nik0tine
has evolved into ULTROS
Banned

Oh the places you'll go

Wow, nik. I had no idea you felt that way.

situational depression - definition of situational depression in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

Major depressive disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The depression you described is situational depression. Not clinical. Like (I think I mentioned this example in the thread?) if someone's loved one dies, and they become depressed, it's probably situational depression. Therapy...okay, I can see that helping. Learning coping techniques and acceptance, etc. But this person clearly does not need meds. There's nothing wrong with their brain. They're suffering from a loss. The only thing that's going to help is time and getting on with life.

And yeah, I can see how that'd be insulting to suggest they needed therapy. They may just need time or a new situation to explore.

And you're right. And I think that's where so much of my frustration comes from. People give me a lot of trout when I don't automatically sympathize with someone who's "depressed." Like, because I found a way to work through it without anyone else's help or with meds, I've done something wrong. Because, as you said, a lot of people DO use therapy and meds as a way to shirk responsibility of their mental healthy. It's easy to say, "these meds aren't working/therapy isn't working." It's shaming to say, "I'm not really putting the effort into my mental well being that it needs for me to get my trout together and not be a drain on society."

By psychotropic, I mean antidepressants, antianxiety, etc. I'd even put sleeping pills in this category. Honestly, I'd consider weed a natural remedy in a lot of ways. I don't completely hate those things. But I think that people need to try other options first. Having trouble sleeping? Take serotonin. Meditate. Change your diet and pre-bed time routine.

You and I agree on this issue. I most of the time don't have sympathy for people who are on meds for depression and stuff. As you said, a lot of it is behavioural. I've dealt with clinical depression since I was 13 (there's actually a good chance I'm bipolar, as it runs in the family. I'm not self-diagnosing, just saying it's likely. I've never been evaluated though, so I can't say) and I had social anxiety so bad I dropped out of high school. Unlike most people, I decided to quit taking my meds and work through it. I forced myself back to high school and forced myself to socialize. I don't have social anxiety anymore. (Maybe mildly--meeting new people, etc. Which is pretty normal, I think.) And I still have very very severe low episodes with my depression. But I've found ways of dealing with it, and outlets.

I recognize that there are more severe mental health problems out there than just depression. And while I don't think therapy really helps anyone, if someone thinks it will help them, I'd be supportive. To me, that at least says the recognize they have a problem and are willing to work on it. But the people in our society are so quick to take meds before they try other options. And like I said--I'm not adverse to meds, but it shouldn't be your plan A.

And also, I think mental illness has been glamorized in our society, and a lot of people sort of use mental illness to...I dunno the word I'm looking for. But it's sort of messed up.

Hey, I didn't realize you work in the medical field.

But yeah, I'm pretty against giving out psychotropes unless it's a last resort. Like, one of my clients has been on Adderall and Depakote for behaviour. Ever since we weaned him OFF the Adderall, his behaviour's been BETTER. We're gonna ween him off of the Depakote soon. Which is, um, a SEIZURE medication, and he does not have seizures. Doctors give trout out like that all the time. Those things rewrite your brain makeup completely.

Hey man, I just wanted to apologize for my absurd responses in the mental health debate. I wasn't in any position to argue that way. I hope you can accept my apology, but if not that's cool. Just wanted you to know.

thanks for the rep. Its funny but I had the same misconception until a prof in class pointed that out to me.

Just passing this out to some of the regulars who don't seem to be keeping up with the thread: Don't forget, you can increase your chances of winning that poster by doing the daily tasks mentioned in the poster giveaway thread. Keep an eye on things as your chances go up pretty high depending on this - and if you don't do any of the tasks your chances will obviously drop due to others doing those tasks!

HAPPY BDAY!!!