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"Mental Illness" (Depression/Anxiety)

Z

zaneo

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
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38
In the last week I've visited a counsellor and a GP regarding some issues I'm going through with anxiety and depression. Both had very opposite views on why they exist and what can be done about it.

GP: Believes that depression/anxiety is in the same league as any other treatable medical illness, that with proper medication can be overcome. Believes that counselling can only do so much.

Counsellor: Believes that depression and anxiety stem from personal issues that need to be confronted. That finding a root cause or trigger for these feelings will allow a person to grow and overcome them. Believes that anti-depressants can only do so much.

I'm interested in your opinions. I guess both are true to an extent, but how many of these kind of emotional pains are strictly a "medical illness", or a need to address some of your thoughts, beliefs, patterns of thinking and general outlook.

I guess what I'm wondering is, are a lot of people too quick to just take some medication to ease their suffering, when possibly the real cause for their problems can be sourced, identified and nipped in the bud by embracing the suffering, altering your life style and moving forward.

Thoughts?
 
Depends what the causes are. Most of the time I think SSRIs are useless, as most people don't have chemical imbalances and the cause is something stressing you in life. Personally citalopram made me completely flat, emotionless and apathetic. I know 7 or 8 people who have taken it and only one person didn't have the same problem as me. It narrows the range of emotions you feel, if you experience abnormally extreme lows and possibly highs, then an SSRI may be helpful, but most people aren't like this and therapy is more useful, and exercise :)
 
I've never tried citalopram so can't comment, but I'd agree that some anti-depressants can produce a flat or emotionless aspect. I did find fluoxetine to be useful, though not paxil which was horrible - and both gave me indigestion. Reboxitine (sp?) was the one that really helped me in the end. As to therapy, I think it should be much more effective but this depends both on how willing you are and how good your therapist is - on the NHS you've got no fucking chance. Exercise is also extremely important, as is sleep regulation.

P.S Doesn't this belong in TDS?
 
Thanks for replying. So did you find it was the anti-depressants or self-analysis and lifestyle change that worked best? Or a combination of the two?

P.S - I guess maybe this belongs in TDS. But I saw it as half about emotional pain, and half about the strengthening of ones mind and spirit ;)

EDIT:
wideI said:
Been dealing with these and the uglies that come with it since I was 5 yrs old. Antidepressants, depending on the "cause" of the depression, in my opinion will only do so much. They can help if the appropriate one/s are prescribed...and/or physotherapy or just plain counselling..
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Sorry to hear about your suffering. It's interesting that you say you've been experiencing these things since the age of 5. One would assume that at the age of 5 these demons would not exist without some kind of genetic link. So if we are comparing genetic vs. situational illness, how does one seek the appropriate help? It's a sad thought that someone with "genetic" depression might be seeking answers within themselves which will never be found compared to someone who's illness is "situational" yet they don't actually face up to their problems...
 
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unfortunetly there is no real answer to this question... but it seems the more options you have available to you the better chance of overcoming it.....

although anti depressants are not a cure they can help you function in life so that you can actually do therapy and other tools.......

I would say to explore all options..... but your question is so broad and EVERYONE is so different so its hard to say what will truely work for you....

I would use the anti depressants as a last resort if you simply cannot function at all in life.......
 
cire113 said:
unfortunetly there is no real answer to this question... but it seems the more options you have available to you the better chance of overcoming it.....

although anti depressants are not a cure they can help you function in life so that you can actually do therapy and other tools.......

I would say to explore all options..... but your question is so broad and EVERYONE is so different so its hard to say what will truely work for you....

I would use the anti depressants as a last resort if you simply cannot function at all in life.......
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Thanks for your reply. I'm not really looking for an answer for my personal situation, just interested to hear peoples opinions and experiences on this subject. I left it as a broad question to hopefully spark some interesting conversation. Personally I am going to try all other avenues with medication as a last resort. Seeing as this has only come on recently (I'm almost 20), I'm hoping that some lifestyle changes and addressing some deep personal issues can make a big difference.
 
My GP is completeley anti prescribing me any medication for my anxiety, the fucker just sent me ONE link to a site on 'relaxation thecniques' and told me to excercise more.
Thanks a lot, cunt.
 
I don't believe that mindful use of supplementary medication need be an either/or with counseling - in many cases, both in combination have a better shot at finding the path to a more centered life.

Apart from that, I'd recommend from my own experience:

1. Viktor Frankel's Man's Search for Meaning - sounds trite to reference a book, but in seriousness that's a powerful and even life-changing work.

2. Explore the ways in which other intellectual traditions have dealt with the inherent instabilities of being human. For me, this involves a judicious engagement with the Buddhist literature - sometimes it's really helpful to put individual challenges in a larger context. Sometimes, it's just a bunch of words and doesn't help at all.

3. Relating to #1, find something in life about which you genuinely care. Do more of that.

Peace,

Fausty
 
I, personally, do not believe that GP's should even be able to prescribe anti-depressants until we have an actual test that can detect levels of brain chemicals. (Or do we?? I've never heard of anyone having this test done, if so...) If the results show a chemical imbalance then IMO meds are in order, if not, then counseling is the answer. Otherwise, anti-depressants are just a band aid and will result in a lifetime cycle of meds and misery until you get to the root of the problem through counseling. Far, far too many people are labled as "depressed" and put on meds and that can make things even worse.

10 years ago after a pretty serious ecstasy binge I was in an awful state of depression. He didn't know much about the effects of something like that and neither did I, so after researching he figured out that I probably had a severe chemical imbalance (namely seritonin depletion) and put me on Prozac and Xanax for the panic attacks. I can honestly say that after about 6 months it was like I woke up one day and a light bulb went off. I was back to normal, went off the Prozac and have never felt TRUE depression again.

Meds should always be a last resort, IMO, unless you know for sure that your depression is a result of a chemical imbalance. Generally, I think lifestyle changes or some things like Fausty mentioned and counseling would be much more beneficial. Plus, I can tell you from experience that once you are diagnosed with depression and put on meds for it, it will follow you forever.
 
as most people don't have chemical imbalances and the cause is something stressing you in life
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something stressing you in life will create a chemical imbalance in your brain

you laugh because something funny triggered some chemicals in your brain
you cry because something sad triggered some chemicals in you brain
etc.

the cousellor tries to cure the cause
the GP tries to cure the symptoms
 
^^ but, isn't that kind of like "what comes first, the chicken or the egg??"

Sure, different emotions might trigger different chemicals in your brain, but it shouldn't make them abnormally high or low to the point that it is affecting your life and your ability to function. That's completely different than clinical depression and a chemical imbalance.
 
wideI said:
Who's a cunt???:(

Relaxation does work..in certain circumstances..
I have a very nasty nasty 'fuck-up-yo-face' kinda temper
exercise does work (although I haven't done anything but sit on my ass at a desk for two years)

I just live with myself everyday and learned different ways to cope (though not all good at times)

Now I'm just so busy posting I have no time to wallow in my self loathing misery.
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I was calling the GP a cunt. Yes relaxation can work, very true. However, I have told him I really struggle with these theqniques and there not very practical all the time.
 
I find it hard to speak with anybody about my personal issues...
Sometimes even though counsellors are not supposed to be biased in their opinions, we are, of course, human beings...
I find that fact to be hard to let my true inner thoughts out, as sometimes these thoughts are severe...I know myself I'm a good person, I do not need guidance from somone else telling me how I 'should' or should 'not' feel...especially about some feelings I may have at the time of the appointment (or not)..
the drugs will help yourself cope, but you, yourself is the only one that can help YOURSELF :)
this is all imho
 
Sure, different emotions might trigger different chemicals in your brain, but it shouldn't make them abnormally high or low to the point that it is affecting your life and your ability to function. That's completely different than clinical depression and a chemical imbalance.
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maybe you want to trade your brain with mine.
then we'll talk again

or probably we won't need to talk about it... maybe just long enough for you to ask for your brain back
 
Anyone who says all these problems can be solved with behavioral therapy has obviously never been in the situation of having to deal with problems unresponsive to behavioral therapy. (obviously! haha. my message is sincere though, seriously, there comes a point where it just doesn't work.)
The brain is an organ. Organs can malfunction, either through a developmental error, or error introduced through a single (blow to the head, perhaps, or very traumatic emotional event) or repeated event. These events cause physical changes in brain structure and function. The brain is to an extent plastic (as in, it's structure and connectivity can change), but not completely so.
 
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Gee, the doc thinks it's medical and the counselor thinks it's purely psychological?

sound like self justification to anyone?
 
The brain is an organ. Organs can malfunction, either through a developmental error, or error introduced through a single (blow to the head, perhaps, or very traumatic emotional event) or repeated event. These events cause physical changes in brain structure and function. The brain is to an extent plastic (as in, it's structure and connectivity can change), but not completely so.
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So if the brain's structure changes, so should one's perceptions of reality. Hence, what is it about one's self that objects to the changes?
 
or the other way around, the former became a doc because he thought it was all medical and the later became a counselor because he thought it was all psychological
 
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