Posted by Cindy W on September 13, 2000, at 8:56:32
In reply to Treating Depression without Medication, posted by josh on September 13, 2000, at 4:56:31
> Hello out there, I wanted to write to express frustration with the current situation in my life. I am 33 years old, and have been depressed for a large portion of my life; mostly self-defeatist, I mute my anxiety by not responding to threatening situations or possible opportunities which might improve my life. I become inert. I also have chronic pain in several parts of my body, and am currently out of work, rapidly running out of money. Don't know what kind of work to do because every job I have had within the past 7 years has produced pain.
> I have been on anti-depressant medications before, but since having educated myself more, am VERY resistant to taking them. There are huge existential implications in taking a pill to "make you better."
> Is there anyone out there in the teeming masses who disagrees with the medical model of depression like me?
> Here are some points I'd like to illustrate.
> 1) There is a psychological theory known as "state dependent memory," which essentially asserts that if you learn something in one state of mind, or in this case under the influence of medication, you need to remain or return to that state to remember what you've learned. So, wouldn't any gains made under the influence of anti-depressants be negated when off the medication? Does this mean we have to be on medication for the rest of our lives?
> 2)Despite all the scientific and medical rhetoric about the brain, there is a body of evidence which suggests these "professionals" know very little about the brain, and how long-term use of anti-depressants, specifically SSRI's, affect it. When reading literature about Wellbutrin, for instance, they're not even sure how it works! Could it be these drugs permanently affect the brain making one MORE depressed after persistent use?
> 3) Kierkegaard (I am paraphrasing) said that anxiety is one of the greatest educational tools a person can have. Why chemically lobotomize oneself and potentially truncate the process of becoming self-aware and fully actualized as a human being?
>
> Also, I have a physician who is treating me for PHYSICAL pain who insists I go on anti-depressant medication or find another doctor. Aside from him hardly knowing me (he's met me twice), and it being ethically objectionable, IS THIS LEGAL?
>
> Well, it's late, and these are just a few of these concerns I have pondered. In any case, can someone provide some feedback about what I can do? I have been in and out of therapy since I was 9, and simply talking about it doesn't do any good. Is there a different kind of therapy I can try? Support groups? While I am constantly reading about depression and its various mechanisms and(in theory) know what I need to do to help myself, I just can't. Or don't? Is it because I don't want to? Any response is valued, believe me. I look forward to hearing from you.
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> Josh
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Josh, have you tried a therapist who's supportive and who uses cognitive behavior therapy? You can also use self-help if you read stuff by Aaron Beck or David Burns. This is a non-medical approach which has been shown in research to be as effective as medication for some medication (although the optimal combination for people who have long-standing and/or severe depression combines both medication and cognitive behavior therapy). Hope this helps!--Cindy W (on Effexor-XR, in therapy, and reading as fast as I can!!)
poster:Cindy W
thread:522
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/525.html