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by gtravels loves her life penguin on May 11th, 2008
Not at all, but from some of your comments, I feel that you are under some misconceptions about anti-depressant medications. The right medications, prescribed by the right professional, should not make you feel drugged but rather like you're coming back to yourself. You will feel like a weight has been lifted. You will be better able to cope with any issues you have in your life. You are not "broken." Depression is an illness and there should be no shame in taking medication for it. If you had a heart condition, would you reject medication? The bottom line is doing what you have to do to have a life worth living. I know that I probably wouldn't be here today without anti-depressants.
by jessie-rose on May 11th, 2008
not at all
at first i didnt want to take pills to make myself feel normal
but in the end i decided to give everything a go in order to get better
by Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger on May 11th, 2008
No, I think it is wise to seek alternatives to medication. I know someone who avoided medication for a long time, she was afraid of long-term effects and possible addiction.
by Done. never again. on May 11th, 2008
No not at all. Medications scare me in a way, I've always been wary of depression medications myself, and still believe there are other ways to get help, and relieve depression.
by iVanish on May 11th, 2008
nope, absolutely not. some people are able to successfully treat their depression without medication. it is, however, important to keep an open mind, as sometimes medication IS necessary, depending on the cause, type, and severity of one's depression.
by Penal Colony is wicked marrying Andy on May 13th, 2008
If it's irrational, than call me irrational.
I prefer to deal with periods of depression or other extreme emotional states as naturally as possible. I have very strong personal beliefs that human beings should experience these feelings from time to time as a part of life. If there was a medical "solution" to every emotional crisis or extreme that we faced in our lives, we'd end up being empty, emotionless robots with no character or any of the rich and extreme experiences that make up a life.
by miRi hates social norms and regulations on May 11th, 2008
nope. i didn't want it. i still don't. and most of my symptoms have become minimal and been less of a problem in my day to day life, thank goodness.
by Phillis - Zacks little sister on June 5th, 2008
No, it isn't irrational. It's totally normal! No one WANTS to take meds every day of their lives. Not taking the medication might be considered irrational, though, if your symptoms control you and negatively impact your day-to-day emotional health and/or activities.
by jenksm616 on May 11th, 2008
not at all, the natural way is the best way. dont be a zombie
by JAMMco... its complicated... on May 15th, 2008
I don't think it's irrational, but I don't think it's the best line of thinking either.
Medicines can have some serious side effects, but so can not treating depression.
There are different levels of depression, some are minor and people's lives are together enough that they can look to things to make them feel positive, and they may have a loving family to help them work through tough days... but not everyone has that.
Not everyone can succesfully overcome the feelings that come along with depression. By the time it is realized that they cannot overcome them without medication it is too late.
This decision to attempt to overcome depression without medicine should not be made without regular consultations with your doctor. You need an objective yet qualified medical professional to assess your progress and intervene should you begin to spiral deeper.
Chemical imbalances are hard to control without the chemicals being put back into balance. The quickest and most effective way to 'fix' a chemical imbalance is with medication. But I do not recommend self medicating.
Do not let the cost of the medicine drive your decision to try it without medication... your well being and that of your family are worth more than that.
by Squirrel Face on May 13th, 2008
I don't think so. I think it's normal.
by Theby on May 11th, 2008
I thought I could get rid of my depression without medication. How wrong I was. Sometimes medication is the only way. When the depression gets so bad with memory loss, confusion, lack of motivation etc, only meds will help you. I would love to be off my meds but they keep me functioning normally. Without them I hate to think what would happen. Good luck. :}
by frequentuser on May 11th, 2008
no...drugs is what screwed my life up completely so why would i want more?
by sophiesmom on May 11th, 2008
probably not, because you feel like you should just "shake it off"-right? no can do, buddy. its an illness. it has medication. its ok.
by Danny T. on November 9th, 2008
Your question is a good one. I have been on depression meds for over 30 years. I don't like it but they work. So let me say to you, if you had a bad heart would you take medication for a longer life? Or if you had diabetes would you take meds? I firmly believe if you can talk to a professional they can recommend the right meds. You will feel better.
by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on October 18th, 2008
In the case of Bi-polar driven depression it can actually be a symptom of the disease in you NOT wanting to be medicated.
But otherwise no... it is not irrational.
Medication doesn't solve everything.
by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on July 19th, 2008
I think that would depend on the source of the depression. If you know you have a reasonable cause for the depression and it will ease with time (you just had a death, divorce, job loss or move in the last year) it is reasonable to wait.
However, if you know you are prone to mental illness, ie: clinical depression or bipolar, and it isn't going to get better without medicine, why wait?
by val gal on July 16th, 2008
Somewhat. There are so many helpful medications and you may be cheating yourself.
by ChandaDiane - est. 1975 on July 4th, 2008
If your condition puts yourself or others in danger, I think it is irrational not to use medication until another solution for you is found.
I battle depression, and while I do not take my meds every day, I do use relaxation and meditation to help me stay balanced.
by needtoknow on June 5th, 2008
I have tryed 8 or 9 different meds for depression. None have worked, some have made me sick..I think you're predisposed to depression. I have a hard time with all chemicals, even pain meds, they just don't work! There are many people that don't want to be on depression meds, it's not irrational, it's your choice to make.
by Mastodon on June 5th, 2008
Considering the side effects anti-depressants can have and that there are other alternatives such as nutrition, exercise and therapy, yes.
by Kierafaye on May 18th, 2008
not at all. some depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and can only be helped with medication but thats SOME not all. i used to be really depressed and what helped me was getting myself out of the rut i was in like going out more, and trying my best to be more outgoing and it sounds kinda bad but i kinda focused a little more on my looks, when i take care of myself, eat well, work out, i just feel better in general and is a great boostof confidence.
by Shlingslayer on May 18th, 2008
Medication in relation to mental health is usually only ever a temporary solution that doesn't help in long wrong.
by Mastodon on May 15th, 2008
No, it is not irrational, big pharma wants you to dependent on their expensive legal drugs.
by SABOTEUR on May 15th, 2008
Quite the opposite.
Someone rational enough to attempt overcoming depression without medication might eventually recognize the irrational thinking that fuels depression and improve their mental health.
Might not be necessarily easy, but it can be done.
(I've done it.)
by SAGE2 on May 13th, 2008
I know of someone who was bipolar & refused to take medications until she realized that she was making herself and everyone in her life miserable. She is now back on them & it's a difference between NIGHT and DAY.
by holeinthewoods on May 13th, 2008
No it's not irrational. Just watching the commercials about them on T.V. would make me scared to try anything like that. What would be irrational is knowing you have a problem and not doing ANYTHING at all about it.
by SAGE2 on May 13th, 2008
Sometimes it's the only solution to control severe up's and downs. Seek professional help.
by little sprout on May 13th, 2008
I have been on Anti-Depressants on and off for about 10 years. My DR decided to give me a life time perscription because I suffer from chronic depression, where it always comes back and never goes away. I like to blame my ex for that.
Anyway, They do make you feel numb and the side effects the first week are unpleasant but they usually go away. If they dont you need to talk to your DR. The side effects that you get when you miss a pill suck to, you have to take them everyday at the same time. Your DR will decide what is best for you and what dosage. They worked for me but not for everyone
by anonymous on May 11th, 2008
I believe it completely depends on the causes of the depression. Some are manageable as long as the events that led up to it are remedied.
In some people the cause is a chemical imbalance in the brain. There's no wishing that kind away. There's no positive thinking that can fix it. It requires other chemicals to restore the proper balance.
by DudeLer on May 11th, 2008
who can be rational when one is depressed? that is why we have shrinks so they can make rational decisions for the irrational.
by Carolann on May 11th, 2008
I have a hard time to take medication.I never knew where that came from as my mother was ok with medication. Since she has passed away my father and I have gotten closer and he tells me more things. The other day he said he stopped taking his high blood pressure pills and high cholesterol pills for a full month. He was fed up with taking them and thought he could control it all with diet. My father is very health concious and eats well and excersies. He went for the blood work and all his results were sky high! He immediatley went back on the pills and said he will stay on them. It was important for him to try it and just as important for him to realize that he needs them.Try both ways for yourself.But in the end you may need the pills.I wish you the best of luck!And happy thoughts are sent your way by me!
by BeccaBaby on May 11th, 2008
No, its not irrational. Some people prefer to deal with things like that without using medication and that is perfectly OK. That's a personal choice. A person doesnt need to pop a pill if they dont want to, but shouldnt ignore the problem either. They just need to deal with the issues in their own way.
by Weingarden on March 25th, 2009
People must be careful when they choose which answers to heed as advice on this subject. It is something that has been studied medically for decades and in a less scientific fashion for centuries. This is the type of question that ought to be answer by a doctor for your specific situation - AND NOT BY THE LAYMAN ON ANSWER BAG!
I am a psychology student and thus have some ability to understand the complexity of this question, yet I will not give an answer for you - I will only attempt to describe some of the factors that must play into ones decision about medication.
I will begin by noting that medication for depression will not change the balance of chemicals in your brain forever as one answer stated - and note that misleading answer as evidence that all answers must be taken with a grain of salt.
If depression med's did alter the brain permanently, it would be unnecessary to continue drug therapy, for the balance would be changed and the medication would be curative rather than treating the symptoms.
On that note it is true that these medications do alter the balance of neurotransmitters in order to correct an imbalance, generally of serotonin or other monoamines such as dopamine or norepinephrine. However, these changes in chemical balances only last for a few weeks after the drug is discontinued.
This leads to another big problem - people tend to think they are "cured"by these medications when their symptoms dissipate, however, the medication has only treated the symptom. Thus, the patient might take themselves off of the drug (quit taking them) and experience another bout of depression in this case (or more severe cases: schizophrenic psychosis or manic depressive episodes).
Other answers seem to be based on whether is it worth treating your depressive symptoms. This is a huge consideration in the DSM-IV (psychology diagnosis). Almost all diagnosable disorders require that the patient is significantly distressed by the symptoms (or the symptoms distress others for disorders that do not bother the patient, but could cause them or others harm). For a diagnosis of MDD (major depressive disorder) you must meet many criteria over a certain amount of time. Only a psychologist can determine if you are diagnosable, along with your description of symptoms and presentation at his clinic.
On that note, depression is not something you medicate unless is is consistently distressful. There is no reason to medicate the normal depression that everyone feels on occasion and that is why psychologists have created diagnostic criteria. Thus you should be skeptical of medication if it is not needed, but it is likely that you will be willing to try medication if you have significantly distressing or debilitating symptoms.
Further, there are other treatments for depression. This could include cognitive therapies, simply talking about your problems, developing a better social support network and other non-invasive practices that can be very helpful and are almost always paired with any medication that might be given.
Additionally, there are some new techniques that are less invasive than medication, yet might have a profound and immediate effect on depression. A good example of this is rTMS. This is transmagnetic stimulation. Believe it or not, it is a magnet that resets regions of the brain that it is held over. It is an electromagnet that emits a powerful burst, or a series of bursts and is held over the region of the brain that is of interest. It sounds like science fiction but actually has worked wonders for many clinically depressed individuals who have not responded well to medication. While it is a relatively new practice, there have been no negative side effects found and many psychologists have experimented with it on themselves and each other. For example, they might hold it over the primary visual cortex, the occipital lobe at the posterior region of the skull and emit a burst. Doing so blocks the participants vision for a split second.
Ultimately, there are many factors to consider if you experience depressive symptoms. It is always okay and normal to talk to friends, family or a therapist. If it is persistent and distressful, you and your therapist can decide the proper course of action to relieve your symptoms. While it is good to be a bit skeptical and not jump to medication for a fix-all, especially for mild depressive symptoms, it is also not evil and is a relatively safe type of medication since the discovery of SSRIs. However, only you and your psychologist can decide of this is right for you.
Thanks for your time,
I hope this was helpful,
Jon
by broken_beauty17 on March 25th, 2009
Definately not! Prescription drugs CAN mess with people worse than their condition orignally was! Im sure we all know somone who kinda went off the deep end because they started taking too many prescription drugs(even ones they were prescribed). I can see why you might be worried about what you could be taking. Also many people feel that by taking these drugs they are no longer normal and cant handle the real world by themselves.
by Lindsey on March 11th, 2009
I have been working in the mental health field going on six years, and I do not believe there is only one solution, but I have yet to see a patient who does not suffer from some sort of side effect. Also I would be wary of anything that has not been on the market for at least a decade or two. If you are planning on having kids (true for both women and men), it might be best to wait until afterwards to seriously consider meds if nothing else helps and your depression is hindering your normal activities.
by BROADWAYTHECAT on January 24th, 2009
Yes. If you've tried CBT, REBT and other techniques and find that you still can't shake it...absolutely it's irrational. If you can't manage diabetes through diet and exercise, would you refuse to take insulin?
by shcrodingerscat on January 5th, 2009
It is normal. A couple of reasons. First, sometimes people who suffer depression or other conditions often labelled as mental can have resistance attitudes to getting well which could include not wanting to take the medication.
Another reason, is medications can have side effects worse than the condition they are being taken for. Therefor it seems easier to cope with the depression than treat to with medication. Often times antidepressants appear to be no more benificial than a palcebo. Many people have found the medications do not work.
Also too, certain medications or treatments can be contrary to peoples beliefs.
Whether or not it is irrational depends on if the person who has been prescribed them is able to function, gewt up and go to work or school, keep the house clean etc. To do the things we call normal. If their behaviour has become abnormal an dobsessive causing disruption and mayehm within the home, community or in their own lives. If the person is not functoning on the basic level expected from society, they could be seen as being irrational in not taking the medication.
It would depend on the individual persons circumstances.
by Chiffonade on December 18th, 2008
That's what it's there for. There are certain times, certain crises, that require very controlled chemical assistance as supervised by a doctor. I had such a need in 2006 when my eight year relationship imploded - with no warning. One minute we were holding hands, the next day he sent me an e-mail asking for a divorce.
Doctor put me on Cymbalta but that is SERIOUS STUFF. I wanted something to curb the negative thoughts but did want to feel SOMETHING. It takes away your whole personality. It is the fastest acting of the anti-depressants and if you need help ASAP, Cymbalta is a good choice. I knew after about 3 weeks I needed to either change meds or back off the dosage as I felt like a zombie.
Here's the really good news. Navigating your way through a crisis will only make you stronger and wiser. You will likely be better equipped to handle future problems through the experience.
My best wishes are with you for peace and healing from whatever crisis you're handling.
by Bartey on December 17th, 2008
It's not irrational, but sometimes medication is the best solution. I spent a year on Zoloft due to depression from a chemical imbalance when I was younger during which I also saw a therapist occasionally...of course I thought I didn't need any of these things, but when it comes down to it...It turns out there were some issues that I needed to work on to be happier and accept myself for who I was - having the anti-depressant in my system gave me the chance to do that...that was over ten years ago and I am happy and feel that I haven't left many unresolved tangles. It is different for every person and I am not saying that depression drugs will fix everything, or work for everyone. I am just saying they get a bad rap when they do help a lot of people. So while that thought is not irrational, you need to study all your options and think about what you really need. Talk to someone, a therapist and your doctor and see what they say. For some people, holistic treatments work, for others not the case.
by shimmy on December 13th, 2008
If you had an infection would you take antibiotics to feel better? You don't know how much better you would feel when you find the right combination. Can you imagine waking up in the morning and not ghasping for fear? Can you imagine being able to sing a song around the house again?
I think the problem is that depression, has been classified under the category of "Mental Health". There is still that stigma that accompanies mental heatlh. It's very sad.
However, back to point, take your medicine and your sore throat will go away!
by Melissa on December 13th, 2008
Not at all. Medications can have some serious negative side effects ant it is difficult to find one that actually does the trick. It's completely logical to not want medication.
by xRedfoxx on November 28th, 2008
Hell no. We medicate too much. Depression is natural and one of many normal feelings like sadness, happiness, etc etc.
by Neptune66 on November 20th, 2008
No. Many times depression is misdiagnosed. Doctors often find it an easy solution when they can't find the systemic cause. I know so many people who have been given prozac when they had thyroid problems or mineral and vitamin deficiencies. It's worth asking for a thorough physical and blood tests before taking anti-depressants.
by mamabear on November 13th, 2008
No, it's not. You may want to find out why you're depressed. My thyroid was way out of wack and I was depressed. We got that fixed and I felt much better. Now menopause is setting in and my hormones are off. Depression is seeping back in. I need to get this fixed through natural methods and not anti-depressants. Many times something hormonal is causing it. Check into it.
by Nasiswand on November 13th, 2008
No, it's not irrational at all. I went through 3 different medications, all with nasty side effects that made me feel even worse then the depression ever did. I did want to get better, so I decided to look up natural cures. Turns out that simple light therapy works for me. My depression was agony, and all it took was opening the curtains and turning on a few more lights to get me well again. I've been medication free for about 10 years now, no relapses at all. :)
by krsnaknows on November 13th, 2008
Yes it may be but I would avoid to just not waste more money on myself that way.
by tfay765 on October 20th, 2008
I can definitely understand why a person would want to avoid taking antidepressants if possible. The process of finding the right antidepressant and the right dosage for any one person can take years. During this process, a patient may have to go through several medications that don't help their depression, or make it worse.
Although, for some people, it is absolutely worth going through this process to find a successful medication and dose.
The decision to go on an antidepressant or an anti-anxiety medication is an important decision that should be made between patient and doctor. Every individual is different.
by Vampyre Bat on October 10th, 2008
No. A drugged up feeling is not fun. Sometimes though it is a better and safer solution than to go unmedicated.
by Jules63 on September 27th, 2008
It's not irrational at all. Many people are simply embarrassed that they may need meds, but they should, however, speak with their family doctor about it. Depression is not something that you can just WILL away. It's a serious illness that a doctor should handle. Let me put it this way : If you found out that you had a disease, such as Diabetes, would you say to yourself, I can make this go away on my own?, no, you'd get put on medication to control the Diabetes, right? The same goes for depression, it isn't something that's just in your mind, it can be caused by many different things in life, Eg. tragedies, chemical imbalances, etc.
Which is better--Lexapro or Effexor?
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Comments
great answer gtravels, the medications have helped some of my family members and they are thankful for them.
by JAMMco... its complicated... on May 15th, 2008
Thanks. There's no one size fits all answer. I just like to encourage people to keep an open mind. And I'm glad for you and your family:)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on May 15th, 2008
What were you prescribed? Are you still taking it? How are you today?
by Mr.Matt on July 9th, 2008
That Helped. Thanks
by Faith on December 3rd, 2008
I'm glad:)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on December 3rd, 2008
I agree with all you said. Great answer,,I think anyone starting out on medication, without a great support system does this. I expect it almost.The stigma, and being told to just get it together can play havoc..Eventually I believe people will come to understand what you've stated is correct and I always have used the Diabetic would not hesitate to take insulin!
by MeMe on July 22nd, 2009
Thanks Mickey:)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on July 23rd, 2009
Your welcome gtravels! I wish I gad all this infornation 30 years ago.!
by MeMe on July 23rd, 2009
What else is there to be offered for someone who is diagnosed with Anxiety and depression, but the meds just are not working. I continue to discuss with my doctor, but I think...he thinks I am crazy:)I am reaching out for any suggestions ( I am desperate). I have been to several Doctors, but nothing is helping. My anxiety has gotten a little better, but I have become SOoooo exhausted and NO motivation to even move off of my coach. I have never felt this "BLAH" in my life. If anyone has some good advice I would LOVE to hear it.
by Anonymous on August 25th, 2009
Have you seen different psychiatrists and tried different medications and combinations of medication? Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a psychologist for therapy? Are you in therapy in addition to taking medication? A doctor who thinks you're crazy is not a good sign of a doctor you want treating you.
by gtravels loves her life penguin on August 26th, 2009
I have seen 2 psychiatrists. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar and OCD and Anxiety disorder. I have been on Adderall and seroquel. I am currently on Lexapro, Trazedone, and just began taking wellbutrin. I am hoping to get some of my energy back. Do you know anything about wellbutrin? I will continue to search for a doctor that actually wants to listen to my problems instead of write prescriptions....wish me luck!
by Anonymous on August 27th, 2009
I wish you all the luck in the world. I know how frustrating it can be but don't give up. You deserve to have a good life and you deserve to be treated with respect by someone who will listen to you. You just might run across that psychiatrist who is also a good therapist but you might also want to look into getting your medication from the psychiatrist and therapy from a psychologist or social worker. Unfortunately, more and more of the work (and money) in psychiatry is in the form of writing those prescriptions- volume business!! It might be better for you to separate the two and use someone else for therapy. But again, the important thing is to remain hopeful and keep trying:)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on August 27th, 2009
There are other modalities of treatment:
1. Relaxation therapy (People think this is to easy and don't do it just for that reason ....My opinion! it works!
2. Talk therapy with a Psychologist....does not prescribe drugs!!!../
3. Cognitive Behavior Therapy...takes a look at how you think and speak to yourself in your head, catching the negatives and reinforcing the positives. I hope this helps!
by MeMe on August 28th, 2009
Absolutely. If you can do it without drugs, all the better. But if you need medication, then treatment is still found to be most effective when combined with therapy.
by gtravels loves her life penguin on August 28th, 2009
Thanks for your advice. Its nice to hear from others who are not just about the meds. I look forward researching other theraputic options for myself. Thanks again:)
by Anonymous on August 31st, 2009