Do you think people should take anti-depressants?

Question

Personally I am against them i just can't understand them. I don't view depression as an illness but rather a part of life. I feel taking them is like cheating, what do you think?

actually i have been severely to moderately depressed for about 4 years between 2000-2004. But I just think that i am partly responsible for my depression, but also soceity is as well, i just think there are better ways...

oh and things like yoga, meditation i gather are great tools for calmness and getting over depression.

Answer 1

I take it you have never had clinical depression then....
If you had you would certainly not have that view. They are a useful medical tool for a medical illness;
They are literally lifesavers for many people;

Answer 2

I think in a mild case of depression - where the person has reason for the depression and knows why they are sad...antidepressants should not be taken. The cure should be counselling.

But I do think that some people who suffer from depression as an illness need to be on these meds. Some people are so deeply disturbed, and don't even know why...they don't have a reason to be "depressed", it is MORE than that. Something is off balance in their brains.

If you are mildly depressed, you have to be careful that you don't go on anti-depressants when you really don't need to...(i know, how does one know right?). Some, I said some, doctors prescribe these meds like crazy, when they should actually be suggesting counselling.

Answer 3

My wife has severe clinical depression and an anxiety disorder and I can assure you that it is an illness. Medications can be of use but in my experience they are really trial and error but for my wife they are what keep her here as they help her just about mange to get through the day. To see someone that you love have their world fall apart and become almost housebound due to their ill health is devasting and what makes it worse is that there are so many people who still create a stigma about mental illness. People with mental health problems DONT want to live and feel how they do and would give anything to have a 'normal' life but sadly its not as easy as that and people need to understand and see that.

Answer 4

Have you ever had bad depression? Sorry, but if not, then you cant really comment. (i dont mean that in a nasty way) I have very bad depression and have done for 5 years now. I have to take anti-depressants, as i have..... well.... not very nice thoughts. Depression IS and illness and the tablets help people calm down and get them back to their usual selves until the doctor feels the need to down the dosage or come off of them altogether.

Answer 5

Well depression is recognized around the world as an illness. Some people are sticken with depression so severe that there is no alternative to medication. Cheating in life? Look buddy, if you get depression and don't want to treat it, that's fine, but for the millions of depression sufferers who are being helped by medication, piss off!

Answer 6

Depression is a serious illness, anti depressants are a useful adjunct to treatment. Depression is a bit more of a problem than "just part of life" In its worst forms it can be fatal. Not all anti-depressants work, I don't see the evidence for them being addictive, although anything can be addictive from a psychological perspective.

Answer 7

I know what you mean but until you have walked a mile in a depressed persons shoes you cannot judge i am a bit againt them but to my detriment as i have suffered bad depression for 17 years i feel great on tabs but come off them before im ready so if cheating is by taking a tab that allows you to live in society then so be it but honestly depression sucks !!!!

Answer 8

I think that as with any other medications anti-depressants should be taken only when other alternatives have no effect.

Too many people today go to see their doctor because they are feeling a 'little down' and doctors so easily and readily prescribe medications for them.

Why not try talking to family members or friends first?

On the other hand, there are those who need the anti-depressants. They do have their place in society, and they do do a wonderful job for those who really need them.

I just wish that anti-depressants like so many other medications, (antibiotics for example) weren't so readily prescribed.

Answer 9

Depression that has physiological causes - ie brain chemisty changes, is an illness, if you think that you can't even have been severely depressed let alone suicial. Yes, of course antidepressants should be taken by those with clinical, chemical depression, they just restore levels of serotonin/nor adrenaline to normal and are life savers.

Answer 10

I've been taking anti-depressants for 4 years now and it's likely I may need them for the rest of my life as well as other medication. I can understand that some people may not like the idea of taking this sort of medication, but, in my case, if I didn't I wouldn't be alive now. I'm not being melodramatic, I'm just stating the facts as they apply to me, I really would not be alive if it weren't for medication like this.

Answer 11

Everyone is entitled to their own point of view but its my belief that antidepressants can be extremely helpful. If you can get through depression without them then thats great, if other things ie exercise works for you etc.

Antidepressants dont take away your fears, worries etc but they numb it enough to be more bearable. I've tried it both ways - using other methods to help me and also using antidepressants. I presonally found the drugs to be more effective, they gave me the boost I needed to get myself through. Taking medication is not cheating, I dont really understand how you can say that. Its not a competition to see who can beat depression with/without drugs. If it works for you then surely thats all someone needs to know?! Its a personal decision either way