meds

[EJ561]

Is it true that anti depression can not cure your depression....those pills we buy once a month are only a control factor and not a fix.....................I once stop taking my meds I felt I was doing ok...then something happen and soon all the depression came back..................so I went to the doctor to reorder them.................I'm on them something happens and still have depression my doctor says pill are not to fix the problem but still I take the pills.why?

[mammo]

Hi....the medication is to control the symptoms of depression, and not cure it.  But often with therapy and medication you can move beyond the depression.  Depression is often caused by past events in our life which were traumatic but we never truly dealt with them.  When this happens, it rears it's ugly head in the form of depression and/or anxiety.  With therapy we can learn "if" this is the cause of our depression...deal with it and move on.  Some of us never learn why we are depressed or it may be a chemical imbalance and medication allows us to have a happy and fulfilling life.  If your medication isn't working and your doctor isn't concerned....find a new doctor.  I hope this helps.

[nursegirl6572]

Medications are a TOOL, not a cure.  Medications have been a life saver for millions of people, but again, they are not the "fix".  You have to work at getting better, and that often includes therapy.  The success rate of medications for anxiety and depression is drastically increased when therapy in included in the treatment plan.  If you're not in therapy, ask yoir doc for a referral right away.

Getting better also involves work on your part, which isn't always easy.  When we're taking meds and in therapy, there are still going to be bad days.  We have to push ourselves, even when we don't want to.  If we find ourselves isolating, we need to force ourselves to socilaize, and get out of the house.  It's not easy to do, that's for sure.

There are lots of things you can do to help yourself.  You can ask your doc or therapist for the names of good books to read, exercises to do (for the mind), you can journal your feelings, use mood trackers, like the ones that are here on MH, start a light physical exercise program, the list is endless.

I am a HUGE supporter of meds, because they have given me my life back on several occasions, but I also had to work hard, and be patient.  The meds controlled the symptoms enough to allow ME to do my part.

[therese83]

You take them to function.  That is what they are for.  Then you might get better and you might not......... sometimes no amount of therapy can help, or sometimes the depression lifts of its own.  Who knows, no one knows not even the experts..

[nursegirl6572]

You are right in so many ways, everyone is different.  The truth is, though, that people who are TRULY resistant to treatment for depression and anxiety are awfully rare.  Most people who think they are either have not given various treatments ample time, or didn't put their own motivation into it.  

Therapy is helpful not only for venting and being able to get input from a 3rd party person not directly involved in your life, but also to help learn coping mechanisms, and different ways to help yourself.  Sometimes it takes a few different tries in therapy to find the right therapist too.  Bottom line, in my opinion, people just have to keep trying, even after years and years of trying.  You just never know how close you are to a breakthrough.  I know it isn't easy to keep trying when you feel so defeated, but it's a must!