+ Show Spoiler +
On August 12 2014 10:31 felisconcolori wrote:
Depression can be treated. But it's a difficult process, and it can stay for a lifetime. Robin Williams had some significant struggles throughout his life - even at the top of his career, we don't know what all of those demons were or how they affected him.
Side note - Suicide is a side effect listed of just about all antidepressants. Because it is entirely possible to be so deep in the depression that someone wants to commit suicide, but lacks the motivation or energy. Treatment with medication is not an on/off switch, so as the optimal blood chemistry is reached it becomes entirely possible to find the desire for suicide is still there, as well as increased motivation and energy to carry it out.
This would be why I am incredibly opposed to the kind of treatment I've seen over the years in which all of that depression gets compressed into a 15 minute visit in which the sole purpose is to determine which antidepressant to prescribe, without any other therapy or dialogue about coping mechanisms. Mental illness is not entirely the same as fixing a broken bone, as the bone doesn't have its own opinion on the treatment.
Depression can be treated. But it's a difficult process, and it can stay for a lifetime. Robin Williams had some significant struggles throughout his life - even at the top of his career, we don't know what all of those demons were or how they affected him.
Side note - Suicide is a side effect listed of just about all antidepressants. Because it is entirely possible to be so deep in the depression that someone wants to commit suicide, but lacks the motivation or energy. Treatment with medication is not an on/off switch, so as the optimal blood chemistry is reached it becomes entirely possible to find the desire for suicide is still there, as well as increased motivation and energy to carry it out.
This would be why I am incredibly opposed to the kind of treatment I've seen over the years in which all of that depression gets compressed into a 15 minute visit in which the sole purpose is to determine which antidepressant to prescribe, without any other therapy or dialogue about coping mechanisms. Mental illness is not entirely the same as fixing a broken bone, as the bone doesn't have its own opinion on the treatment.
On August 12 2014 10:52 brickrd wrote:
in case anyone who hasnt been there thinks this is an oversimplification or sensationalized account, this is precisely what happened to me when i was 17 and went to my family doctor about depression. i was referred to a psychiatrist who didn't even smile at me and did exactly what felisconcolori wrote in his post, went through a checklist for 15 minutes and gave me pills. 2 weeks later i tried to overdose on them. couldn't agree more.
in case anyone who hasnt been there thinks this is an oversimplification or sensationalized account, this is precisely what happened to me when i was 17 and went to my family doctor about depression. i was referred to a psychiatrist who didn't even smile at me and did exactly what felisconcolori wrote in his post, went through a checklist for 15 minutes and gave me pills. 2 weeks later i tried to overdose on them. couldn't agree more.
This is another problem I see a lot and loathe from some Doctor's. When someone is in a deep depression they often lack the energy and 'motivation' to actually be able to go through with something like suicide. The most important time and the time where the patient should be monitored the most is when these symptoms start to get alleviated because then the patient wont be stricken by the inability to do anything at all and is at a higher risk of committing suicide.
I think it is a difficult problem because all my Dr's and I imagine most every Dr does the same thing, they give you a warning and say 'if anything happens or you feel any changes 'blahblahblah' contact me immediately. But I never contact them in time, I contact them when shit has gotten really bad. and I imagine that is the case with most people suffering from depression, they are just not going to pick up the phone or do anything for that matter to try and seek help.
I guess discussing depression is somewhat relevant but I don't want to stray too far from the topic, but here is an amazing lecture on depression by Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky that I would recommend everyone to watch, especially those that suffer from depression or know someone who does.
+ Show Spoiler +