Quote:
Originally posted by drisley
I really cringe when people recommend anti-depressants for such things. Yes, it might help with the immediate situation, but like a Tylenol, it only dumbs down the actual cause; it doesn't alleviate it.
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Not trying to start an argument dris so don't get me wrong on this. Yes, meds should be the last resort after all other methods are tried. I simply stated that in my original post because some people don't think to use that option. They go directly from the "Well, exercise and venting didn't help" stage to the "Time to commit suicide" stage without even trying the meds. To me, medication, no matter the side effects, is a better alternative than being dead.
As for the comparison to Tylenol and how they "dumb down" the actual cause, I differ on that too. Most "happy pills", whether they are SSRI's (the most widely used) or others, build up a serum level in the bloodstream; that's why it takes a couple weeks before you notice the optimal effects. These effects will linger awhile after you start dwindling off the meds too. These meds are made to correct a chemical deficiency in the brain. If you don't produce enough of the "feel good" chemicals, then these drugs help "up" your levels. Tylenol, on the other hand, just kills pain and swelling for a few hours and then its gone. No serum level and no lingering effects afterwards.