Depression Questions!?

Okay I don't really understand all this jive about depression. I have a couple of friends who have been diagnosed with it and I when they tell me about how they used to act before they got meds, I dont understand why they couldn't just stop. I know it's a hormonal imbalance, but if its a medical problem that means people have been living with it for years, but without medicine.

These people who I know who have the disorder ALL do not have strong parental figures and have endured trauma during their childhood. Could that be a cause? Do you think that's a direct link to it? Or is that totally off base?

Another question, is medicine the answer? Maybe it's cynical of me, but it seems that in American society today, there is a pill for everything? Almost any and everything requies medicine to people. That may be becausepharmacuetical (sp?) companies are corporate monsters, but that's a convo for another day.

Anyhow. Is there an alternative to drugs? There has to be something else?

Hi, I suffer from bi-polar disorder and I am sectioned under the compulsory mental health act and so I can relate to what you are saying about meds. I don't take my medications and I run the risk of getting into legal crap due to the act. BUT when all is said and done its my body and I have been on various meds for 20 years with little relief from my symptoms.

I did have a lot of trauma in my early childhood and actually all my life - I am now early forties. And I do believe that it has impacted in my lack of ability to cope at times and it affects my health big time. Eg if I have a low mood I sink so bloody low that I can't function for weeks even months on end.

I am currently telling the doctors that I take my meds (to keep them off my back) but I throw them away and I am trying a vitamin rich diet with lots of raw veges and omega fish oil.

Labels and drugs are chucked out way too readily in my opinion, and I have often told my shrink that I feel that my bi-polar is directly related to past events that I have been unable to deal with.

I have given myself a six month time frame to see if I can self-improve my health through diet, exercise and attitude.

as to your is there a substitute question i really dont know, but yes, you are right about the pill for everything. a lot of pills contradict eachother thoughlike you have multiple pills for one thing when you only need just one. they do that to get more money out of you.. and yes i do think it in part stems from trauma.

in my opinion you can't just stop because its an emotionally driven thing. physically hurting you can help stop emotional pain or relieve the even physical pain you can sometimes feel in your heart or head. its like a pressure of something squeezing your insides and cutting may relieve it. trauma could be a cause, it could be a battle of nature vs. nurture. may believe depression and other mental illnesses are genetic others believe that a traumatic event can cause them. I personally believe it could be either or a combination of the two. jury is still out on whether medicine is completely neccessary. in my opinion it would first depend whether it is genetic or caused by an event. medicines like prozac, abilify, and lexapro certainly help some people but there are others who can feel better just by talking through it or seeking advice or help from professionals. some people just find the strength in themselves, often with help from others, to fight the pain and while they'll still feel the pain of depression they can find better ways to deal with it. if you are really interested i would suggest finding a book...there are several.

Yes, there are plenty of alternatives to drugs.

It is not really known what depression is. Is it really about having too little neurotransmitters? This is the problem: It is somewhere in between psychology and field of psychiatry.

One of the things that upsets me the most is how psychiatrists offer very little explanation about why they subscribe medication. How does it work? And why does it sometimes not work? Why do some work and others don't? Why do some work better than others? Why does it list suicide as a side effect?? etc etc. If you were to ask these questions it is very unlikely that you will get any (decent) answer.

There are many things that determine your mood: Your chemical makeup "Biology", your environment, and your mind. And these all effect each other. So, yes especially early trauma can lead to depression. -and no medication is not always the answer.

If you have depression and all the doctor offers you is medication -then I would run for the door very quickly! CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) -often in combi with medication is probably the most effective treatment today.

And yes -these pharmaceutical companies are monsters. What is worse, though , is the doctors that don't try to help people as a whole- but only as a chemical brain.

People change, go through phases, or find different things interesting/boring. You need to accept that and try to look at it as a learning experience. THere could be a chemical imbalance, but that's not the cause, that's the symptom. You should be able to fix the problem on your own.

First- get healthy- get off of any drugs, alcohol, caffeine that may be altering your brain physiology and try to get to an ideal weight (if you're not already). Exercise and eat right- get all of your vitamins!

Second- Talk to people. Make sure that you're not holding anything back, but that you are aware of your feelings and able to communicate them to people

Third- Make sure you're breathing normally throughout the day and sleeping well at night. If either of these things gets out of whack, it could make you feel like you're losing it or becoming depressed.

Fourth- challenge yourself. The tricky thing about depression is that it will hit you even if you are doing healthy things. If you don't stimulate your brain and challenge yourself, you will lose the impetus to love life.

I would try all of these things before you go pay money to get the same advice or spend more money on pharmaceuticals that could do damage. If you're the type that needs a cure in a pill, look into http://www.amelior4life.com - studies show it's dramatically effective at curing depression and has minimal side effects.

Good luck- and remember- don't worry about it- that may only make your condition worse! It's not just you- changes are normal!