Luckily, we can distinguish between these illnesses and treat them appropriately. I think we simply don't have enough information about depression and brain function to do that yet.
I don't think lacking that information means we should throw out the meds until we understand things better. Some people probably need the medication. Other people find it helpful, for whatever reason.
I think anti-depressants can validly be used as a tool. Oftentimes a depressed person can find it difficult to impossible to make the sustained lifestyle changes which might be needed to cure their type of depression. To give that person some relief and motivation to make those changes is not a bad thing. It seems unlikely that we will find out later that these meds do lasting damage. But we know that even overprescribing of antibiotics has become a problem, so this is a possibility. Whether it is worth the risk has to depend upon personal circumstances.
Personally, I have been battling a moderate depression for 3 years. I have tried 2 different anti-depressants, neither have worked. I know people who have had sucess with these meds.
My own son, who is 10, suffers from extreme anxiety. He refuses to "work" on it. I believe he doesn't think he can feel any differently and anxiety has had a huge effect on him socially, physically and academically. We have, after consulting with learning specialists, an allergist, a neurologist, and batteries of tests with his pediatrician, 6 months of group social therapy, and several years of hoping that maturity would have some effect, have finally tried medication. We are having some sucess and are still in the process of adjusting the medication.
I wish we knew more about the drugs. I wish we knew more about how the brain works. I think the meds are overprescribed. But I think they have to be an option.
I suspect that if I took 100 people with runny noses (some of which have colds, some sinus infections and some with allergies) and gave them all either penicillin or a placebo, penicillin may not come out looking real helpful.Your suspicion is wrong. The penicillin would wipe out the infections in a way the placebo never could. It's a proven drug - not through personal anecdotes, but through the same research that prozac can't seem to pass.
Luckily, we can distinguish between these illnesses and treat them appropriately. I think we simply don't have enough information about depression and brain function to do that yet.Not hardly. But you're arguing my point.
I don't think lacking that information means we should throw out the meds until we understand things better. Some people probably need the medication. Other people find it helpful, for whatever reason.Sticking with the parallel you suggested, would you feel the same about a new cold medicine if they couldn't seem to prove it's efficacy in trials, and had no idea how or if it worked? Drug companies could advertise it as a cure, and they should be allowed to market this nonsense? Why do we make an exception when we move from physical illness to mental illness? Because the mentally ill are easier to con?
I think anti-depressants can validly be used as a tool. Oftentimes a depressed person can find it difficult to impossible to make the sustained lifestyle changes which might be needed to cure their type of depression. To give that person some relief and motivation to make those changes is not a bad thing. It seems unlikely that we will find out later that these meds do lasting damage. But we know that even overprescribing of antibiotics has become a problem, so this is a possibility. Whether it is worth the risk has to depend upon personal circumstances.The research doesn't indicate that the drugs give that person any more relief than sugar pills. If we don't know what it does, how is it that we could know it won't cause lasting damage?
Personally, I have been battling a moderate depression for 3 years. I have tried 2 different anti-depressants, neither have worked. I know people who have had sucess with these meds.So did these people improve because of a placebo effect, or because of the drugs? The truth is, you don't know, and they don't know, and the drug companies are pretty sure it's the former. But your friends feel better, and that's good. It's too bad they had to pay $$$$$$$ for candy to feel better.
My own son, who is 10, suffers from extreme anxiety. He refuses to "work" on it. I believe he doesn't think he can feel any differently and anxiety has had a huge effect on him socially, physically and academically. We have, after consulting with learning specialists, an allergist, a neurologist, and batteries of tests with his pediatrician, 6 months of group social therapy, and several years of hoping that maturity would have some effect, have finally tried medication. We are having some sucess and are still in the process of adjusting the medication.I wish you well in dealing with your son. I hope you find the real cause of his problems, and get him a serious cure.
I wish we knew more about the drugs. I wish we knew more about how the brain works. I think the meds are overprescribed. But I think they have to be an option.I think that's alchemy.
I think they are a Godsend. Sorry to disappoint all you other freepers. I have two children from horrible early beginnings, whom my husband and I naively adopted.
Setting fires, running away so often that the sheriff's deputy sees your child in the woods and recognizes him from the last runaway attempt( and brings him home), the agony of living with a child who screams for 4 hours at a time.
The neighbors calling CPS on you when they hear your child screaming nonstop - and who can blame them?
We adopted them and we stuck it out, and meanwhile THANK GOD for the psych drugs, and the wonderful child psychiatrist who helped us have a life again.
Our oldest is now medication free and doing well. The other child is still on meds and you can bet we want to keep it that way.
There is no chance in heck that sugar pills would have done what the meds we made use of did for our family. The people in this survey were having bad hair days or something.