Why are people normalising antidepressants?!

[mumyes]

Just watched yet another reel on Instagram about "the thugs that make me happy"...coffees with friends, downtime, fresh air...and my antidepressants.

It feels like the entire world thinks it's normal to take them.

I am in no way judging those who do, it just feels bloody tragic that life is so shit for so many people that this is now becoming what seems like the norm.

Lessen stress on people, pay them more, treat workers better.

Oh no, let's treat people like shit & shovel pills into them so they don't care.

Surely this is not a good thing.

I shout about mine all the time. They’re amazing . I’m me again. I’ll never ever come off them. I’d advise anyone who is struggling to take them. Even my dog is on them! (To be fair he was before me and it was what gave me the push as I saw the difference in him!). I am so so happy I’m on them and it’s changed a lot if things like my driving which was getting really bad with my anxiety.

It's just medicine. They are normal.

Same for me. Alongside my medication I have therapy, I exercise and I try to eat well. It's not using the antidepressant in a vacuum.

It seems that women are twice as likely to take antidepressants than men, too.

Surely we should be asking why women's lives are so shit & not just dishing out stuff that 'solves the problem'.

In no way do I want to stigmatise people taking antidepressants, not at all. I just feel they're being short-changed with this approach, both in not getting perhaps better, but more expensive care, and also not being better supported by society as a whole to have happier lives.

If anything I think it's a fucking scandal that we're not treating the cause rather than the symptoms

I also take on board the point about different types of depression etc.

Yep, life is shit and getting worse in a lot of ways. For a lot of people psychotherapy wont help because the problem is not within them, it is that they have really tough lives. So taking an antidepressant is really only your option.

I am on permanent Citalopram. Without it I am anxious, tearful and very angry for no particular reason, with intrusive and repetitive thoughts. My DH gets the brunt of this. With it I feel ‘normal’. I still experience a full range of appropriate emotions.

But they don't treat depression do they? They mask it

What an odd comment.

Lots of pills just "mask" the symptoms until you stop taking them - hay fever tablets, for example, or painkillers that wear off after a couple of hours.

Should people with crippling joint paint not bother with their medication because it doesn't cure their arthritis?

Sure, a referral for psych therapy with 6+ month delay is the same as an immediate prescription.

It seems that women are twice as likely to take antidepressants than men, too.

That's mostly because men are too ashamed to admit they need help.

We would have to explore why this is but two things that jump to mind for me are more men are likely to see it as a weak way out. My dad has depression, was offered medication, sees it as 'unmanly.' Also I think womens hormones can play a part in depression. Unfortunately for me hormonal treatments made me worse but antidepressants lifted me.

I’d disagree that they don’t make you happy. I am very very happy. And back in May I had to go off work as I just wanted to lie down and cry every single day. I love my life now and have so many things I’m interested in.

I took antidepressants because I was in a shit place when my husband was cheating on me. Wish you'd been around to tell him to treat me better so I didn't need the pills chucked at me. 🤦‍♀️ When you need them, you need them. Some people need them for life, for others their depression is transient and they only need the medication for a short periods. Regardless, please don't discourage people from seeking the appropriate treatment for their medical condition just because you think there are too many pills being dispensed. Taking antidepressants is normal.

I don't think it is that odd. If you have tooth pain you might take a pain killer for a few days but then you'd treat the actual issue and have the tooth taken out / filled etc , surely?!

The op isn't saying ban ADs though. She is saying they are too commonly given out. Humans suffering distress are over medicated.

An allergy sufferer should try and cut out the allergen before long term suppression of their immune response via antihistamines. If they can't then by all means use what medication they can. Nobody is saying ADs are wrong, just overprescribed maybe.

I agree. They should be a last resort imho (spoken as someone who knows lots of people who've taken them previously and as someone who's had them prescribed many years ago). They are an extremely strong drug and can have very adverse effects on wellbeing

The majority of people prescribed antidepressants are prescribed them for a brief window.

I think OP is being misconstrued, it's not about there being a problem with taking antidepressants, it's about there being a problem with society if it's normal to take them, and I agree - as someone who has taken antidepressants for over 10 years. We really shouldn't need chemical assistance at the rates we do. There should be no shame in taking them, but it shouldn't be normal.

I’d disagree that they don’t make you happy. I am very very happy

This was my experience on antidepressants but it turned out the antidepressant had caused mania.

But it’s not necessarily that their life is shit? It’s not that simple.

My life is pretty good, but I still suffered with moderately severe depression last year. I started with just therapy first, but it wasn’t long before I realised I needed a two pronged approach and started antidepressants too. Best thing I ever did as it lifted me instantly which meant I could really concentrate on the therapy providing the longer time solutions. I’m no longer taking the medication.

Don’t get me wrong, perhaps they are too quickly dished out in some circumstances, but given the limited instant access to therapy/counselling on the NHS (mine was accessed privately), I think there is benefit to trying antidepressants for a lot of people to bridge that gap, to prevent their depression getting worse and they end up with addiction problems etc etc.

I don’t see why it’s a problem, lots of people are on medication for life. I’ve had anxiety at different levels for most of my life, I won’t be coming off them. It’s an illness , just like any other. Not all illnesses can be resolved and continuing medications are required

I was all for being pro-medication and this included any type of psychotropic drugs until I was harmed severely and permanently by an off label antipsychotic called Pericyazine.

I'm not saying that every single psychotropic drug is bad, nor demonising those who take them. If they are helping and offer respite from severe mental illness, this is a good thing. What isn't good is being gaslighted about any severe side effects of them, and told that they are harmless and a panacea for many illnesses.

Yes, I was bloody unlucky to get a permanent neurological involuntary movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia after just a week 8 years ago, but it has ruined my life totally and is utterly hellish living with involuntary movements of my mouth, tongue, and other body parts.

I'm all for drugs to help with sickness but not being told the potential of how harmful they can be makes me feel wary of anything I take now.

@mumyes

Not all conditions can be cured, they can only be managed by daily medication.

We accept that conditions like diabetes and arthritis and allergies need lifelong management - so why can't the same be true for mental health conditions?

I understand what you're saying about treating the actual issue. But this varies from person to person.

Person A has a family history of depression and has made multiple suicide attempts.

They may need medication to account for a genetic deficiency but would also benefit from long-term therapy.

Person B has just escaped an abusive marriage and feels tearful and unable to get out of bed for several months. They are given antidepressants for 6 months with a window to review. They may also be referred to the freedom programme or other support services.

Patient C is depressed because they have PMDD. The antidepressant can be taken for two weeks of the month to lift depressive symptoms.

Patient D is a teenager going through puberty. They will probably benefit from talking therapies and increased exercise.

Patient E has a terminal diagnosis. The antidepressant helps them manage their anxiety.

Patient F has post natal depression and will take the medication for up to a year until her condition subsides.

Patient E is depressed because they don't exercise an have sedentary lifestyles. Exercise is likely their lifesaver.

@AndyWarholsPiehole definitely not mania , I’m relaxed not manic. Perhaps a bit evangelical as I was terrified to take them initially.