How to cure depression?

[Faith No More]

Remember that many mental illnesses are potentially deadly.

I think this is the biggest issue I have with people who speak so vehemently about mental illness yet have little to no experience dealing with them(which also raises the issue that "I have a friend that suffers" is not experience). The steps people take to manage their mental illness have repercussions, as does well-meaning yet wholly uninformed advice.

[Jackalope]

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I'll take side effects and partial effectiveness over eating a bullet any day. I've spent far too much time contemplating the latter to be too concerned about the former.

[Kousbroek]

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I'll take side effects and partial effectiveness over eating a bullet any day. I've spent far too much time contemplating the latter to be too concerned about the former.

Three attempts on my account ... i suck at suicide .. oh well you can't be good at everything i guess ...

[Aractus]

A group of 4 people hardly constitutes a large enough sample from which to draw the conclusions you are presenting. Someone's opinion of a drug they used is probably accurate to their experience, but not representative of all people who have taken this drug.

Again, it isn't my responsibility to prove that the drug is effective. That's the responsibility of the pharmaceutical companies. And as they are notoriously slow with releasing any scientific data to do with their antidepressant medications, I will remain as sceptical as I feel I should. Just like Rossi has to prove to me that his E-Cat is effective scientifically before I'll believe it, until then I'm a sceptic.

On antidepressants, the opinion between psychologists (let me guess their opinion doesn't count because they aren't doctors - and by "doctors" I mean "physicians") is split. The opinion between psychiatrists (their opinions obviously count) is split. I have not adopted the hard view that some take. Many have the view that GPs shouldn't be allowed to prescribe antidepressant medication at all, I don't take that view because I still think antidepressants are useful short term without the need for a psychiatrist. There are plenty of doctors out there who totally disagree with me though and think that GP's shouldn't be allowed to prescribe antidepressants at all. My opinion is not unique, I didn't come up with it one night on my own, I adopted it after I was confronted with what I see as irrefutable evidence that long-term antidepressant use under the care of a GP does more harm than good. That's my opinion, my advice to anyone on antidepressants long term is NOT to stop taking their meds, my advice is to switch from a GP to a psychiatrist. I don't know what I've said that is controversial!

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I am yet to find someone who I believe has benefited from long term use.

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Bullshit. I just introduced you to someone. Me.

And again, you are using one drug to demonize the entire category. You might as well tell people that all fruit sucks, because you didn't like an apple.

Nope, I'm not. Why do you think my friend was moved from one antidepressant to another for 10 years? Effexor has negative side-effects I have witnessed happen to two of my friends, the one that I've told you about suffers extreme insomnia, weight gain, and a number of other side effects - all of which are directly attributable to Effexor since it all started together when he was moved onto that specific drug.

That doesn't change the fact that I've still never, ever, seen anyone I personally know that has benefited from long-term use of antidepressants. FNM I'm sorry, but you don't count – that isn't to insult you FYI. Just because the other drugs don't have such severe side effects, they still have a negative impact when used long term. This isn't in doubt - all that is in question is whether the benefits outweigh the cost, and this specifically is what has psychiatrists split over it. In total I've known three people (one of which was on Effexor and I've already mentioned him) that overcame their depression shortly AFTER they stopped taking antidepressants. How each of them came to decide to stop taking them I'm not entirely sure, but none of them said "I'm no longer depressed so I'm going to stop taking these drugs" they all said words to the effect "I think my depression has gone now" when they had never said it on their meds.

The friend of mine that has been on antidepressants for 15 years tells me he sees his psychologist twice a year, but I doubt that he even does that. 4 years ago a mutual friend of ours offered to set up and pay for psychiatrist visits for him, and he refused. BTW, he goes to a bulk billing GP up until he left Canberra it was one which has a reputation here for overprescribing and overusing powerful mind-altering drugs. This is why I'm so passionate - the law needs to FORCE patients who need antidepressants long term to have someone properly qualified to handle their care taking care of their medical prescriptions, and NOT a GP.

[Waratah]

Daniel you must love digging holes because you are always moving the goalposts.

[festive1]

My opinion is not unique, I didn't come up with it one night on my own, I adopted it after I was confronted with what I see as irrefutable evidence that long-term antidepressant use under the care of a GP does more harm than good. That's my opinion, my advice to anyone on antidepressants long term is NOT to stop taking their meds, my advice is to switch from a GP to a psychiatrist. I don't know what I've said that is controversial!

Because, this "irrefutable evidence" upon which you are basing your opinion is completely refutable. You admit you have no personal experience on this matter, yet keep pointing at your friends' experiences as evidence. It is evidence, but it is anecdotal, not scientific nor statistically relevant.

[Aractus]

Whatever.

My point, as I've made it abundantly clear, is that GP's are not qualified to handle long-term antidepressant prescriptions and that psychiatrists are.

[Shell B]

You just really pulled a whatever. What a dick. I'll give you only one rope. Hopefully, you will not hang yourself with it. The first person experience from people in here is anecdotal as well. Now, don't forget they gave it because you were all "Well, I never . . . " and now you are denying their testimony like a chump. Are you sure you're not a Scientologist?

[Faith No More]

Whatever.

My point, as I've made it abundantly clear, is that GP's are not qualified to handle long-term antidepressant prescriptions and that psychiatrists are.

I can't tell if you're being disingenuous when you say that this is your point, or if you truly do not understand that this is not what you have been saying. You have been demonizing long-term use of anti-depressants in general, and you only seem to fall back on this argument when backed into a corner. Do you honestly think that if this was the message you have been conveying that there would have been such opposition to it? Personally, I agree with the fact that someone should be required to see a psychiatrist for long-term use of anti-depressants wholeheartedly, and if this is truly the point you are trying to make, you should be more careful of what you say.

(BTW, I love the fact that you offer up nothing but anecdotal evidence but then completely dismiss any that goes against your argument. And fuck you for saying I don't count. It is an insult, and if you simply wanted to dismiss what I have to say, there are much more tactful ways to do so.)

[Aractus]

That is my point. I still believe, wholeheartedly, that long term use is usually not beneficial to the patient. Nothing to do with being backed into a corner. If I didn't believe the latter then why would I be so passionate about seeing antidepressants being handled by psychiatrists and not general practitioners?

I give you the exact same scientific evidence you get from the pharmaceutical companies, which is next to nothing. It's their responsibility, not mine, to provide scientific data. Like most corporations with a product to sell, they don't want us to know about the problems and dangers of their products - if that sounds "strong" then good. They've had 20+ years to study and release data on the current drugs they sell us, it is unacceptable that they still tell us "we don't know what effect it has on metabolism", etc. Not to mention permanent alterations to the chemistry of the brain, they still haven't told us why we shouldn't be worried about that either.

You don't count because I don't form my opinions by listening to "random" people posting under pseudonyms on the internet, I form them from the people I know personally. So you've experienced depression and been on antidepressants? Good for you, plenty of people have, when I find a shortage of people I'll let you know. You need to be concerned about your own health, because it's your mind/soul and body. You do with it what you decide is best.