Well for me the argument isn't just that the doctors don't do more tests on the patient to see if certain antidepressants should be prescribed, its that te medicines were developed under the assumption rather than hard scientific evidence that this is what will cure depression. I would like to see a statistic if there is such a thing as to how many people are actually cured and can stop taking them as opposed to are still on them due to ongoing depression.

WoW....where to start. First off I have to say that quite a few of you are extremely harsh in your opinion of depression AND fibromyalgia. I have been dealing with both depression and chronic pain for close to 10 years now. If it were really as easy as going out into the "real world" and putting on a happy face...well wouldn't that be nice! And it would also be nice if fibro were simply all in my head. I could just make it all go away by changing my mood or outlook on life. That would be grand indeed.

I really have enjoyed reading the thread, don't get me wrong but I must admit I get offended when reading people's posts who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. If you haven't been in someone's shoes, don't be so callous as to believe you know how or why they feel the way they do.

For me personally, anti depressants have not helped and getting off them is horrible. I keep going back to them thinking it might be different but not so. This does not mean they don't work for everyone. I definitely need to try therapy, but I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to talk about my debilitating thoughts and feelings, so it's been difficult to take that step.

I would like to thank those of you who have shared your personal experiences. It's nice to read that you are not alone.

Anyway, I just felt that I had to share my feelings on this thread as it is very personal to me. Also, I should probably mention that I am Anrchy's gf.

I didn't mean any offense if you were regarding my post to fibromyalgia, I was stating most of the medical community does not believe it to be an actual disease, rather a mental disorder. On the same note I should have said I believe western medicine strongly under estimates the power of mental disorders. I personally believe that depression can and does lead to physical symptoms. And that likely fibromyalgia is some sort of neurological issue rather then a bodily issue, which doesn't make it less real, just different. One really fascinating read on the subject of the power of our brains is Phantom's In The Brain by Ramachandran, its slightly older but a fairly easy read without taking several years of medical courses.

I've been on anti-depressents before, and you are right, coming off is horrific! I do urge you to see someone, the fact you are uncomfortable talking about it only gives me more reason to believe that it could truly be of huge value to you. Maybe you would feel more comfortable if Anarchy was there to support you ?

I also highly recommend trying to keep up some physical activity, on a regular basis. I know you said you are dealing with chronic pain, and trust me I know exactly where you are coming from, it can be extremely rough to motivate yourself to do anything when your chewing 5 oxy's a day to function. But overall I am far happier now dealing with my pain in a more natural way and having a more balanced lifestyle. I won't say it is the magical cure all for depression, but it certainly has been shown to help a huge majority of people.

Our brains have huge self defensive mechanisms, our fight or flight responses are amazing, but can also be torture for us when we get stuck in loops of self doubt. We instinctively start to become afraid of everything to the point we are crippled and unable to do simple tasks as even pick up the phone and call our closest of friends or even family. Which makes us feel trapped, and hopeless.

Anyway, sorry for the ramblings, this is of course just my opinion, I truly do hope the best for you, , more important then who is right or wrong on these issues, all of our well beings is the ultimate goal!

Thank you so much for your reply. I have to admit I did take offense, but the reason being is that I have been told "it's not real it's all in your head" far too many times since my diagnosis. I completely misunderstood your meaning and for that I apologize. I do agree that it could be entirely neurological and that does make sense to me. I guess I really just wish there was a definitive answer.

Thank you also for the advice. I am in my mid thirties and I definitely need to make changes in my lifestyle (eating and exercise). And you are completely right, talking is probably going to be the most beneficial factor for me. I really need to just do it! Sounds like you understand that one. Unfortunately any physical activity requires some pain meds.

Again, thank you

Statistics have shown that antidepressants do work better than placebo, but not much better. For people who´re only suffering a mild form of depression, they don´t do better than placebo. The more severe a depressive disorder is, the better they do compared to a placebo.

The statistic´s improve drastically when antidepressants are combined with therapy. Therapy combined with medication is the most effective way of combatting severe depressions, if you don´t want to resort to even more drastic measures like electroshocks.

Not all antidepressants trigger the same pharmacolological mechanisms. Some tend to restore serotonin levels, while others affect levels of dopamine or noradrenaline or combinations of these neurotransmitters.

Of some antidepressants, it isn´t even clear what exactlly it is they do. They have been develloped for another purpose and during trials it showed that they cured depressive disorders.

The severity of side-effects also varies hugely in each individual as well as with each antidepressant. St johns worth is a very mild antidepressant, but risky for people with thrombosis. Passionflower is also very mild. The mild ones are often less effective unfortunenately, for very severe depressions.

What if the MAJORITY of depression is caused by a damaged "ego", rather than a malfunction of the brain?. Thus would "removing the ego" be why success is reported with mind altering drugs, of which actually include anti depressants (which are their "legal high equivalents" ??

This does not of course involve depression caused by a physical ill.

tricyclics, SSRI's, and SNRI's don't remove anyone's sense of self.
nice try, but not every aspect of the human condition can be attributed to "ego" or "spirituality".

I wonder what people think of the fact that according to the W.H.O., an ever increasing number of people, both in devellopping countries as well as in industrialised nations, is suffering from depressive disorders, (as i said before, my theory is that it is related to the fact that more people live in city´s these days then ever before).

It is a realy concerning trend.

Polytrip, maybe it's something to do with us feeling completely diminished??

What do i mean by this?, well, we are told by society, media, parents, etc, that we are our name, body, job, country and there's nothing much more to life than that basic stuff.

Never are we told that even if we were Astronaughts or Michael Angelo's we would still be a sorry excuse for the immenceness and beauty that we are, for we are truly divinity formed into a human being and SO MUCH MORE than what we are told or led to believe we are by the masses, (of which the majority are deluded by mass brainwashing and analysis paralysis.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/...ajor_depressive_disorder

THere are some important people on that list who probably had no problems with feelings of diminishment. I think you are over-simplifying things, Christian. Depression is not as simple as a 'broke ego' or being diminished.

You're probably right, as is Benzyme.

And yes, i am oversimplifying it. I was just trying to look at the bigger picture rather than the mini fractals of problems that fluctuate off it.

Then again i think if only depressed people were allowed the opportunity to be treated with the psychadelic experience that they would see the light first hand. Who knows, maybe that in a controlled setting is all that is needed instead of years of suffering??

Future research will tell.

That statement is a contradiction lol

If that were true then being depressed would cancel itself out haha.

unfortunately its the opposite. They are UNHAPPY because they cant doing anything about it, because you feel helpless. You feel like there is no hope to feel better. Nothing works.

such a depressing topic depression is. heh

I forgot to mention I really enjoyed that ^

Very creative, and vividly picturesque