Why do umsnetters seem to think that ads are the answer to everything??

[mykidsmum]

I have lurked on alot of feeling low threads however I feel that alot of people feel low for reasons other than those needing antidepressants.What I find strange is that when anyone suggests anything going wrong in their life everyone jumps on the whole anti depressant bandwagon regardless of whether of these would be of benefit or not. It seems to me that there is alot of evidence on here to suggest they haven't helped people yet it is frequently asked have you changed your ad's?? With the view that a change could make all the difference, maybe it is not ad's that will help but some form of thorough counselling. AD's clearly have their place and have helped many like myself but I get the impression that there are alot who champion their cause without looking into the situation in its own right and looking at the non medicalised route. Discuss!! (not meaning to be controversial but can't believ how many experts there are)

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thank you for that lovely supportive post, secur.

With my last episode of pnd I wasnt as ill as I have become this time and can honestly say that on that occasion it was the cb t that I had that helped me to recover.I still had to wait several months for the cbt but it certainly helped.Unfortunately I have developed pnd again and accepted the ads because I knew that counselling alone wasnt going to help me, firstly because the waiting list for cbt is now 18 m onths and secondly; because I was in such a state that I needed the ads just to lift me enough to accept the other help on offer, in my case, anxiety mangement and art therapy while I wait for the cbt and also twicw monthly visits to my cpn although I personally dont think that this is enough.If I can afford it in the meantime I may save up to see a specialist in cbt privately.

Custardo, I sympathise. "Moving away from my friends family and community, work collegues and familiarity of my home town" is almost guaranteed to make you feel down - but that doesn't mean it's bad; it's simply a natural and normal reaction to a life-changing event. At that time, feeling depressed was 'normal' for you. It's hard, but things do get better with time. You are right that ADs are not the answer.

Ads aren't the answer but they they are a help on the way to recovery and to dealing with the hell of depression. it does make me cross that gps hand them out without sufficient follow-up but I think they do have a valuable place and should not be seen as a failure. A friends husband had a heart attack 2 years ago and he's on cardiac drugs now but he's also made big life style changes which ,without the drugs he wouldn't have been able to do (eg exercise) And many depressed people need to take ads for them to be well enough to make the neccarssary life style changes to get better.I hope people won't be put off taking ads because of the stigma attatched to them,I refused ads for years and when I finally did start to take them I felt really guilty about it, but taking them has help me make use of cbt and counselling and helped me to be able to go out and meet up with friends and lots of other things that have helped me change my life around. I'm now stopping taking them (5th day without) but a year ago I needed to take them because I was ill. Sorry for rambling, hope what I've said makes some sense!! Should have started new ads today but I've decided to leave it for a while and see how I go!!!