Do you think antidepressant medications can help someone whose life is truly bad?

[Flower7]

To me, it doesn’t seem like these medications would work if a person was in a bad situation that was caused by outside things.

Yes

No

[zeitgeist057]

Attitude makes a HUGE difference. I had this hit me smack dab in the face one day when I was very happy with my life and I was thinking about all the great things that I was grateful for:
1. Had a job, a truck, friends, family. Having fun doing a play.

Then it hit me that someone else in my EXACT SAME LIFE could potentially be miserable:
2. My job was barely above minimum wage. I couldn't afford rent, and slept on my friends' couch every night. My truck was a falling apart beater, that I bought from an impound yard for $600. I was living "paycheck to paycheck".

I reflected on that and realized what made a difference was how I felt about my situation and my personal outlook on life. I was quite happy.

I get that some people might have even worse situations, like they are being abused or have severe health problems. But I think even for those situations and others, if you have a positive mental outlook/health, it can really help you get through a lot.

this guy!

[Smoke-n-Growls]

Depression is not "my life is rough for a bit".

It is an actual medical diagnosis with chemical imbalances in the brain.

It can be genetic, it can also be caused by trauma and environmental factors.

Antidepressants are not "pop one for happy" pills. They are, like most prescription medications, a regimented substance that does a specific thing to the brain and body chemistry.

It can take months to see results from taking antidepressants. It can take years to find the right mix of medications, too. And antidepressants don't solve everything.

Especially if depression is tied to trauma and environment, therapy is necessary. It takes years - sometimes a lifetime - to get out of the grips of clinical depression. Sometimes, there is no getting out, there's just getting along.

Antidepressants can serve an important pillar of someone's routine towards a happier, healthier life. But it is not a magic pill, not a silver bullet, not a "one time quick fix".

That's Hollywood. And it's drugs, but not this kind of drug.

[Panzer21]

Yeah if you're diagnosed with depression, they can level out the extreme ups and down, but they are only a single tool in the toolbox. Other measures will be needed. Cut out the bullshit that you can control, work on your health, have a meaningful hobby, hang out with good people with healthy habits. And have a person who can act as a safety line for you, because if the outside things are really bad, your downs are going to be extremely dangerous times.

Dealing with depression takes more than one solution. And fixing a bad situation takes time.

[WindAtMyBack]

I know for a fact that they work for some people. They can potentially change a life from hell to tolerable.

That doesn't mean they WILL help. They can make it worse and just turn the person into a zombie. I think they should only be used in serious cases that aren't showing any progress. They should not be given out like candy. But in some cases they can literally be a life saver.

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

It is going to be a war of hormones in the person you have mentioned.

These antidepressants cause the secretions of the so called happy hormones accelerated, nothing else.

Now if a person is facing only depression from the daily life, then even along with the anti depressants, it is just going to be exhaustive for the person, nothing else.

Such people, need actual therapy, that is friends and people around them.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I was on Antidepressants and they made my mental illness worst so I ended up taking Antipsychotic medication such as Seroquel helped with my illness more better see what happens is Antidepressants can make one's mood worst they made my mood go up and down so it was better for me to be on Antipsychotic medications the new ones is much better than the old ones from years ago.

[NathanDavis]

the right medication can work for some people yes, however... it is not a miracle solution, it is part of an integral therapy and it can help with the depression

a lot other things are needed as well and along with medication, if there are other, few or many problems besides the depression, then all of those have to be addressed as well and addressed accordingly

I've seen it work and help for some people before but I have also seen it not work and not help in the case of others

[Flower7]

I feel like in some cases, the causes of the depression are purely external factors. Such as being in a messed up family situation for example. I don’t see how a medicine could help with that at all.

[NathanDavis]

yes, that is very possible...

in my personal case, it was an internal factor for the most part, my brain was just acting up... and somehow I managed to get out of it without meds or therapy, took about 12 years or so, but I lucked out, I think (knocking on wood a million times)

I think every single cause is unique for every person, despite the patterns

[ohshee]

It's almost like taking a pain pill for pain it just mask the problem I think fresh air exercise good food and around the right people and doing positive things will change you better than any antidepressant you have to want it you have to understand it and just by getting out and walking in the fresh air and breathing in oxygen through your nose will change you

[Static_In_The_Attic]

If happy pills fail to work maybe the people should hit the pipe a little & smoke some devils lettuce & if that doesn’t work maybe they should see a doctor.

[exitseven]

I took them for a while, they did not help but I guess they have helped some people.

[Flower7]

I’ve taken them before with no good results either. The only effect of them is that they made me feel drowsy all day.

[exitseven]

When I drove up a one way street the wrong way I knew it was time to stop taking them.

[Flower7]

They definitely do cause people to be “out of it”. And not in a good way!

[exitseven]

yes, I was really spaced out.

[exitseven]

I had a friend that is a wellness coach. She told me that depression is caused by being out of the loop of control of your life. I have worked on getting some control over things in my life and it really did seen to help until covid came and screwed everything up.

[Flower7]

Feeling a lack of control is definitely a big part of it. I agree with that.

[exitseven]

Even the act of trying to gain control will make you feel better.

[Slim57]

I think they can help some people, they never helped me, I felt like a guinea pig and I think I'm still dealing with the negative side effects of ever taking them

[Flower7]

They definitely have a lot of bad side effects.

[Slim57]

Yeah the appetite killer was pretty much good enough reason for me to hate them

[Flower7]

Some of the ones I tried in high school INCREASED my appetite. I gained about 70 pounds in only a few months.

[Flower7]

But they are all bad in different ways.

[Rab1901]

I think they can help. I'm sure there are some situations that are worse than others and don't make much of a difference but many medical professionals have been working to create better solutions.

[Pete671]

They can give people a break so they can work on their problems but I don't believe they can cure depression,,,

[Anonymous]

Yeah, my brother took them when he was going through bankruptcy. They made a very noticeable difference.

[CuriousMufuxka]

Absolutely not. In fact they make things worse. Been there, suffered that.

[Nadim171]

Only if you have chronic depression. For most people it's not that.

[Bricealan]

After my mother died, it helped me a lot.

[Bricealan]

After she died, I had a Terrible depression, and my Counselor put me on Prozac, and the only side effect was a 'dry mouth' for some time. I recovered quickly. Developed a terrible eating disorder during the depression stage, and may have died as a result of the disorder.

[Flower7]

I’m glad the medicine was able to help you.

[Iron_Man]

It’s better than nothing maybe It can save a life

[Flower7]

I guess anything is better than nothing…

[Iron_Man]

Of course some people are suicidal and It can actually save your life

[EnglishEuropean]

I voted no, because you have to fix your life before you can fix your brain.

[Guardian45]

The right medication will make a night & day difference!

[Anonymous]

They made me not kill myself so...

[Flower7]

True, thank goodness you’re still here.

[Opinion Owner]

Probably the only person that ever told me that. Thanks.

[Slim57]

Well I'll tell you that too

[Andres77]

It depends on WHY their life is "bad".

[Flower7]

Family problems and being bullied?

[Andres77]

Listen, lots of people have had to deal with lots of horrific things in their lives. I'm surrounded by family members that have been brutally raped and beaten.
By comparison, I was only molested. When I learned of the things that my own family has had to deal with, like just a little while ago, it made "I was only molested" suddenly irrelevant.
I don't mean to demean any suffering that anyone has suffered.
Some deal with it better than others.
Hence, my initial response.

[Guy__]

Sometimes, it will prevent you from doing something very stupid. But you're right that it doesn't fix something like loneliness, you just need friends in that case.

[Andres77]

@Guy__ absolutely... reaching out is not a sign of weakness. At least you'll be alive to move forward.

[Flower7]

@Andres77 I just gave a couple of examples to answer your question about why things are bad. But there’s actually a much longer, very extensive list of things that are going wrong.

And I’m talking about myself. I’ve been in a very bad place for a very long time and no longer know how to handle the pain. In addition, I’ve already been on almost every mental health medicine in existence, but none of them worked. So I feel very lost on how else I can get help.

[Andres77]

Do you have access to any type of therapy?

[Flower7]

@Andres77 Like I mentioned, I’ve been through lots and lots of mental health care. I’m not seeing a therapist at the moment because they keep canceling my appointments. But when I was seeing them, they were never helpful anyway.

[Andres77]

Then stay busy!
Keep your mind occupied. There are peaks and valleys. Maybe you're in a valley now. Charity work. Volunteer. Keep your mind focused on helping others and over time it tends to help you. I've done this in the past and it's helped me.
Minimize or terminate toxic relationships and you don't have to give a reason. Starting busy volunteering gives one an excuse if you really need one.
Minimize the negative input.

[noohair]

Therapy & Meds works best.

[Kelly6]

No it can’t

[Jmmmfi4]

Doesn't help me much