I never understood my depression until I was finally diagnosed with bi polar disorder a year ago. I have gone through all the meds until finally one great doctor who cared took the time to get the right levels of meds needed. It takes time, its trial and error, unfortunately, the time spent is pure hell. But the tenacity and caring of one doc can make all the diffence in the world. Best of luck to you all.

By Dina on Aug 15th 2007 at 4:14PM

My son suffered from depression. He was on so many different things that no one could keep track of them, not even him. He killed himself when he was thrity eight years old. I think he was on so much medicene that it hurt him rather then helped him. Mental illness of any kind is a terrible thing to deal with and I don't think doctors always have all the answers. Maybe less pills and more changing ones behavior and also diet may be more effective. I don't know what the answer is but that is what I think.

By Casey on Aug 12th 2007 at 8:59PM

Although medications have their place in treating depression, there is a much deeper need in people's lives for God. People deny that need and try to fill that emptiness with whatever makes them feel better. Remember, God loves you. God does not make junk and everyone is special in their own way.

By Steve on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:02PM

To all the people who think that vitamins are the answer, thank god you have never known true clinical depression. You wouldn't tell someone with diabetes to do yoga or think positively - diabetes is an imbalance in the body, just as depression is an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. If we took an everage person's brain and altered the chemical balance of serotonin,etc. they would suffer from depression, too. We just happened to be dealt a bad hand in the brain chemical department. Simple as that.

By cece on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:00PM

I have been suffering from depressation for years.And no help.I have a bad heart,high blood pressure.2 brain anyourismes .I'm sure I'm spelling it wrong.I take alot of meds.And I don.t want to add more.I have been taking zoloft for years.Just a waste of money

By penny on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:02PM

i have bipolar1/ take 1650 ml lithium a day and 4 10 mg valliums

By highspade on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:02PM

I started having panic attacks and severe depression in my early twenties. It took several doctors and medications before finding out I was Bipolar. I am now thirty-two and have found the right combination for me, Prozac and Trileptal. Without it I know I would not be here. Its not perfect but it helps me keep going. Different drugs affect everybody different. I had a lot of people suggest their meds they were using but didn't work for me. Work with your Dr. to find the right one or combination for you.

By Crystal on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:04PM

If you think that thinking happy thoughts or chanting will take away depression, then you have never truly experience depression. Of course, meds are not the only answer, but for those who experience chronic and persistant depression, they are part of the solution. Those things can be part of a larger solution; exercise, nutrition, therapy, developing one's spiritual life... all play an important role.
To those of you for whom thinking good thoughts or chanting works, count yourself as very very fortunate. Until you walk in the shoes of someone for whom those things are not enough... please don't judge. Try a little compassion.

By Jean on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:05PM

My daughter suffered with BiPolar for years and all the antidepressants we tried caused awful side effects including suicidal thoughts. We now have her on Omegabrite 3/day and she is like a different person. It is expensive but well worth it. My whole family now takes it and we handle stress really well.

By Ellen on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:12PM

I've suffered from depression and been on SSRIs since 2000. It can be a debilitating, horrific and anguishing experience. Mine was and continues to be. In 2003, I nearly took my own life. I'm still trying to determine whether or not I should have finished the job. I have taken 5 of the top 10 medications searched. My doctor thinks I'm doing well, but I know differently. I have a high-stress career that is sometimes out of control. I drink alot. Most of the time, my life is tolerable. Rarely is it good. The meds allow me to exist and to function. Nothing more, nothing less.

By Deepest Darkness on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:06PM

Depression is Bad! Every day is a struggle but so worth it. We lost a 20 yr old son to the disease, suicide. So we KNOW how bad it can be. Antidepressants are life savers if you can find one that works for you along with a good Dr. AND FAITH IN THE LORD. Please never give up hope that you can feel good again. I PRAY for anyone who suffers this horrible disease. GOD BLESS.

By kathy on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:14PM

While I am glad for those people who have been fortunate enough to improve by taking medications, I have not been so lucky. I have suffered from severe depression all my life, & attempted suicide several times. I have seen so many shrinks in the course of 22 years that I cannot even count them. Some truly cared & did everything they could for me, while others were even more messed up mentally than some of their patients & it's scary to me that these people are allowed to practice. I have been on every medication ever manufactured to no avail. I'm sure that my illness is caused by both biological & environmental factors. Life is really hard for me, & I feel guilty saying that when people in parts of our country & in others are faced with such adversity. But I've come to realize that, when you feel like you don't even have a soul & you are hurting so badly inside that you want to die, you are suffering worse because atleast those people have an intense will to survive. Anyway, I don't want to offend anyone who has benefitted from anti-depressants, but my personal opinion is that Western cultures are used to getting everything immediately & pills are administered like candy. I think our values are screwed up & that is why so many Americans are so depressed. I also feel very strongly that the "candy epiemic" is happening because of pharmaceutical companies who are paying doctors to prescribe this stuff to patients & they are all getting really rich by taking advantage of people who are suffering. It seems that the effects of these so-called safe drugs inevitably end up having the potential to significantly harm one's health. And I can attest to that. In fact, if you take these pills long enough, your brain will stop producing these neurotransmitters itself & you will end up going through a long, horrible withdrawal that may never go away. I have found that embracing Eastern philosophies such as meditation, eating healthfully which includes Omega-3 supplements, exercise, & creative outlets such as writing or artwork help me.( But that's when I do them! The problem is that I am usually too depressed to try or work at these things, & when you feel like dying, the last thing you are thinking about is being healthy! So it's a vicious cycle.) My advice would be to try anti-depressants & experiment until you find one that helps. However, if nothing helps after a considerable amount of time, they never will. And the side effects SUCK, so it isn't worth it. I wish the best for anyone out there who is in pain. I only wanted to express how difficult it's been for me so that others who aren't afflicted with this curse can understand that it is pure torture, & so that other people who are suffering may learn from my mistakes & won't have to go through the same experiences with anti-depressants that I have. Best of luck.

By mylifestory on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:17PM

americans used to see a depressed person and encourage them and help them out of their depression. however we live in the latter years where men are lovers of selves, unloving, uncaring, unforgiving, proud, boastful, faultfinders, gossips and busybodys, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. we have to turn to a pill for help because we cant depend on our neighbor. distressing times

By brian on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:07PM

I have to say that my I am not a depressed person. But my husband is. He has been like this his whole life and struggles with it constantly. Work or exercise may help but is not the sole answer. He is physically fit. Just not mentally fit. Finding the right meds is difficult sometimes. But they do make a world of difference. His employees, friends, and family notice the difference in him when taking meds. When he is off the meds it is such a dramatic change. Very snappy, paranoid, and can't sleep. It is very difficult for those who live with it or live with others who have it.

He recently put himself into a clinic for a week because he realized how bad he was getting. The doctors took him off the meds saying he didn't need them. Now he still off the wall and he hates himself for it but can't control it without the meds. Usually doesn't even realize how he is being at that point. I think meds work. It's just finding the right one for you.

By jennifer on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:12PM

This may sound too simple but it works! GOJI JUICE ! It has to be 100% pure Goji Juice and can be purchased in most health food stores or found on line. Its non-technically known as the Happy Berry, originates in the Himalyas, and it really is amazing, not only because your mood is better, but you'll see an overall improvement in your skin, less desire for sweets (lose inches - I went from a 14-16 to a 12 in about 2.5 weeks) and best of all your energy SOARS...perhaps because you're sleeping better. Up to that time I'd take 1/2 a sleeping aid nightly - now I don't need it. A bottle is somewhat costly but you only take 2 tablespoons 2 or 3x a day so it really goes far. Check it out by reading about it on the web. (The liquid gives the best and quickest results, and needs to be 100% Goji Juice with no additives or preservatives.)

By Pat on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:18PM

alochol seems to be the only that works for me. I have taken it all. I look forward to drinking 12 beers a day and I am happy for serval hours.

By Robert on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:11PM

Depression and bipolar are physical illnesses...and different people respond to different treatments. Some can use talk therapy, yoga, meditation, St. John's Wort, vitamins, and/or certain foods to control symptoms. Others (like me) have had no success on anything but medicines. I highly doubt that Tom Cruise (etc.) has ever suffered severe depression or he would not be so arrogant and superior. As for medicines, again, different people are helped with different medicines or combinations. (Lamictal doesn't do anything for me while a combo of Prozac, Trazodone, and Depakote helps better than anything else so far.) When you have a serious unrelenting disease, you are almost always happy to use what works for you.....

By Sami on Aug 13th 2007 at 1:06PM

I AM 45 BEEN TAKING VITAMINS ALL MY LIFE & EATING WRIGHT BUT NEVER HELPED MY DEPRESSION BUT I HAVE BEEN DEPRESSED FORE ONLY 2 YEARS AND TAKING EFFXORE-LITHIUM-WELLBUTRIN EVERY DAY FOR 10 MONTHS I FEEL ALOT BETTER -BUT I STILL GET DEPRESSED ABOUT 1-2 DAYS A WEEK.BUT NOT EVERY WEEK AND AS FAR AS ADDICTION THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AND AS FARAS HOLDING BACK ANGER THAT NEANDITHAL IS FULL OF CRAP!

By BOBBY FISHER on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:15PM

What's right and who’s right about this dialogue is "everyone". There are as many different cures for depression as there are people who suffer from it. But you do have to be extremely careful and I don't believe people are careful enough and use meds as an easy fix. Severe depression is a serious condition and does need a very complete evaluation and a long term plan for treatment. Many milder conditions should be looked at very carefully and diet, exercise and environment should be considered as first line of treatment and meds second.

If you are on depression medication and you are not incorporating the good holistic practices such as exercise, diet, meditation, good environment (eliminating things and people that upset you) no brainer conclusion there, you will never get better.

Just got off meds myself and feeling great, good luck and good mental and emotional health you everyone and God bless.


Steve

By Steve on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:14PM

Good for You, vitamin B and St John's Wort just got me out of a funk I never thought I would see the end of. I am a recoverig addict, working in a Rehab, what a joke, give them legal meds and they will be better? They don't take their meds, go back to street drugs and they only get worse. time and again. I did Hospice care for my mom in the house, don't do it unless you have a great support system.I'm just glad I used the alternatives, they worked for me.....

By Ann Marie on Aug 12th 2007 at 9:16PM