How to cure depression?

[Aractus]

[Faith No More]

I have never seen any evidence that antidepressants are positive for the patient in the long term. Ever.

Hello(now you have).

Also, you are generalizing anti-depressants based on one person's experience with one drug. The brain is highly complex, and there are several different kinds of anti-depressants. It is impossible with our current knowledge to know what drugs will work for what person, so the only way to find out is trial and error. If Effexor is not working for your friend, it is not the fault of anti-depressants, and your friend should not continue to take it. To demonize all anti-depressants because of the problems of one of them(which is quite old anyway) is misleading.

[Shell B]

Hey, Daniel, shut the fuck up. That is all.

Edit for hissy fit clarification: Sorry, but this anti=anti-depressant shit is fucking more harmful than helpful. So what if you get fat on a pill? It might stop you from killing yourself.

[Faith No More]

Danel, do not let the harshness of Shell's delivery belie the soundness of her message.

[Aractus]

Also, you are generalizing anti-depressants based on one person's experience with one drug.

Incorrect I've known many people who have used antidepressants, and about 4 specifically who have used Effexor. I am certain that when used correctly they provide short-term benefits. I am yet to find someone who I believe has benefited from long term use. I know someone, as I mentioned before, who stopped using Effexor after a number of years on the drug. His opinion is that he does not think it had been helpful to him for a long time. I did not press him for more, that's what he told me. Since he only used it for about 3 or 4 years, and it took him longer then 6 months to wean off it, I take that to mean that it didn't provide him with long term benefit.

[festive1]

Also, you are generalizing anti-depressants based on one person's experience with one drug.

Incorrect I've known many people who have used antidepressants, and about 4 specifically who have used Effexor. I am certain that when used correctly they provide short-term benefits. I am yet to find someone who I believe has benefited from long term use. I know someone, as I mentioned before, who stopped using Effexor after a number of years on the drug. His opinion is that he does not think it had been helpful to him for a long time. I did not press him for more, that's what he told me. Since he only used it for about 3 or 4 years, and it took him longer then 6 months to wean off it, I take that to mean that it didn't provide him with long term benefit.

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.

[Faith No More]

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

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.

You are speaking of things that clearly do not know enough about to do so.

[Jackalope]

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

Bullshit. I just introduced you to someone. Me.

Allow me to introduce you to another as well. Me.

[Waratah]

[Shell B]

It's very unfortunate that people equate side effects with ineffectiveness. If your friend had diabetes, you would not tell him to stop his medication because it made him feel numb. You would not then say medication is not a long-term solution for diabetes. Remember that many mental illnesses are potentially deadly. There have been times in my life when I would have burned my eyes out with hot pokers if it meant I would feel better. I'll take a numb feeling over OCD, anxiety and panic attacks any day.