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That's not quite how most anti-depressants are used and prescribed.
I once heard a doctor call the brain a "learning muscle," and explain that the more time you spent in a positive mental place ("A good head space"), the better - whatever the reason. While I think this may be a bit of an oversimplification, and there are probably real reasons to be cautious about truly prolonged use of SSRI medicines, it's equally bad to get stuck in a negative psychological groove. Depression is learned - both on the behavioral and neurological levels (ever hear of neuroplasticity?), and so short-circuiting a self-catalyzing mental spin-out can yield big dividends. In both the short- and long-terms.
If your question is of whether anti-depressants can "cure" depression at the neurological level - re-balancing serotonin levels or repairing whatever other mechanism of dis-function might be at play - then I think the answer is a resounding "no". Depression is not analogous to lime disease or strep throat.
I do think that medicine can be a boon to healing, but since depression and other related disorders are driven by the interplay of multiple factors crossing numerous dimension of existence, including biology, environment, and learned behaviors, a limited course of medicine alone probably won't insulate you from future bouts of psychic trouble.
Just my five cents.
TheJoggingFinn wrote:
I once heard a doctor call the brain a "learning muscle," and explain that the more time you spent in a positive mental place ("A good head space"), the better - whatever the reason. While I think this may be a bit of an oversimplification, and there are probably real reasons to be cautious about truly prolonged use of SSRI medicines, it's equally bad to get stuck in a negative psychological groove. Depression is learned - both on the behavioral and neurological levels (ever hear of neuroplasticity?), and so short-circuiting a self-catalyzing mental spin-out can yield big dividends. In both the short- and long-terms.
If your question is of whether anti-depressants can "cure" depression at the neurological level - re-balancing serotonin levels or repairing whatever other mechanism of dis-function might be at play - then I think the answer is a resounding "no". Depression is not analogous to lime disease or strep throat.
I do think that medicine can be a boon to healing, but since depression and other related disorders are driven by the interplay of multiple factors crossing numerous dimension of existence, including biology, environment, and learned behaviors, a limited course of medicine alone probably won't insulate you from future bouts of psychic trouble.
Yeah, what s/he said.
Let's face it, if not killing yourself because of depression counts as a benefit, then some people beyond a doubt have received/are receiving long-term benefit from SSRIs.
If, on the other hand, you define "long term" as a hundred years or more--no, probably no one is going to get that kind of benefit.
slowmother wrote:
Is there any evidence that altering your mood with anti-depressants has any long-term benefit?
Like being able to work to feed yourself, get an education, buy a house, etc.?
TheJoggingFinn wrote:
I once heard a doctor call the brain a "learning muscle," and explain that the more time you spent in a positive mental place ("A good head space"), the better - whatever the reason. While I think this may be a bit of an oversimplification, and there are probably real reasons to be cautious about truly prolonged use of SSRI medicines, it's equally bad to get stuck in a negative psychological groove. Depression is learned - both on the behavioral and neurological levels (ever hear of neuroplasticity?), and so short-circuiting a self-catalyzing mental spin-out can yield big dividends. In both the short- and long-terms.
If your question is of whether anti-depressants can "cure" depression at the neurological level - re-balancing serotonin levels or repairing whatever other mechanism of dis-function might be at play - then I think the answer is a resounding "no". Depression is not analogous to lime disease or strep throat.
I do think that medicine can be a boon to healing, but since depression and other related disorders are driven by the interplay of multiple factors crossing numerous dimension of existence, including biology, environment, and learned behaviors, a limited course of medicine alone probably won't insulate you from future bouts of psychic trouble.
Just my five cents.
Excellent post. Worth well more than 5 cents.