Posted by Penny on February 4, 2004, at 12:51:05
In reply to Re: POLL: most ridiculous solution to depression » pegasus, posted by Elle2021 on February 3, 2004, at 23:41:35
> > What's wrong with some people?
>
> Good question. I wish I had the answer. I think the biggest problem is that a lot of people are just uneducated in regard to mental illness and medication. There is a misnomer out there that antidepressants give you some type of "high." I'm not sure about the vaildity of that, but they don't give me a high. I also think that the person who said that to me hasn't read enough about how antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc work and how they effect the brain. I try to educate the people who make these claims, but sometimes it feels as if I'm fighting a losing battle.
> Elle
I've stopped trying to explain - some folks will NEVER understand...and it doesn't help that so-called experts (like the 'well-known' Dr. Breggin) continue to perpetuate the idea that antidepressants and the like are all a scam started by the pharmaceutical industry. I read somewhere (and I believe - but am not sure, so don't quote me on this - that it was in a Breggin book) that there was a psychiatrist who wanted to chill out on his vacation so he started taking Prozac. Mind you, he wasn't depressed. Then, after returning from vacation he continued to take the Prozac (why?) and had to stop due to his becoming apathethic. Now, without this turning into a debate over medication and SEs, let me say that yes, perhaps the Prozac was contributing to his apathy. But why was he taking it to begin with? I have been on quite a large number of meds, but I don't ever recall an SSRI causing me to just automatically chill out - they typically take a while to work, and even then (for me) don't have a calming effect really...
But such a story perpetuates the myth that ADs are quick-fixer-uppers, give you a "high", are "happy pills" etc. And even a man, like Breggin, who has been to medical school (gasp) and supposedly studied the brain can't accept that the research shows what it shows. Argh.
Though I know there are many folks out there who believe what he says and agree with him. But I pay no attention any longer.
I still stand by the statement I made after my week-long hospital stay last summer - if anyone doubts the REALITY of mental illness, they really should spend a week in the psych ward. It is so clearly not 'all in our heads'.
P
poster:Penny
thread:307610
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040131/msgs/309327.html