How to cure depression?

[Aractus]

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This reminded me of your first post in this thread.

Depression can be cured. Long-term antidepressant use does not help, it only keeps people in depression. Antidepressants are (can be) effective short-term.

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The way you have tried to justify the above statement, well, you have either pulled out of your ass and/or other peoples asses(so called people you know "experiences")

Actually I regret saying that statement. It wasn't entirely accurate. Most depression is curable, usually the causes can be diagnosed and effectively addressed.

Here's a short list of a few things that can cause depression: 1. abuse or traumatic events including deaths, 2. medication, drugs or alcohol, 3. an underactive thyroid, 4. life-altering events (good or bad), 5. physical illness including chronic pain, 6. genetics can play a role.

The friend I told you about first developed depression following the death of a close family member (approx 16 years ago). After a few months of depression he was put onto antidepressants and they interrupted the grieving process. For 10 years, while being put on stronger and stronger medication his depression only worsened. About 5 years ago another very close family member of his also died. For the past five years his situation has of course not improved.

He has said on a number of occasions he can't grieve because of the medication. His words not mine. He can't be cured of his depression until he is allowed to grieve, and the meds prevent him from grieving. Do they help him? Absolutely not. It is impossible to imagine him in a worse case scenario than he is in, so the very worst position he could be in off the meds he is already in.

The cause of his depression needs to be addressed, but it can't be addressed since the medication prevents him from being able to grieve.

He has never held a full time job, ever. Being that he's been on antidepressants his entire adult life, and collects a disability pension for his depression, he has been conditioned to his lifestyle.

There is much much more to this story, much of which is relevant, but I really wouldn't feel comfortable going any further than this.

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Take two steps further, Danny boy, and you're this guy. Don't be this guy.

Scientology is strongly opposed to psychology. I am not at all opposed to psychology, I believe psychiatric care should be given by those qualified to give it.