Saw an article today, in Neuroscience News, about a study that shows that Antidepressants Are Not Associated With Improved Quality of Life in the Long Run.
I think that a big part of the issue is that mental health tends to get a “one size fits most”
Approach. The circumstances and neurochemistry of everyone is so different. It blows my mind- but I understand we don’t have the technology quite yet. When a person is placed on various hormones therapies, because of the uniqueness of each persons endocrine systems and responses, doses and therapies tend to be carefully controlled and regular testing of many metrics concerning blood chemistry and various transmitters and all manner of things to adjust dosages and maintain health. For the most part, antidepressants are prescribed in generic dosages and adjustment largely consists of asking the patient to tell you if they need more or less or want another medicine.
Of course I understand we aren’t quite at the place where we can cost effectively and non invasively provide or understand regular testing of neuro transmitter levels and other “hard” metrics for administering antidepressants- but I do believe the overall success rate of antidepressant use could be increased while the unwanted side effects could be reduced.
Currently I believe that antidepressants tend to offer the best help as short term bridges for people in crisis or who are suffering so severely that they aren’t able to even benefit from any form of other therapy or in a mindset where they can even be trained with or trust their internal logic. It’s an interesting and complicated topic with all sorts of things to consider for sure.
I've found that antidepressants work for short term, for instance i take them from September through February to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, but all the long term effects of treating my depression comes from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Basically the difference is that one helps but the other let me learn better strategies for taking care of myself.
I’m glad you have something that works well for you. I think that for many people an approach similar to yours is a very good one. It can take some trying and I know that’s hard. Some people are lucky and find the right medication and the right program and team or person to help right away. Other people sometimes either resign themselves to a “reduced misery” or give up because they don’t find the right combination on the first try or maybe several tries or feel to daunted to try again or don’t realize it isn’t all the same. If those people are reading I’d ask they keep trying. I can’t promise magic but for most people there is something that will work well.
Not just with medication- though trying different medicines with thoughtful guidance and proper tapering can often help find medications that work or don’t have the most unpleasant side effects- but even with the choice of programs and the individual providers and therapist choices a person can see huge differences with a change. Not all people “click” and that’s just as true with therapists. Just because a therapist is good doesn’t mean they are right for a person, and just because they aren’t right for a person doesn’t mean they aren’t good. Having a therapist that “clicks” and has the best personality and style for helping is important.
But to the subject- I agree 100% that for most people, behavioral therapy and learning the tools and practices to help manage mental health is usually the best long term strategy. Not relying on only one tool is a good general tip too- family and friends and support are important but many times aren’t enough alone.
Fun and distractions can be a helpful tool but generally shouldn’t be the only tool. Medicines and other such treatments can help but alone generally aren’t a “fix all” especially for long term or chronic issues. Various forms of behavioral therapy and other practices like meditation etc. that can go in a “wellness practices” grouping are great too- if one is enough for a person that’s awesome- but using all the tools in the right ways at the right times as needed is the best long term approach usually I think. Without cognitive therapy the root cause is often left unchecked and therapy really helps in being able to tell when one is “sliding” before they are in a spiral.
Approach. The circumstances and neurochemistry of everyone is so different. It blows my mind- but I understand we don’t have the technology quite yet. When a person is placed on various hormones therapies, because of the uniqueness of each persons endocrine systems and responses, doses and therapies tend to be carefully controlled and regular testing of many metrics concerning blood chemistry and various transmitters and all manner of things to adjust dosages and maintain health. For the most part, antidepressants are prescribed in generic dosages and adjustment largely consists of asking the patient to tell you if they need more or less or want another medicine.
Currently I believe that antidepressants tend to offer the best help as short term bridges for people in crisis or who are suffering so severely that they aren’t able to even benefit from any form of other therapy or in a mindset where they can even be trained with or trust their internal logic. It’s an interesting and complicated topic with all sorts of things to consider for sure.
Fun and distractions can be a helpful tool but generally shouldn’t be the only tool. Medicines and other such treatments can help but alone generally aren’t a “fix all” especially for long term or chronic issues. Various forms of behavioral therapy and other practices like meditation etc. that can go in a “wellness practices” grouping are great too- if one is enough for a person that’s awesome- but using all the tools in the right ways at the right times as needed is the best long term approach usually I think. Without cognitive therapy the root cause is often left unchecked and therapy really helps in being able to tell when one is “sliding” before they are in a spiral.