Antidepressant use doubles in US, study finds

reply to post by jeasahtheseer


Right next to the "quote" button, there exists a lovely button named "Reply to". It is especially helpful when the post you are referring to is extremely long. This message brought to you by King Cares, an ATS initiative.


Anyways, if it is true that you have tried everything under the sun then perhaps you need to try a bit harder once more. But, there could also be the possibility that your brain is just messed and you are one of the few people who legitimately needs them to function. If that's the case then my post was not directed towards you per se. Rather, it's directed at everyone else who wants a band aid solution. It was rather hard to tell though, considering the use of "I cant deal with my issues". It would be beautiful if you could just list these crushing issues.

It's funny because I have been all over the world, and visited some extremely poor countries. I once met a guy who made 80 cents PER DAY. Greeted me with a huge smile and a warm hand shake. After a few minutes he divulged that he made just 80 cents a day. I was shocked, I asked him, you must hate your life then? But the opposite was true, he loved his life, and he loved his long hours and absolute garbage pay. Granted, 80 cent's goes a lot farther there than it does here.

He said, I have a roof over my head at night, clean water to drink, food to eat, and a healthy family. What more could I want?

That absolutely summed it up for me. "What more could I want?"

It highlights the exact issue that faces America. Through the forced ignorance of our society we have been dumbed down to believe we need much more than we actually do. And when we can't get it, we get depressed. Omgad the new iPhone is out, like absolutely everryyyonne cool has one, I need one, if I don't get one im gonna be like totally like so majorly upset. O well, I got prozac!

Depression is simply hate and anguish turned inwards. No one is born depressed, it is something we acquire because of our situations. But, why is it that two people can go through the exact same situations, yet one is depressed and one isn't?

As I already said, life is what we make it. Anyone can choose to hate themselves and wallow in pity over any little thing, it's a choice. You can choose that, or you can choose to come to grips with your misfortunes and turn today into what you want it to be.

Perhaps it was my world travels that made me realize that no matter what, someone always has it much, much worse than I do. No matter what. And to forget that fact is both ignorant, and self centered. Practically at any given time, there are thousands if not millions of people on earth that would trade you situations in a heart beat. The simple fact that you have the ability to sit at your computer and write your message shows me that there are hundreds of millions of people far less fortunate than you are.

This is one of the reasons America is LAUGHED at on the world stage. And for people who have only ingested their state run propaganda they believe this not to be truth. But it is. America is laughed at, because while 'yall' sit there touting what a fantastic, perfect nation you have, you're the most heavily drugged, self pitying country on earth. On top of the most absolutely ignorant, self centered, and out right dumbed down sheep on earth.

When life throws you lemons, paint that # gold and move on.

This has been a message from King Cares, an ATS Initiative.

Originally posted by king9072
reply to post by jeasahtheseer

 

Right next to the "quote" button, there exists a lovely button named "Reply to". It is especially helpful when the post you are referring to is extremely long. This message brought to you by King Cares, an ATS initiative.


Anyways, if it is true that you have tried everything under the sun then perhaps you need to try a bit harder once more. But, there could also be the possibility that your brain is just messed and you are one of the few people who legitimately needs them to function. If that's the case then my post was not directed towards you per se. Rather, it's directed at everyone else who wants a band aid solution. It was rather hard to tell though, considering the use of "I cant deal with my issues". It would be beautiful if you could just list these crushing issues.

It's funny because I have been all over the world, and visited some extremely poor countries. I once met a guy who made 80 cents PER DAY. Greeted me with a huge smile and a warm hand shake. After a few minutes he divulged that he made just 80 cents a day. I was shocked, I asked him, you must hate your life then? But the opposite was true, he loved his life, and he loved his long hours and absolute garbage pay. Granted, 80 cent's goes a lot farther there than it does here.

He said, I have a roof over my head at night, clean water to drink, food to eat, and a healthy family. What more could I want?

That absolutely summed it up for me. "What more could I want?"

It highlights the exact issue that faces America. Through the forced ignorance of our society we have been dumbed down to believe we need much more than we actually do. And when we can't get it, we get depressed. Omgad the new iPhone is out, like absolutely everryyyonne cool has one, I need one, if I don't get one im gonna be like totally like so majorly upset. O well, I got prozac!

Depression is simply hate and anguish turned inwards. No one is born depressed, it is something we acquire because of our situations. But, why is it that two people can go through the exact same situations, yet one is depressed and one isn't?

As I already said, life is what we make it. Anyone can choose to hate themselves and wallow in pity over any little thing, it's a choice. You can choose that, or you can choose to come to grips with your misfortunes and turn today into what you want it to be.

Perhaps it was my world travels that made me realize that no matter what, someone always has it much, much worse than I do. No matter what. And to forget that fact is both ignorant, and self centered. Practically at any given time, there are thousands if not millions of people on earth that would trade you situations in a heart beat. The simple fact that you have the ability to sit at your computer and write your message shows me that there are hundreds of millions of people far less fortunate than you are.

This is one of the reasons America is LAUGHED at on the world stage. And for people who have only ingested their state run propaganda they believe this not to be truth. But it is. America is laughed at, because while 'yall' sit there touting what a fantastic, perfect nation you have, you're the most heavily drugged, self pitying country on earth. On top of the most absolutely ignorant, self centered, and out right dumbed down sheep on earth.

When life throws you lemons, paint that # gold and move on.

This has been a message from King Cares, an ATS Initiative.

Dude, I don't want to argue with you, its pointless. You don't know my situation and I am one of the people that needs meds atleast for the time being. I do have a brain problem and I was also shot in Iraq in the head and I have brain damage which makes it worst. I'm not some pussy sitting around saying, "ohhh life is so depressing". Hell no! As matter of fact if you'd met me you'd have no idea I had depression problems

Like I said I tried many things for many years until the end of last year when Is started taking meds. And its not really exactly depression I have although certain kinds of depression are a brain disorder or whatever too) but I am bi polar and sometimes I get manic and its really bad!

And do't even get me started on poverty I am from one of the poorest , worst places in all the states. I never had anything and I sure as hell didn't have anything given to me. My life is pretty good I must say nowadays and I've earned everything I have!

I however am only in my mid twenties so I imagine someday I'll figure everything out depression wise...etc.

And if you'd read my posts you'd see I pretty much agree with you! I said even I personally know people know people who get some anxiety over something and go get medication and then they turn to addicts. I am not one of these peple like I said I tried many things ad for the time being nothing works except these pills.

I only responded to you because I took your post as rude and you were calling me some emotional weakling, when in reality if you knew me in person youd see I'm far from that! I been supporting myself and my wife since we were 15 years old, I'm not some weak willed person and if I was I would have given up on life long ago probably!



[edit on 4-8-2009 by jeasahtheseer]

reply to post by jeasahtheseer



Right next to the "quote" button, there exists a lovely button named "Reply to". It is especially helpful when the post you are referring to is extremely long. This message brought to you by King Cares, an ATS initiative.


I noticed that you disagreed with the widespread use of today. I would appreciate if you noticed my King Cares initiative, as well as the fact that I said my post may not be directed towards you. You're right, I can't judge you not knowing your situation.

But, that's also why I asked for a list of your current issues that are ruining your life. I will also admit that I have never got to know a true bi-polar person, I have never researched it and I have no way to comprehend it's realities.

But, as I mentioned in my first post, I have found that there are no greater hardships in life than losing family members to the grave far before their time. My brother was just 16 years old and was in the prime of his life. Ultimately every little thing that makes us upset and sad in life pales in comparison to the death of immediate family members.

The fact that I am not depressed in my opinion shows that depression is what we make it, and it is a willful choice. Anyone is more than welcome to pop pills like skittles and wallow in pity, it is their right. I am just saying that it isn't the only option, and more often than not, doesn't make anything better in their life. The issues will still be there no matter how many pills people eat.

My opinion: people are just more depressed today than they were in 1996!

reply to post by king9072


see I don't pop pills like skittles and wallow in pity. Thats lame. I take 2 pills everyday. And once again I am bi polar and its a real medical condition, sorry but having manic episodes is not a natural normal thing, and I've had them as far back as I can remember. Also many other depression disorders are attributed to chemical imbalances, they aren't just some emotional thing. I think I'll take doctors words on this rather than any of you. I've been diagnosed bi polar from 4 different doctors. I've only been taking the meds for less than a year (although I was diagnosed bi polar as a little child, but I refused meds back then), and I sure as hell dont plan to take them forever! Like I said if you met me in person you'd have no idea I had any problems, I'm not some dude who mopes around and whines to everyone, lol.

And I know how it is to lose a brother/sister. My sister died at 19. RIP to your brother.

Peace

[edit on 4-8-2009 by jeasahtheseer]

reply to post by king9072

Anyways, if it is true that you have tried everything under the sun then perhaps you need to try a bit harder once more. But, there could also be the possibility that your brain is just messed and you are one of the few people who legitimately needs them to function. If that's the case then my post was not directed towards you per se. Rather, it's directed at everyone else who wants a band aid solution. It was rather hard to tell though, considering the use of "I cant deal with my issues". It would be beautiful if you could just list these crushing issues.

You know, your post does nothing to address the real issues here. You obviously are not in the medical or social science field, as your posts indicate complete ignorance as to the extent of the true illness.

You make statements that are completely false, make claims that you cannot back up with research, and rant like a three year old.

Why don't you come back in about 20 years, when you grow up, and realize that a high percentage of mental illness is due to chemical imbalance in the brain? Until that time, don't bother to post on this issue. Remember the ATS motto - Deny Ignorance.

reply to post by jeasahtheseer


Don't worry. I was born depressed. Don't listen to him =)

I started on ADs when I was 6 because I slept all the time, wouldn't eat, couldn't go outside, and felt awful all the time. I was 6. Let's be honest, no 6 year old decides to feel like that.

You can get off the meds if you try hard enough. It really sucks, though. You don't just end up happy like this guy over here. It takes months, even years, before your brain chemistry is able to regulate itself on it's own.

People who aren't depressed don't really understand. I went off my meds because of some crap my boyfriend said... pretty much what this guy said to you. And he didn't understand why I changed so much off of them. He is now very supportive and encourages me to do what is best for me, but I'm generally happy with myself now.

Don't listen to what other people say. I did, and I probably shouldn't have. I'll never go back on meds because of what my boyfriend said to me. He basically made me feel like I was pitying myself, so I was like, fine, forget you, I know that I can do it. So I did. It changed my entire body chemistry. I'm generally not a happy person. When I make myself happy when I'm not, I am genuinely unhappy because I'm lying to myself.

But right now I'm doing okay
People like that will make you feel not okay
But I suppose it's like... oh, I don't know, fibromyalgia. People say "Oh, you're just achy, you're just making it up." But if you have it and you know how much it can hurt you're like "No, you don't feel it, you should really just stop pretending you know what it's like."

I have fibromyalgia, too, so life is awesome. It only bugs me in the winter, though.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


Of course, and the multi-billion dollar prescription industry has nothing to do with that right?

Of course, it's just a simple coincidence that the UNITED STATES in the most heavily depressed nation on earth right?

Of course, it obviously has nothing to do with the way we live and eat right?

Of course, the doctors prescribing these drugs daily don't financially benefit from that action, and definitely ONLY care about your health right?

Of course, the multi-million dollar ad campaigns on TV have nothing to do with the rampant over use of prescription drugs in general.. right?


Feeling sad? Not enough energy? Find that life is just too tough sometimes? Do you hate getting up in the morning? WELL HERE! TAKE THIS PILL! EVERYTHING WILL BE OOOOK.

It works by turning you into a zombie so you can simply forget about why your life sucks, and get on with living it as a zombie! Hey, and there's only perhaps 40 side effects, some of them life threatening like "increased suicidal tendency", but who cares, we make a lot of money off your sadness! Cue happy music.

Allopathic doctors practice quackery. We don't suffer from prozac deficiencies, we suffer from gaba & histamine deficiencies, which lead to other neurotransmitter deficiencies.

Take NAC, b6, and glutamine to up the gaba stores, and use niacin, vitamin-c, quercetin, and bromelain to regulate histamine.

If you have depression, anxiety, bipolar, psychosis, etc..read this book:

Depres sion-Free, Naturally

It will turn your life around for the better

[edit on 3-8-2009 by unityemissions]

Originally posted by ravenshadow13
reply to post by jeasahtheseer

 

Don't worry. I was born depressed. Don't listen to him =)

I started on ADs when I was 6 because I slept all the time, wouldn't eat, couldn't go outside, and felt awful all the time. I was 6. Let's be honest, no 6 year old decides to feel like that.

You can get off the meds if you try hard enough. It really sucks, though. You don't just end up happy like this guy over here. It takes months, even years, before your brain chemistry is able to regulate itself on it's own.

People who aren't depressed don't really understand. I went off my meds because of some crap my boyfriend said... pretty much what this guy said to you. And he didn't understand why I changed so much off of them. He is now very supportive and encourages me to do what is best for me, but I'm generally happy with myself now.

Don't listen to what other people say. I did, and I probably shouldn't have. I'll never go back on meds because of what my boyfriend said to me. He basically made me feel like I was pitying myself, so I was like, fine, forget you, I know that I can do it. So I did. It changed my entire body chemistry. I'm generally not a happy person. When I make myself happy when I'm not, I am genuinely unhappy because I'm lying to myself.

But right now I'm doing okay

People like that will make you feel not okay

But I suppose it's like... oh, I don't know, fibromyalgia. People say "Oh, you're just achy, you're just making it up." But if you have it and you know how much it can hurt you're like "No, you don't feel it, you should really just stop pretending you know what it's like."

I have fibromyalgia, too, so life is awesome. It only bugs me in the winter, though.

Yeah, exactly I was like this since I was a little kid and no kid decides to be depressed, what does a six year old have to be depressed about? (well I was severely abused as a kid, but still, I'm sure you know what I mean. And also that didn't really start til my parents started drinking heavily and doing drugs around age seven or so, and I was always felt depressed before that).

I was diagnosed bi polar at 7 years old. I refused meds all the way up to late last year. Thats a long time.(I'm 26, so almost 20 years) At 17 I started trying meditation and all different kind of things and at first it all seemed to work, but not for long. I did all that for years and just now I'm starting meds.

I do't want to take them exactly but I have a wife and young daughter and atm my life is to busy and I do admit I take the meds jsut cause its the easiest solution. Also one day I'm sure I'll get over the depression thing but I'll always have to take meds for bi polar disorder probably.

But anyways I'm ranting. I liked reading your story, its inspiring and I hope oneday I too can manage without meds!


[edit on 4-8-2009 by jeasahtheseer]

"what does a six year old have to be depressed about? (well I was severely abused as a kid, but still, I'm sure you know what I mean)."


"well I was severely abused as a kid, but still, I'm sure you know what I mean"


Issues. Serious issues. Need to be resolved.

reply to post by king9072

If there's anyone who could honestly whine about how bad life sucks, it would be me. But I NEVER have, it's a pathetic excuse to garner pity and get attention. I've never been depressed because I choose not to be, life is what we make it and if you want your life to be junk then just think it's junk and junk it will be. After all when your sitting around pitying your existence, no one else gives a damn. And you're stuck their mopping over spilt milk.

Good for you king9072 but I suspect you have never truly been depressed. Your speech is so easy it seems you have an idea of depression but have never been there.

Antidepressants are essential if your are in a severe prolonged depression. But that is the only time.

Let me tell you about my experience and my family's experience with depression.

There is a long family history, myself included.

The first time I was given an antidepressant it was a tricyclic, this was in the early 70's. My life was so much better for the next few years that I knew I had been depressed all my life. (A result of a parent with multiple divorces and marriages, an orphanage, a mother who offered me for adoption twice, 2 stepfathers who were abusive, changing school 16 times in 12 years, oldest of 8 and the baby sitter from age 5, married an abusive and adulterous husband...need I go on).

The last depression started 5 years ago, I was on 5 different antidepressants all the while telling the Dr. it was situational but yes, it did cause me much stress. The new antidepressants given out now are SSRI's (selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors) and they do nothing but make you dependent. When I tried to get off Effexor, I went to a pharmacist with my plan because I knew from stories on the internet I could not get off it in 5 days like my Dr. said. She agree with my plan of interspersing a tricylicic with the SSRI but increase the time frame from 6 weeks to 2 months.

I got off successfully with only a minimun of rebound depression. Never never allow your self to take an SSRI. How can an SSRI help you if you don't have enough serotonin to re uptake?

I have two daughters on antidepressents, 1 for 20 years. She doesn't even know if it helps or if she needs it after that long.

The other has never been significantly depressed.

I recently read, and I am not going to look for the link, that the vast majority of people with mild to moderate depression showed no difference when given antidepressants than those given a placebo (sugar pill).

It depends on the length and severity of depression whether on needs an antidepressant. Never take one indefinately and never never take an SSRI. It is just Big Pharma's way to keep you hooked.

I am through with my rant. But everyone please be wary. There are times it is needed for a while, but never take an SSRI (check them out) and never stay on them indefinitely

And apologies for the long personal post

reply to post by liveandlearn


I took a few different SSRIs and I never had any significant withdrawal problems. They wanted to put me on Effexor, and I said no.

My list-
Prozac
Fluoxetine
Sarafem
Cymbalta
Lexapro with Focalin
Wellbutrin

I think there may have been another one stuck in there. Um, right. But I don't take any now! I didn't have any severe problems with any of them except Cymbalta gave me really messed up sleep, and Wellbutrin gave me hives and causes seizures in the population way too much for my comfort.

They definitely help, though. Being off them has been difficult. It's getting easier, though.

reply to post by jeasahtheseer

Yeah, exactly I was like this since I was a little kid and no kid decides to be depressed, what does a six year old have to be depressed about? (well I was severely abused as a kid, but still, I'm sure you know what I mean).

Reading your story, it seems to me you really did/do have something to be depressed about.

My grandson was put on antidepressants at age 5 because he was so stressed about going to school. They never worked. He was eventially home school and miraculously when it came time for high school he was okay.

As an infant we thought we thought he might have autistic symptoms. In fact his first DPT shot gave him such a reaction that the doctor said 'no more pertussis shot'.

His antidepressants as well as tranquilizers made no difference in his life to the point he spontaneously decided to make the leap.

You, however, maybe different, if you truly are bipolar.

Just remember to question everything. These diagnosis are given out much too easily now days.

reply to post by liveandlearn


Your absolutely right. I have never, EVER, told myself I was depressed. It's a title that I never believed in, and never wanted to attribute to myself. The word depression is an anchor that has been installed into our psyche by the same people who benefit most from us. Immediately upon saying the word depression, our mind fires off instant thoughts of sadness, exhaustion etc. Once someone gets a little down on their luck, they then see an ad for some antidepressant, then think to themselves, hey maybe I am depressed. Which unlocks a cascading effect.

Does the fact that I have never been depressed mean I am some sort of robo3000 that has never been sad? Of course not. And for anyone who has read my posts in full in this thread, knows I have had many legitimate reasons through out myself to say ah screw it, and gobbled up some pills.

I have had some extremely tough stretches in my life. But I always refused to tell myself that I was depressed and use that as an excuse to not have what I want, not do what I want and live the life that I want. I refused that answer to my situation.

Perhaps from a 3rd persons perspective on my life, they would have called some periods in my life "depression", but that's the thing. I chose for it not to be depression and forfeit my life to what seems like an external issue.

Just like any other issues effecting our mental and physical health, we always seem to address the symptoms, rather than the cause. Depression is a symptom of unresolved mental issues, people then choose to treat that symptom rather than the cause.


I have gone to great length to explain how I have come to my conclusions through out this thread. Don't bother getting immediatelly defensive and claiming that this isn't true for everyone such as those who are bipolar. Sure, great, some people have no choice. But millions do. To sum it all up in one line:

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!

It's all a choice, and at the end of the day, it matters not to me which path anyone here chooses for their personal ride through life. I can only offer my perspective, and since I have been through what would have plunged many people into great depression. Yet come out on the other side with a smile on my face and thanks for what I do have in my life. I feel my perspective is worth hearing.

reply to post by king9072


Being depressed and having depression are two completely different things.

One is an emotion, one is a condition.

Originally posted by maldronath

Antidepressant use doubles in US, study finds

www.alertnet.org

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Use of antidepressant drugs in the United States doubled between 1996 and 2005, probably because of a mix of factors, researchers reported on Monday.

About 6 percent of people were prescribed an antidepressant in 1996 -- 13 million people. This rose to more than 10 percent or 27 million people by 2005, the researchers found.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I don't see anything wrong with 10% of the American population using an AD only if they medically need it - such as being bipolar. Popping a pill to help you deal with the stress of daily life is no big deal. At least 25% of Americans use illegal drugs or alcohol on a regular basis to help them deal with stress. Then you have people who combine the pills with the drugs and alcohol, they're really in happy land. Everyone has their own remedy of choice when it comes to dealing with stress and everyone seems to be stressed out. The people who scare me the most are those who do not take pills or drugs or alcohol. I don't buy that whole high on life (or religion) attitude, those people are an emotional powder keg waiting to explode at any moment.

reply to post by ravenshadow13


I tried to reply to you but my connection went down so I will not repost in length.

I took some of the meds you posted with no effect and/or an adverse effect.

So I will simply reiterate, if you are severely depressed for a long time, find something that works great, but don't keep on it forever. And never take effexor.

ravenshadow, you seem to have a problem and I applaud you for trying to go it own you own. Just know when you need it and when you don't.

And consider counseling. Primary care physicians tend to give meds whiich may help in the short term but never address the real problem. It makes us feel better but the next time it comes along we just take a pill instead of trying to understand the real issue

There is alot to be depressed about these days, but anti-depressant

drugs are not the answer, they are full of toxins, and cause a wide variety

of side effects, which are bad and can even be fatal! Im a nurse, and

this is just my opinion! research drugs before you even think about

taking them.

good post S&F

reply to post by king9072


Hello again

Your absolutely right. I have never, EVER, told myself I was depressed. It's a title that I never believed in, and never wanted to attribute to myself. The word depression is an anchor that has been installed into our psyche by the same people who benefit most from us. Immediately upon saying the word depression, our mind fires off instant thoughts of sadness, exhaustion etc. Once someone gets a little down on their luck, they then see an ad for some antidepressant, then think to themselves, hey maybe I am depressed. Which unlocks a cascading effect.

I wish it was a simple as not telling ourselves we are depressed. It is not an anchor in my psychic as it I am too old and for me, in the beginning it was a stigma that I chose to admit and not hide.

It is not a matter of being a 'little down' real depression is a profound sadness that doesn't go away regardless of how you may wish it to or try to combat it.

Just like any other issues effecting our mental and physical health, we always seem to address the symptoms, rather than the cause. Depression is a symptom of unresolved mental issues, people then choose to treat that symptom rather than the cause.

I agree with you in part. Antidepressants often keep you from dealing with te issues at hand.

It's all a choice,

Ya know, when I woke up about 19 years ago, that was my first realization... it was all a choice. I thought I would never be depressed again. There was another choice I could make. I was able to make the right choice at that time because I had no longer had an emotional involvement.

Later there was a situation I was so drawn to that I made the wrong choice in allowing myself to get involved. The result of that decision, if you read my previous post of some of the things I lived through, could not equate with the hell I went through with the results of this decision. I still live with it after 5 years. This dept if emotion you do not choose for yourself. If you have not been there, I don't know it it is good or bad, I just do not wish it on you.

I am glad that to this point in your life you have not experienced what some have experienced and can consider it a choice, as I once did. If you ever do, may you go through with grace and humility.