mintleaf
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- Jan 2, 2013
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I realize that this is a pretty overdone topic, but I haven't been able to dig up any useful insights elsewhere.
The "depression is a chemical imbalance in your brain" perspective has never set well with me, because, since everything in our minds occurs on a chemical level, I don't understand why depression is so often discussed in the context of medical pathology.
Example: Person has a decently healthy self-esteem, a positive outlook on life, and a good support system. He has bounced back from severe depression, for which he's been on a moderate dose of SSRIs for almost a year. He's always felt uneasy about this treatment, but justified it with the idea that his mind was too exhausted to significantly recover by any other means. Person has always had very intense fears about not being himself and has been unnervingly unemotional for as long as he's been on these meds. Feels fine, but numb. At a stable point now, he wants to go off of the medication. His doctor advises against it, saying things like "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "I don't think that this would be a good time for you to attempt withdrawal." (It would actually be fine.)
What do you think that the appropriate step would be in that situation? Would you advise against going off the SSRI?
(person is the example is obviously me, I just didn't want to write such a succession of first-person statements about the experience. lol. )
What are your thoughts on medicalization of psychological issues in general?
edit: I'm not going to go off my medication unless I consult my doctor again and she approves, but for anyone answering the hypothetical "would you advise going off the SSRI?", here are a few details. I was severely depressed and had an anxiety disorder from 2006-mid 2012. I've been well since June and am done with therapy. The only reason I'm still on the meds is because my doctor has a policy of keeping patients on them for at least a year.
The "depression is a chemical imbalance in your brain" perspective has never set well with me, because, since everything in our minds occurs on a chemical level, I don't understand why depression is so often discussed in the context of medical pathology.
Example: Person has a decently healthy self-esteem, a positive outlook on life, and a good support system. He has bounced back from severe depression, for which he's been on a moderate dose of SSRIs for almost a year. He's always felt uneasy about this treatment, but justified it with the idea that his mind was too exhausted to significantly recover by any other means. Person has always had very intense fears about not being himself and has been unnervingly unemotional for as long as he's been on these meds. Feels fine, but numb. At a stable point now, he wants to go off of the medication. His doctor advises against it, saying things like "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and "I don't think that this would be a good time for you to attempt withdrawal." (It would actually be fine.)
What do you think that the appropriate step would be in that situation? Would you advise against going off the SSRI?
(person is the example is obviously me, I just didn't want to write such a succession of first-person statements about the experience. lol. )
What are your thoughts on medicalization of psychological issues in general?
edit: I'm not going to go off my medication unless I consult my doctor again and she approves, but for anyone answering the hypothetical "would you advise going off the SSRI?", here are a few details. I was severely depressed and had an anxiety disorder from 2006-mid 2012. I've been well since June and am done with therapy. The only reason I'm still on the meds is because my doctor has a policy of keeping patients on them for at least a year.
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