[Servant of the Nine]

I think most of the anti-depressant presciptions could be thrown in the trash if the "patients" would get a warm-blooded huggable pet instead.

Most of us have warm fuzzy pet already Val. Most of our problems have to do with other people not understanding that there is no relationship at all between "Being Depressed" and "Clinical Depression" .

"Being Depressed" is feeling bad about your life for some reason. A good pet and a bar of chocolate should cure it.

"Clinical Depression" is about a chemical imbalance in your brain, period. It has nothing whatever to do with what is happening in your life, and nothing you do with your life will change it. The only thing that will change it is the right chemical medication.

So9

[ValerieUSA]

Hi Swerve -- I know that clinical depression is not the same thing as feeling depressed - however I believe anti-depressants are over-prescribed because patients ask doctors for them. My Mom calls herself depressed and takes powerful medication, then got her sisters to take it and tries to get me to take it - and her so-called "treated" state is unbearable. She's just as overbearing, irrational, controlling, petulant, demanding, tempermental, etc., as ever but believes she's happy and can't understand why people around her are not happy.