Anti-depressants

as with most prosthetics, they are indispensible when the natural function they replace is no longer up to the job, and dangerous otherwise. Sadly, they are too often used in the later situation.

I believe that some people have chemical imbalances that always make them "sad" even when they don't want to be sad. I personally know many that have this problem. Anti-depressants don't make them "always happy", don't make them a perpetual yellow smily face. It gives them the opportunity to have "normal reactions" - to really be happy when they want to be. They can still be sad on them. It's sort of like a joystick. Instead of being stuck in the "down" position, they get to start at "neutral" and experience the real range of emotions.

Hey, how about those of us who just aren't depressive? I'd use anti-depressants if I or my doctor felt it were necessary, but that has never been the case.

Of course, there are many natural anti-depressants you can pick from, St. John's Wart being on of them.

I'd be a bit cautious about using them. While I have not used them myself, and don't believe I need them, I do know people who have used them and obtained some benefit.

I used them for a year or so, and I think they helped me see over the edge of the hole I had dug myself into. Figuring out how to get out of the hole and off the antidepressants was then up to me. I do think that they're overprescribed, and that people tend to stay on them longer than they really ought to. If you're depressed, there are probably some good reasons, and maybe you should work on fixing your life while you're popping the pills.

I'd use them if a doctor thought I should (I don't think I have needed them yet though). I think they work, I've seen them work. I think it's important not to be private about mental health drugs. As a society we need to come out of the closet and recognize how many people use them and how much those people are helped by them.

I once tried an antidepressant (Nefazodone) as an experimental subject in a study of its abuse potential. I wasn't depressed; they just wanted to know if we liked it. What a nasty drug!

There are a lot of "I'm using..." and "I'd like to..." and "I used to..." options, and one "I'd never..." All of which leaves out "I have never used antidepressants because I've never been diagnosed as clinically depressed, but I think that I would be willing to use them if I were."

Pomeranian: St. John's Wort is a powerful blood thinner, despite the current craze for it it can be dangerous (more so than most prescription meds). I have a friend who almost bled to to death from a simple nosebleed while taking it (needless to say, she's off it now).

I've never used them, but if the doctor thought I needed them, I would give them a try. I know a lot of people they have helped & it is my understanding that they are discontinued when things get straightened out. I had always thought that once you started you were going to be taking them forever, but it isn't true.

elijahblue: Oh my. St. John's Wart works me for, but I had idea. Thanks for the warning.

hmmm, I appear to have forgotten the "I don't currently use anti-depressants" option...

Anti-depressants should be powerful and used in short bursts, rather than subtle and used constantly. The latter changes who you are.

seven, Prozac takes a few weeks to start working. ...and coming off of it often triggers depressive episodes (given the brain chemistry shifting). Thus "short bursts" are often seen as a bad idea.

I'm not clinically depressed, but if I were and my doctor prescribed them I would use them.

I found a need for an antidepressant after two major upheavals in my life. The first was the diagnosis of cancer for both of my parents within a month of each other. The second was my father's death. After both situations I tried to cope and return to life as usual but the burden was just too heavy. Each time, over a period of 9-12 months, a low dose of prozac helped me cope with the day-to-day things while I was working through my fear and grief. I never felt drugged or detached, it just smoothed the roller coaster out until I could handle things myself.

But Jen, baby aspirin is a blood thinner! Thanks for the info, elijahblue.

I'M ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS RIGHT NOW AND I FEEL GREAT!! :) :) :) :) :)

**grmbrand: Akvavit doesn't count unless it was prescribed by your doctor.

**daver: You mean to say that you guys got that stuff -without- a prescription?!?!

this survey is biased, what about the option of you think they are of value. not just of "some value".
anti depressants are very valuable but are prescribed with too high a frequency in my opinion. i believe people in a Major Depression need to be treated but there are certain life events that should make you depressed and people should be helped thru those times with therapy but that time of depression is a natural expected event with a reason and people should come thru that on there own as long as they are functional. i have seen an increase in recent years of anti depressant treatment for a natural life event with out giving time for recovery on their own. (for bereavement, divorce, etc...)

I was prescribed Prozac in High School and took it for about a year or a little more.... The biggest difference that I noticed from it was that it seemed to make me feel content with the way things were with me.... I didn't want to better myself, I was just satisfied... and that wasn't good considering the situation.... On the other hand, my Aunt takes Prozac from time to time during different periods in her life, and it really seems to help her get out of an emotional slump... I really am for natural treatment of emotional or psychological problems first, but if that doesn't work... anti depressants are worth a try.