the teens presented in the segment all contributed to lighting the spark.

Depression is not a disease. More often than not, it is brought on by a traumatic or life-changing experience that the person is unable to cope with. Even if nothing terribly awful has happened to a person, they can still be upset about something, or just be changing their views and opinions on life. Being a teenager is a tough time for anyone. Some have issues with even existing.

Some of the symptoms they discussed on the segment were irritability, antisocial behavior, a lack of motivation, a change in grades, and an unwillingness to participate in activities one once enjoyed. These are all absolutely normal occurrences in a teenager's life. I know that I, myself, have been exhibiting a large amount of antisocial behavior lately, simply because I am becoming more and more critical of human nature and do not enjoy spending time with many people. That does not correlate to depression. The bounds of normality seem to be rapidly imploding in our world and the desperation for everything to be happy and good is getting tiresome.

When one thinks of diagnosing people with mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, one must think of prime examples of the destruction that such a thing can cause. Brave New World is a wonderful literary example of this and it was written 40 or so years ago (maybe even 50, I'm not clear on the date of publication). People are supposed to feel sadness and anger, fatigue and doubt. Feeling these emotions and overcoming the effect they have is a large sign of maturity. It's OK to feel sad; the problem comes when one cannot move on from the sadness. But, even if the person is having trouble, there is no call to put the person on medication to make them feel better. They need to cope with sadness, loss, and disappointment in order to grow.

Everyone needs to stop diagnosing and treating.

I believe depression is a disorder, which is why it is hard to cope with sadness and loss.I have lived with it since middle school, and I'm in college now. I do agree, when it comes to diagnosing and treating. It is hard to be a teenager these days. That was my biggest annoyance in high school. Somebody got a bad grade and they'd be "depressed." I hate the commercials where they list small things and say here take this.

People live with depression every single day, with serious symptoms. Giving teens medicine to numb whatever temporary pain they have isn't the answer. A psychiatrist should take the time to assess the situation and find out if there really is a disorder or not.

Happiness? Do you not think those who are depressed laugh or have things cheer them up? Or do you think it's a constant state of sadness? Depression to me is so much more than sadness. It's an uncontrollable state of being where you can be fine one minute and feel like you want to seize the world and the next you're in a 50-foot hole trying to dig yourself out. When I was hospitalized, it came as such a shock to everyone around me--including my own doctor. They all thought I had been doing better, had been happier and then, well.. it hit me very strongly and went past any emotion, as it was completely overwhelming. So sadness? No, no.

Meds increase seratonin levels; those who are depressed have low levels, so to increase it, is thought to help them be more active--it is NOT a miracle fix but a push to their bodies that their mind cannot help. And trust me, telling me a med is working will not make me feel like I'm being fixed. I can feel the difference between them, if they're making me feel different, their side effects, et al.
Having a "bad day" or a "bad week" is normal; feeling depressed and having depression are two different things. One is, as you call it, sadness, and the other is a mental and physical condition that is chronic and gets in the way of living. So yeah, I don't agree with calling it sadness when it goes way past that.

I completely agree!

[RAWRstephishere]

A couple of days ago on Channel One, there was a segment on growing cases of depression in teens. They showed many examples of teens who had been diagnosed as "clinically depressed", "depressed", or "mildly depressed", and went through the symptoms of depression and behaviors commonly linked with depression. The segment poured a can of gasoline on the part of my brain that controls anger and the teens presented in the segment all contributed to lighting the spark.

Depression is not a disease. More often than not, it is brought on by a traumatic or life-changing experience that the person is unable to cope with. Even if nothing terribly awful has happened to a person, they can still be upset about something, or just be changing their views and opinions on life. Being a teenager is a tough time for anyone. Some have issues with even existing.

Some of the symptoms they discussed on the segment were irritability, antisocial behavior, a lack of motivation, a change in grades, and an unwillingness to participate in activities one once enjoyed. These are all absolutely normal occurrences in a teenager's life. I know that I, myself, have been exhibiting a large amount of antisocial behavior lately, simply because I am becoming more and more critical of human nature and do not enjoy spending time with many people. That does not correlate to depression. The bounds of normality seem to be rapidly imploding in our world and the desperation for everything to be happy and good is getting tiresome.

When one thinks of diagnosing people with mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder, one must think of prime examples of the destruction that such a thing can cause. Brave New World is a wonderful literary example of this and it was written 40 or so years ago (maybe even 50, I'm not clear on the date of publication). People are supposed to feel sadness and anger, fatigue and doubt. Feeling these emotions and overcoming the effect they have is a large sign of maturity. It's OK to feel sad; the problem comes when one cannot move on from the sadness. But, even if the person is having trouble, there is no call to put the person on medication to make them feel better. They need to cope with sadness, loss, and disappointment in order to grow.

Everyone needs to stop diagnosing and treating.

Sounds like my life story

[*incoherent*]

oh how i love channel one

[shortnsweet88]

I really believe in not medicating everything myself. My friend hollie thinks that A.D.D. is some awful illness she has and they have convinced her to take all this medication for it. She isnt even herself...she doesnt like the same things...its weird. I think that giving somebody medication is a short cut that is only going to hurt them in the long run.