Are drugs really the answer to curing depression?

Question

I think simply taking drugs and expecting instand results is not a good idea. However, I think most Americans believe there is a pill for everything. What do you think?

Answer 1

NOpe suffered from depression for 12 years. Pills have made me gain wait, feel suicidal, almost pass out at work, paranoid, anger, sick, and tired but never happy. I think they are a joke.


I used relgion, Change of lifestyle, friends, relocated and stopped drinking and doing drugs. I still have episodes were i get real sad and curl up in front of the tv with sappy movies and cry all day but 99% of the time i feel great.

Answer 2

I think Americans from the United States are the people who keep the world from another World War. America is the Earth's police. Also we have one million times more nukes than anyone else does. So that quite shuts everyone up pretty darn well.
And i also think that generalizing a country for what one person or a few persons do is wrong.
If you hate Americans, please don't start saying things about them that you truly can not back up except with pre-determined prejudices against America.
Also it's called North America, or the United States of America. Canada is also part of the Americas, also there is a whole continent with countries that are also part of the Americas. And no the US doesn't have a pill for everything. And if we did I dont think we would share it with you anyways; you're not worth it.
And no drugs aren't the answer to curing depression. Getting over it is the cure

Answer 3

I give you my sympathy I know what Depression is. I am sure you know that at some time it will remit I think if you have depression and prescription drugs work for you, and you know the pills that help I would get them on prescription. This happened to me and tried very hard to do without prescription drugs, but I did not succeed and life became a hell on earth. When I got the drugs Mao's in my case it was like a miracle, I felt better almost immediately. However if you can manage without drugs I suggest you live as interesting and stimulating life as possible. You will find all the advice you need on the net

Answer 4

Drugs don't cure depression - nothing does, except maybe sometimes your brain can heal itself while the drugs make your life tolerable in the meantime.

Would you take pain medication when you are in extreme physical pain? Do you take aspirin for a severe headache? Morphine for surgery? If you think this use of medication is appropriate, then you ought to see the use of antidepressants to be appropriate when people are undergoing severe mental suffering. The reason people do not realize that it is the same thing is because of three things: The brain is somehow not thought to be part of the body, because treatments for depression are pretty darn new, and because of the stigma of mental illness. The non-drug treatments for depression are suitable for milder depressions only, and for moderate to severe depression, they are good to do, but not enough (like exercise, using a light box, meditate, etc.) If your depression is situational, like you have an abusive boss, then I think it is inappropriate to take antidepressants, because they may take away your motivation to change your situation, and because these drugs are intended to treat the disease of depression, not a crappy life situation. That's like giving aspirin to someone who keeps banging their legs with a stick.

So in general, I do think drugs are overprescribed, and in a lot of cases, including depression (but also insomnia, painkillers, antibiotics etc.) it would be good to give out a handout on good sleep habits, stretches/physical therapy things, why antibiotics are inappropriate for flu, etc. But if someone actually has major depression, it is totally appropriate to take medication just like if you had severe arthritis or an injury.

Answer 5

I agree with you. There are many other ways to TREAT - not CURE depression, like talk therapy with a real professional human being who has your best interests at heart. It helps many people a great deal just to have someone listen to them. And then guide them in their journey towards better mental health.

There are exceptions, however: If a person is so deeply depressed that they are contemplating suicide or other drastic measures, or if talk therapy doesn't seem to be working, sometimes a course of antidepressants is called for immediatley to prevent worsening of symptoms.

Ideally, once someone is stabilized on medication, therapy should be stressed, and a qualified psychiatrist should know best whether or not the medication is needed over what length of time. (Remember, it is called the PRACTICE of medicine.)

Answer 6

I think drugs are a good way to get through the depression, but I doubt they are a cure.

Answer 7

There is no such thing as a miracle pill in any situation. Medication can be effective when it's teamed up with psychotherapy.
You're right though, many people look to pills as a panacea.
Psychotherapy takes a very long time, which is the reason so many doctors use pills as an alternative, which is completely wrong. You need both in order to have positive changes occur.

Answer 8

I think drugs for depression can be -- not always are, but can be -- like crutches for a broken leg.

In other other words, when you break your leg, you use crutches but the crutches are not what makes your leg heal.

Likewise, I think that properly administered, a drug won't heal depression but it can allow a sufferer to deal a little bit better with the here and now and the immediate feelings of hopelessness while they work to actually change their lifestyle in a more permanent and pro-active way.

Answer 9

I dont beleive that drugs can really cure depression, it can only help you cope with it. But it wont cure it.
The best way to deal with depression is having people around you that want to help you and as for helping yourself, keeping busy, trying new things step by step.

Answer 10

I think that we as a society are over medicated...how did people manage years before there were so many drugs for so many conditions??? so much money is spent today on medications if there was a wonder drug of some kind they would have to keep it from going public to prevent the pharmaceutical companies from reaping enormous profits...