Posted by Jost on September 20, 2006, at 9:52:59
In reply to Re: Tonight I don't feel that antidepressants work, posted by SLS on September 20, 2006, at 4:24:21
The newer ADs may not be more effective, but the milder SE profile shouldn't be minimized.
For one thing, people who otherwise would have to quit, can continue; and those who would have continued, despite SEs, are more able to enjoy whatever improvements, without feeling as sluggish, emotionally flat, etc.
What it may come to, that the moment, is that for those for whom they don't work, ADs don't work. A not inconsiderable percentage of people
For those for whom one or more works, they do work. Also not an inconsiderable percentage of people.
I personally admire SLS's persistence and unwillingness to give up in the face of many treatment failures. Maybe he has the luck of a certain temperamental stubbornness and drive, or an underlying sense that there's a solution-- despite his times of hopelessness. We could all profit from that, and learn from it. Really.
But by the same token, I'm not someone of that temperament. I grew up in a family where the idea of ADs was verboten-- and it was showing weakness to take one, etc etc. And so it was hard for me even to consider taking an AD, much less going around, doing research, pushing the envelop.
So I have a lot of identification with people who believe it's all propaganda and hype. I don't agree with that-- but there certainly is propaganda and hype. It's just that the hype doesn't take away from the fact, that has been established, that the ADs do work for a lot of people.
Even if they're not great, perfect, sensitively targeted, based on the greatest science. I don't think it does a service to the many people who can be helped to talk them down--
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:686696
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060919/msgs/687650.html