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I understand your feelings but the medications are doing the same thing we use all other medications for - to correct something that our body is doing or not doing on its own.

I think one of the reasons exercise helps is that it jars the brain stimulating the receptors and transmitters that produce the chemicals necessary to process the brain's messages of well-being.

Those with depression possibly have a chemical imbalance - why not take the medication that equalizes that imbalance? Why try to suffer through and cure the imbalance with thoughts, views etc? We don't suffer through misfunctions of the heart, lungs, digestive system with encouraging talks of how to cope and "make" the situation better. We face the fact that bodies don't always process everything as intended and use the medications discovered to correct the misfunctions.

No need for different handling on miscommunications of the brain, no need to refuse medication to help the imbalances.

Think of all the years people suffered through what we are talking about without the benefits of modern medicine or medicaiton. Tough it out, have faith, get real........not too many years ago those were the only solutions. Those who suffered mental illness were thought to be demon possessed and that prayer was the only answer. We now know that there are severe chemical imbalances that can severely affect mood and mental state.

Thank you...that is pretty much what my doctor explained to me....I am now convinced that all of that is true...I am greatly improved. But darn, it is still hard for me to admit that I can not solve my own problems without drugs!

But I guess, in a way, I did solve my own problem by being open to finally taking them!!

Well...I am off for my 6 mile walk!

I think one of the reasons exercise helps is that it jars the brain stimulating the receptors and transmitters that produce the chemicals necessary to process the brain's messages of well-being.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison just published a research study that you may find interesting. Their research with mice indicates that "exercise is addictive" due to the increased release of dopamine in the brain when the mice were kept from running.

Article:
Bred at UW, running rodents may yield clues to addictive behaviors http://www.jsonline.com/alive/news/nov03/189263.asp?format=print

The researchers found that the same areas of the mouse brains that were activated when they were denied a chance to run also are known to fire up in drug-addicted mice that are denied their next fix.
(snip)
For the study, the mice were allowed to run all they wanted for six days. On the seventh day, they were not allowed to run.
The mice then were euthanized, and researchers checked levels of a protein that is an indicator of brain cell activation. Among the super runners, the levels of that protein were 42% to 63% higher, Rhodes said.
The higher levels were found in parts of the brain that are activated when drug-addicted mice are denied drugs such as cocaine, alcohol, nicotine and morphine.
The researchers said the higher levels of the protein show that the mice were highly motivated to run.

Vanderbilt is currently doing similar research on humans regarding sex/internet addiction. The results should be interesting, to say the least.