You believe that doctors don’t encourage patients to do the hard work of remodeling their brains. I disagree. There are many, many good doctors (I only work with psychiatrists) who encourage and even require counseling, CBT, journaling, group therapy, spiritual guidance, whatever particular form of “mental exercise” a patient may respond to in order to rework the broken synapses. Some psychiatrists offer psychotherapy themselves, but most don’t–but they affiliate with social workers, psychologists and others who can offer support services.

Part of the problem lies with a reimbursement system that often does not reimburse ancillary services, and part lies with the patients themselves, who do not want to do the really hard work of learning to see the world and themselves differently. Things like cognitive behavioral therapy are really hard and require a lot of psychic energy. Sometimes, a patient remains in a situation where the harmful experiences keep happening (an abusive spouse or work environment for ex), and it requires tremendous energy either to leave the environment or fight back against the harmful effects. I think this is part of the reason medication doesn’t always work–it can’t work all by itself. The individual needs to pour fantastic amounts of energy into healing himself or herself. I think this is very hard for people–who can blame them for wanting a pill that will do the work for them? Especially when they are used to having a pill that works like a switch to lower blood pressure and cholesterol or kill bacteria.

I’d say that mental health is a totally different animal from bodily disease and wellness, except it really isn’t when you think about it. It’s ok to take an anti-hypertensive or a statin, but we really need to exercise, eat right, manage stress, find enjoyment and value in life, have good relationships–all those things lead to bodily wellness, as well. We don’t live in a world that makes these things easy: we don’t have to challenge ourselves physically for the most part, our food pretty much comes to us, our extended families are spread out, we work a lot and don’t find a network of friends and support, we are told constantly that happiness can be found in a new car or a new Swiffer, TV fills our head with violence…

Medicine can only do so much. Individuals need to take responsibility for their own wellness.

I am sorry I was caustic with you. I do value your opinion and think about the things you say. At the same time, I know my life was saved by the combination of medication and hard work by myself and support from others. I want others to have the option to use all the tools they can to find the often elusive thing we call wellness.

“No one is arguing that these drugs can be useful in severe depression and anxiety , but they must be given under strict supervision and the patient must be informed about all the possible dangers and have therapy to address the underlying issues..
In how many cases does this happen on average HC???
Close to ZERO , thats how many”

I will debate this point. In my experience, most physicians take the time to discuss safety, tolerability and efficacy with their patients. They do with me, they have done with me when my kids are involved, and I know that they do with their other patients. For one thing, tman, there are too many litigious people out there not to cover safety and tolerability. For another, they have to set patient expectations about efficacy, so they tell them not to expect miracles and to give the meds 4-6 weeks. Your assertion that this does not happen is not backed by any data, but rather an emotional belief that it never happens. Such irrational assertions are impossible to argue.

As for your belief that mental illness cannot be helped by medication, that’s your belief. Welcome to it. Feel free not to take any medication. The rest of us, rational human beings, will use medication judiciously along with other approaches to maintain emotional wellness.

There’s really nothing to debate. You and others like you continue to assert, in the face of the evidence of millions of people who have been helped by SSRIs, that they don’t work and they are dangerous. That is irrational precisely because it is contradicted by real world experience. The failure of some to respond to SSRIs and/or the adverse events experienced by relatively few do not argue against their use in the general population. It is a risk-benefit analysis that doctors make in concert with their patients. Fortunately, your belief system is relevant only to your personal choice.

You have not even addressed any of the points I made in reference to SSRI’s..
I have never debated with you on here before, yet you call me an idiot for no reason, you then call me deranged..
If you examine your own behavior and responses in this thread..
It is clear for anyone to see that you are the idiot ..

You are a waste of space..

Let’s follow the bouncing ball: I had a conversation going with Nathan and others. Someone called me a bastard…that would appear to be the moment, Melody dear, when someone was communicating either go along or cease participating. Nathan pointed out that I was being balanced, and my reply back to Nathan was none of your business. YOU chose to jump in and accuse me of playing to the press. Since I am anonymous on here, and there is no press, exactly to whom am I playing? So it seems that following being called a bastard, you jumped in with both feet. Add to that Truthman, who needs to follow his own cures for mental derangement, and I think it is pretty clear what the prevailing theology on this site is. There are very few of us who dare to come on here and speak the truth in the face of emotional attacks by people like Jane and Lisa Van S.

You guys remind me of drug reps I know who won’t admit that any other drug works and that sometimes theirs isn’t the best–just at the opposite end of the spectrum. Neither end is credible. Fortunately, as I said, the SSRIs are here to stay and none of you will be able to change that.