*anecdotal evidence alert* I've heard that certain pharmaceutical medication is as effectual as a sugar pill (i.e. placebo effect). Yeah, it was Colbert Report, I'll readily admit...
I don't understand what I might have said that was so wrong. I thought that psychiatrists are authorized to prescribe medication, while psychologists are not, and employ other techniques to help their patients. I'm also pretty sure antidepressants can have some horrible side effects and there is a tendency amongst psychiatrists just to prescribe first and think later (akuchi can attest to the general difficult of finding a helpful doctor). there wasn't much detail of course and what i say should be taken with a grain of salt, but it's not like I said anything that was so completely off-base that it was inconceivable.
I will happily agree. I think for that segment of the population -
AND IT'S A FUCKING LARGE SEGMENT, IF THE POINT WAS NOT CLEAR - that isn't biologically depressed but thinks 'oh modern life is a bit empty cos my girlfriend dumped me so im so depressed :(' SSRI medication is pretty sugar-pill. In fact, a lot of meds are sugar-pill at that stage.
I'm REALLY SERIOUSLY ACTUALLY DEPRESSED (that was semi-ironic) and I feel better when I'm walking out with a prescription (though for me that prescription has to be for my favourite drug, or I'll not get this. but disregard. When I walk out with a scrip for a med that gives me hope - I've tried the rest, I'm left with mirtazapine - I smugface quite a lot. Because, you know, I always feel like things have been shit but I NOW HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK UP TO. And I'm sure that segment of the population that is
sooo totally down right now feels exactly the same, as do most other biologically or merely reactivelly depressed people. People are fucking tenacious. Once you've got hope,
you fucking cling to hope.
Fuck side effects. If you're prescribed a med by someone you personally judge to be worth the time of day, take it. If the side effects are too heinous, stop taking it and they'll think about the sideeffects you got for a bit and give you another that's less likely to make you puke bats. Hopefully. Tell them about the way the last meds made you puke in searing, vivid detail. They're only human, they won't give them you again.
I spite of prevailing opinion in this thread - and may I be arrogant enough to point out that it's not prevailing opinon that has hated
psychology AND psychiatry for
six fucking years and been treated by both schools thewhole time - meds are worth it, even if they fuck up at first. I'm always on hand to tell you what meds to get - believe me, I'm more up on this shit than most pharmacists because I got 100% obsessive about it - and I agree meds can be bad. they can be AWFUL. they can leave you not eating for three weeks and puking anyway and having convulsions and just fucking up all over the place.
This is rare.
They can however leave you feeling when you wake up like you're awake, confident, and ready to face the fucking day - I dunno how muhc peoplle value this, but they shouls, because it is maybe the only thing that matters.
And meds can take away the bad things and replace them with okay things, until you're at a point that the okay things can start sorting you out.
Quite simply, noone would expect you to walk around on a broken leg to heal it. You'd get a cast, and painkillers, and understanding.
Mental health problems are seen differently. You're not supposed to be WEAK and GAY and PUSSY and UNABLE TO COPE. You're supposed to jump around on that fucking broken leg, and tell everyone how much better you're feeling! It's bullshit. Pills can fuck you up, mentally and physically. It's better than being cripplingly miserable or dead.