“That’s not the case. For many, depression does not ‘gradually worsen’ but in fact, gradually disappears. Not all, but many. So please don’t act as though everyone experiences depression in the same way.”

I do not care to get into any personal discussions with you, however I will correct a comment that you made and say that I do not act as if everyone experiences depression in the same way. And yes, some people will eventually cycle out of depression, however it can take a very long time. In other people their clinical depression can get worse and in some cases can lead to a full blown psychosis (delusions). A healthy diet and exercise is very important, however some people can have severe clinical depression despite leading a healthy lifestyle and in these people diet and exercise is not enough. And yes, the real social causes need to be addressed. I’d say find another qualified doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist if they ignore childhood or spousal abuse issues. A good psychiatrist is crucial for managing depression.

The evidence doesn’t support that statement. There is anecdotal evidence only, and given that placebos are just as or nearly as effective, anecdotal evidence of antidepressants effectiveness can be attributed to the placebo effect.
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0020392&ct=1&SESSID=821757f4b5bbfc6b428042957f1c690a
http://www.elainevigneault.com/drug-marketers-are-liars.html

Moreover, neither scholars nor doctors, nor patients actually all agree on the definition of depression. It’s merely a set of symptoms interpreted differently by different people. The same person with the same symptoms can be diagnosed as having depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/news/pressreleases/mcl/0207ptsd.html

People who lack proper nutrition often have depression symptoms and can be wrongly diagnosed as having depression because nutrition isn’t regularly addressed by doctors and therapists. Same goes for exercise, exposure to sunlight, and other basic human needs.

Moreover, sociology is interested the field of depression. Sociologists are abandoning the psychiatry biomedical model of depression and focusing on social factors of the symptom set we call ‘depression’. For example, victims of child abuse and spousal abuse often develop symptoms of depression. It doesn’t make much sense to treat those people as though they have a abnormal brain chemistry. That’s essentially blaming the victim. It makes more sense to address the real, social causes of depressed symptoms. That’s one of many reasons I toss out the biomedical model for these types of “mental illnesses”.

Karen wrote:
“Depression often sneaks up on people and gradually worsens, if left untreated. People who are very ill and in desparate need of help often don’t think they are ill. Sometimes they need intervention.”

That’s not the case. For many, depression does not ‘gradually worsen’ but in fact, gradually disappears. Not all, but many. So please don’t act as though everyone experiences depression in the same way.

And some interventions can cause more harm than help. The biomedical intervention causes harm to some people, hence the warning of increased suicide risk.

Also, telling people it’s not their circumstances or their oppression or the abuse they suffered in the past that’s making them depressed, but rather that it’s something wrong with their brains and then putting these people on medications and/or confining them to hospitals can do SERIOUS damage to real people.

Antidepressants, in general, do not save lives. If they did, there wouldn’t be a suicide risk warning.

The lies drug marketers tell are harmful. And sticking up for them without doing the research is endangering other people.

When I read your comment after mine, I was unsure who you were responding too, if it was me or just in general and I certainly wouldn’t label myself as an antidepressant lover. I don’t think anyone loves having to take pills (antidepressants). I also don’t feel that I’ve demonstrated callous indifference to your experience, by providing a differing viewpoint, nor would I say that I’m fine with negative consequences of these drugs, so long as they happen to other people. While I’m sorry that you’ve had a negative experience I believe the drugs do help many people and I think that they are worth a try to alleviate suffering. Depression often sneaks up on people and gradually worsens, if left untreated. People who are very ill and in desparate need of help often don’t think they are ill. Sometimes they need intervention. I think intervention is a loving act from relatives who care. It’s unbearable and heartwrenching to watch a loved one change into a barely recongizable–maybe physically and maybe not–version of themselves. It sounds like from what you wrote of your experiences that you were not given a choice. I was given a choice and I gladly accepted as I wanted help. I would also never underestimate the value in parterning with an empathetic and good psychiatrist as I think it is paramount to the process of managing depression.

My critics are not a monolith. They have various criticisms that are sometimes in conflict with another. Hugo was not attacking me; he was simply mischaraterizinng my point. So I corrected him. Others have more directly attacked me. Those are the people I refer to in my last comment.

I’m sorry I generalized. They haven’t all been callous towards me.

But it does seem like most people who disagree with me on this issue are so bent on getting me to apologize for whatever slight they felt I made against them that they don’t see my points at all. They simply ignore the larger picture.

Do you not see how this approach might sabotage your arguments somewhat? Or do you just not give a fuck as long as you can see yourself as Always Right and those who disagree with you as At Best, Sadly Ignorant?

I’ve showed examples of other harmed lives as well. But the antidepressant lovers’ callous indifference to my experience makes me think they’re fine with negative consequences of these drugs, so long as those consequences happen to other people.

They’d rather not feel insulted than let me express anger over a drug and system that nearly killed me. That really is the truth of the matter.

I posted a little (very, very long) comment on Elaine’s latest, but I’m too tired to link to it (sorry). It’s boring enough. Just details my psychiatric history and how my depression is definately physical (having to do with brain damage and family history).

I think everybody here believes in bodily autonomy. Part of being in charge of your own body is being able to take in substances that help you function without others screaming, crying, ranting, raving, and denigrating you because of it. I also find it just a tad bit offensive when people naturally assume I am too stupid to take an active role in my own healthcare or try the obvious answers (diet, exercise, get out in the sunshine, take a nap, see a counselor).

Elaine, when you said you hated anti-depressants and they don’t work, you were obviously being very inflammatory and derisve to a great number of people. I’ve read your posts (and the feministe posts), so I know the context. Of course people are going to get up in arms. Making excuses for it doesn’t fix it. You said it. People are angry. You could have used better wording (”I distrust antidepressants and doubt their effectiveness” would be easier to swallow), but I actually think you owe people an apology for your overblown reaction to what is really their own personal business and none of yours.