1 in 6 on antidepressants in some areas

[Thunderandlightningisfrightening]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13623233/One-SIX-people-England-antidepressants-data-shows-quarter-population-country-drug.html

Can't say I'm surprised. I know so many people on them. About 70 to 80 percent of my colleagues are on them.

In order to cope with modern day life (COL crisis, housing crisis, welfare reform to name a few things) you need a certain amount of privilege. It's all well and good saying take yourself out for a walk or do pilates, but if you live in a concrete jungle ridden with crime, or you are homeless in a B&B with zero space you aren't going to feel like doing either of these.
I recently became homeless, I've been privately renting for 20 years. My LL sold the house, despite applying for circa 60 properties I haven't been accepted by one. I have a disabled child who needs 1:1. I had to apply for UC which has been an absolute nightmare. I've gone from a lovely house in a tree lined street to a tiny flat in a very deprived area with lots of antisocial behaviour. This all has caused me so much stress, it has had a very physiological effect, my body is aching, chest and throat always feeling tight, reduced appetite etc. I am coming from a very privileged position, I have enough money in the bank to cover 3 months rent, a car, I'm educated and can navigate the UC system fairly easily. So if I feel mentally/physically unwell, how about those who have none of the above?

Also just want to say that where you grow up must have a massive impact on your overall wellbeing. I didn't appreciate this until we moved, I knew it in theory but if you don't feel it you can't really understand the enormity of it. A child growing up in an overcrowded, cold flat with antisocial neighbours, crime on your doorstep and a mother who is clinically depressed is much more likely to suffer from stress/anxiety/depression themselves. My teen dd has said that she finds the noise of electricity meters running low is such a trigger for her now. Ours is always topped up but we can hear it constantly from other flats. She used to walk daily but I don't feel it's safe here so I drive to a park and we walk together. Our neighbours don't have that privilege. The cooker isn't working properly, but we always have money to buy something from a takeaway if needs be. As a society we are not all on an even playing field, and even asking "why can we not cope with everyday life?" comes from a place of privilege.

The thing is, it can be just as hard living rurally. I grew up somewhere remote. No other kids near me to play with and my parents never facilitated any kind of social life for me. Then, probably aided by the fact I never saw my peers out of school, I was bullied. There was never enough food, the house was freezing. My parents didn't really give a shit about me. I was so so lonely. At least in built up areas you have a strong chance of having some friends.

From the outside some might say my childhood would have looked idyllic, compared to growing up in a high rise block. But I was so isolated.

I have some relatives that still live around there (I moved away as soon as I could!) and the majority of them are on anti depressants, or they have issues with anxiety etc.

My Mum has been on them for nearly 30 years and just can't come off them - her body is too dependent. And the sad part is that they've just made her into someone who is apathetic about everything around her, she never feels any emotions and that doesn't make for a great parent. The only people winning are the Pharma companies producing them. It's pretty damned tragic that people need to be numbed through the only life they'll get.

I’ve been on them for 28 years. They’ve changed my life dramatically and make me much more motivated and happy.

I’ve also had no issues coming off any of them, even the hard to taper ones.

Generally with the majority there are no addiction isssies.

rubbish

Somebody asked how you could tell if somebody was taking antidepressants.

I said, carefully, these are my ideas. I also said I've been on and off them for years.

I agree with the person who said they don't make you happy, they make you a bit blunted.

I was banging down the doctors door for them when I had PND They have a place.

Easy fix? With the kind of side effects meds like sertraline have? Not really.

I wonder how many people take them for nerve pain, and not depression. DH is one such. Not depressed but on Amyltriptaline.

Easy for the doctor to prescribe them and get rid of you. Not easy for the patient.

To be fair, there are limits to what GPs can do. They can't refer you to services that are not available. Anything they can refer you to usually has months (or years) long waiting lists. They can't "fix" any problems someone might be having. They are not counsellors or therapists. They are generally just doing their best with the limited amount of resources they have.

I’ve been on antidepressants for 18years, I’d love talking therapy instead but it’s not available in my area for people who are ‘just depressed’ apparently!

Because many parts of modern life are bad for many people.

Does talking therapy even work anyway? I don't know anyone it's improved things for.

It can do but not alone I don't think. A lot of these things work best in conjunction. So taking medication and CBT and exercise and healthy eating etc etc etc.

I had CBT for ten weeks after becoming ill with severe anxiety as a result of my ex partner harming my ds and me being court ordered to keep handing him over for contact. It didn't really work and I still ended up on antidepressants a while later.

Me. It has improved things for me.

I didnt find talking therapies too helpful. I have come off anti depressants due to weight gain and the withdrawal are brutal!

I’ve had loads of talking therapies.

None of them have worked.

Radio 4 podcasts or it's on the actual radio this coming Thursday
The Briefing Room Episode 2 is exploring the rise in anxiety and depression in the population.

@poshsnobtwit- As a society we are not all on an even playing field, and even asking "why can we not cope with everyday life?" comes from a place of privilege

I don't think having coping mechanisms is based on privilege. I definitely haven't had a privileged & safe upbringing, in fact, I should be fucked up and hiding under my pillow for the foreseeable (... and in some ways I am.)
I'm asking the question because I sometimes feel that it is far to easy to get some pills instead of actually facing problems head on. If people don't learn to cope with the small shit that life throws at them, how the he'll can they cope with the big stuff?

Talking therapy - does it work?
If like me you have sad events in your past that you haven't told or discussed with anyone, due to embarrassment or shame, then yes, talking therapy does work imv. How can opening up to a stranger (so there are no knock on issues with family etc) about sad worries or thoughts or events not help?
It can also bring a different perspective, perhaps more sensible view, on something that has become a major fear or worry.

It's because modern life is shit.

I feel a lot we have been told about mental health is wrong.

A huge amount of mental illness is linked to lack of community and social rejection experienced by people who are seen as different.

Not to discount experiences related to abuse, but I mean we are missing in addition an important part of the problem.

The link with serotonin is that interacting with people in a postive way helps maintain happy hormones like serotonin.

I witnessed domestic violence and never told anyone or when I did it was ignored so I just 'coped' quite well for 40 years. This then turned out into a slow breakdown. If we had lived in a culture where it was okay to talk about problems, where I wouldn't have to be assessed as to whether my problems merited intervention (it was the 90s we had less safeguarding) then I may not have had a slow breakdown.

We have all been duped by the system in a way - it takes a village to raise a child and we live in nuclear families. And it is right that hard work is rewarded but is it? When there are few job opportunities in some areas?

Children struggling need alternatives to being in school full time so they can be in other environments, or bring in support to replace the 'village'.

I think Starmer does have it right that he is bringing back the local bobby on the street and getting the economy growing.