| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/17/2008 5:04:12 PM | | I am dating a woman on SSRIs who still has mood swings. But there enough good qualities to keep me around and as I get to know her better figure out a way to bring these up in a gentle and loving way. It's not a turn off for me. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/17/2008 5:37:57 PM | From Time Magazine, August 27, 2007, by John Cloud:
In the 1960s, the pharmaceutical company Sandoz marketed its new tranquilizer Serentil with ads in medical journals suggesting the drug be prescribed to "the newcomer in town who can't make friends ... The woman who can't get along with her new daughter-in-law. The executive who can't accept retirement." But the FDA stopped the ads. Drugs are supposed to treat illnesses, the agency said, not the vicissitudes of living.
Isn't that a quaint idea? The FDA was worried back then about an overmedicated society; in 1956, 5% of Americans were on tranquilizers. But today 7% of Americans are on antidepressants (many more have tried them), and ads have touted the drugs for ordinary problems like fatigue, loneliness and sadness.
Still, drug companies aren't the (sole) villain in this story. As Allan Horwitz and Jerome Wakefield point out in their incisive new book The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow into Depressive Disorder (Oxford; 287 pages), we now have a "legal drug culture" built around the widely accepted idea that feeling blue is an illness.
Horwitz, dean of social and behavioral sciences at Rutgers, and Wakefield, an expert on mental-illness diagnosis at New York University, agree that depression can have biological roots. But they persuasively argue that many instances of normal sadness--the kind that descends after you lose a job or get dumped--are now misdiagnosed as depressive disorder. They also point out that the human capacity to feel sad is an evolutionarily selected trait that we might not want to drug away. They raise a great question: What if sadness is good for you?
We've been living in an age of melancholy for at least two decades. Outpatient treatment of depression rose 300% between 1987 and 1997. But while it's tempting to blame our culture--fear of terrorists, too much caffeine, living by BlackBerry--there's a more straightforward explanation for the boom in dejection.
In 1980 the American Psychiatric Association published a new definition of depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--usually shortened to DSM--the compendium used by mental-health professionals to make diagnoses. The new definition was a radical departure from the old one, which had described "depressive neurosis" as "an excessive reaction of depression due to an internal conflict or to an identifiable event such as the loss of a love object."
The much longer 1980 definition (which is still used, with slight modifications) omitted the requirement that symptoms be "excessive" in proportion to cause. In fact, the revised manual said nothing about causes and listed symptoms instead. To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder today, you need have only five symptoms for two weeks, which can include such common problems as depressed mood, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue and indecisiveness.
The DSM does make an exception for bereavement: if you recently lost a loved one, such symptoms are not considered disordered. But the manual doesn't make exceptions for other things that make us sad--divorce, financial stress, a life-threatening illness.
Isn't it safer to have a broad definition so that no truly ill person slips through? Yes and no. Untreated mental illness can be serious, but misdiagnosis can also be harmful: a healthy individual might take unneeded drugs that have side effects, for instance. Also, a psychiatric diagnosis can be used against you in a divorce proceeding or disqualify you from, say, a cancer-drug trial.
Still, is there anything wrong with medicating normal sadness if you don't mind side effects? Horwitz and Wakefield take no position on this. They point out that women giving birth take painkillers even though pain is a normal part of the process. But the authors also note that "loss responses are part of our biological heritage."
Nonhuman primates separated from sexual partners or peers have physiological responses that correlate with sadness, including higher levels of certain hormones. Human infants express despair to evoke sympathy from others. These sadness responses suggest sorrow is genetic and that it is useful for attracting social support, protecting us from aggressors and teaching us that whatever prompted the sadness--say, getting fired because you were always late to work--is behavior to be avoided.
This is a brutal economic approach to the mind, but it makes sense: we are sometimes meant to suffer emotional pain so that we will make better choices.
We might want to return to a simple definition of mental illness offered by Aristotle: "If fear or sadness lasts for a long time, it is melancholia." In that case, see a doctor. But if your boyfriend just left you and you can barely get out of bed, don't assume you're ill. Your brain is probably doing exactly what it was designed to do.
Something to think about. | |
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aetius
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Joined: 11/22/2007
Msg: 328 | |
| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/17/2008 7:11:48 PM | | If some guys have a problem with that then screw them. Your health is more important than some jerks opinion. If you want to go Cruise-zazy and and not take your medicine, that's your right, but don't do it for the sake of some idiot. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/17/2008 7:34:43 PM | If you haven't suffered from depression you really can't explain the feeling. It's not just feeling sad. It hurts all over. There are many medications and you sometimes have to play with dosages and meds to see what works best for you. And in some cases you need therapy to go along with it. I hear of too many people that try a drug for a week or two and stop taking it (which is never good to just stop) because it's not working. It takes a few weeks just to get it into your system and, as I said, there are many, many different drugs and combinations. So if you are depressed, don't give up because one thing didn't work. Keep at it and if someone doesn't want to date you because you are on medication, then who wants someone like that anyway. Ok, I'm done preaching.  | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/24/2008 1:22:33 AM | I'm not so crazy about even being around someone hooked on tylenol.
But like all drugs there a band aid, get on them if you need them but make it temporary.
I was on them after my 20 yr relationship and was able to get off them ,feel great and never needed them again thanks to my magnetic farinfrared sleep system and a special neck magnet during the day. It also helped many other aereas of my health and I don't miss the pills thats for sure,like the anoyance of being horny and not being able to come, wich was one of the side efects.lol | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/24/2008 1:26:16 AM |
You really shouldn't comment on a subject you truly know nothing of. You'll notice the people who preach the evils of antidepressants and how they're over-prescribed, medicating the population for no reason, keeping people from facing their problems... it's never someone who's actually suffered depression. Or even someone with a friend who's suffered.
For some of us, those pills make the difference between living a semi-normal life and one of living in constant agony.
Like I've said before - I wouldn't tell a woman with chronic menstrual pain to "pop a Midol and walk it off", because there's no possible way for me to know what that's like. Think about that before you belittle us for what we're forced to live with. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/24/2008 2:25:55 AM | Posted By: Sanguus on 1/24/2008 3  16 AM Subject: what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants? Message: You really shouldn't comment on a subject you truly know nothing of. You'll notice the people who preach the evils of antidepressants and how they're over-prescribed, medicating the population for no reason, keeping people from facing their problems... it's never someone who's actually suffered depression. Or even someone with a friend who's suffered. For some of us, those pills make the difference between living a semi-normal life and one of living in constant agony. Like I've said before - I wouldn't tell a woman with chronic menstrual pain to "pop a Midol and walk it off", because there's no possible way for me to know what that's like. Think about that before you belittle us for what we're forced to live with.
Definitely a presumptuous dumb ass statement. I for one have known the depths of depression and the pain so extreme that suicide would have been welcome had I not been convinced that it was only a temporary condition and would go away. I also knew the pain would not go away quickly and it would be a long battle. In a previous round I did take zoloft for 6 months. Fortunately it did not affect my sex life. No problem there as the depression itself had taken its toll. I was still able to perform but not with emotional attachment. The pills dulled my senses but only prolonged the agony. The latest round of depression was again brought about by abandonment/separation anxiety and the symptoms were the same. This time I did not take any meds. I did self-treatment with very satisfactory results and superior to professional results. One poster on this forum suggested what I did.... if you're sick and have a serious illness get involved and be in charge of your own care, research and study! I can not emphasize that enough. However, do not run out and do everything you read or that is suggested. You have to consume large volumes of information to make informed decisions. There will be conflicting information and opinions. However, the tried and true methods of dealing with depression and addictions have been documented for many years. Organic supplements of tryptophan (eat turkey meat), St. John's wort, totally avoid alcohol, avoid anything that may trigger a depressive episode(hide pictures, memorabilia, avoid going places you went with that person)... follow Alcoholic's anonymous 12 step program...read everything you can on depression, anxiety, panic attacks. This will help more than any pill for depression in which there is no organic/biological cause. Pills will only change your body chemistry and leave it unbalanced...they can not change the world around you. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 1/26/2008 4:46:06 PM | Was this comment meant for me???---------You really shouldn't comment on a subject you truly know nothing of.
I've been fighting it for years and have done well with meds/therapy (which now stating that may push some daters away, but they're not someone I'd want anyway).
Meds aren't ALWAYS the answer but they sometimes are and sometimes work and sometimes don't. Therapy is also a big help so you can learn to deal with the triggers that may set bouts off. But there are people who have chronic depression and you do all you can not to let it get you again, but it does, but you know it will pass. I just hate to hear someone took one thing and it didn't work so drugs are no good. There are lots out there and you have to play with the types and dosages, if you have a good doctor they will work till they find it. And again, this is not for everyone and everyone who is depressed is not chronically depressed. Sometimes it's situationally aggravated and you do your best to get through things that will trigger it or avoid them if you can. Whatever works for you is the best treatment. Just get treatment and understand it can be hard battle but you can overcome it, and therapy is great to help fix yourself and learn to deal with things better.
My heart and good thoughts go out to anyone battling with this condition and the embarrassment it may cause to admit it due to some people's attitude that you just have to 'snap out of it'. I'm not embarrassed anymore, I'm feeling good and working hard to stay that way, and it's not something to be ashamed of. And more people than you know are on meds and you'd never think they've been depressed a day in their lives, so it's not like we're all walking around like zombies or crazy people. And I'm done preaching again.  | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/30/2009 7:04:37 PM | | Mental illness is without question a deal breaker --I was married to someone on them for 14+ years and was on for last least the last 9 . Life too short. It is said that 10-30%of American Women are on antidepressants --sad state of affair. Pills are not the answer --self-refection is. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/30/2009 7:31:29 PM | I would never judge someone and see them as being unfit to date just because they were on antidepressants. After my husband died things became very bad for me and through seeing a psychologist, going through talk therapy and taking a mild anti depressant I eventually got through it.We have all been depressed or anxiety riddled at some point in our lives so why would I pin a scarlet letter on someone who is out there fixing their problems.
Now that being said there are other very serious psychiatric conditions that I would choose not to be around someone who suffered with them. They can never go off medication and some of these conditions if you miss just a few doses things can get very bad.Even these people who suffer with the more serious conditions need love too though and I don't think they should crawl into a little hole and never look for love. There are many people out there who can handle the serious psychiatric disorders,I just don't happen to be one of them. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/30/2009 8:01:53 PM | This subject is pretty personal to me, as I work with many different mental illness issues for my job. One thing I see that is very sad is that so many people hear the word "bipolar" or "depressed" and they automatically label that person according to their own biases. That is so not fair to those who have been diagnosed and are at least attempting to live a normal life.
For those of you who say meds are 'glossing over' someone's issues, let me tell you--it is a disease just like cancer or diabetes. Would you tell those people to 'deal with it'? The issues these people deal with are chemical related--therapy helps, but it usually must be done in combination with meds. Sorry, but there is no CURE for these mental illnesses and if meds enable someone to live a more normal life, then by all means--take the dang pills. I'm talking about clinical depression, a chronic condition--not someone who has experienced a bad turn of events in their life.
Depressed often does *not* just mean "sad". It can mean irritable, pain, inability to handle stress, etc. It is always different dependent upon the person who has that diagnosis and how they are chemically and physiologically designed to handle life.
Chances are every one of us knows many people who are walking around on meds for depression or some other mental disorder and I'm willing to bet that you'd never be able to pick some of them out of a line up if you tried--because the meds are working!
I'd be more worried about those that *don't* take meds.
btw....I know alot of men who suffer from these same illnesses and they take the meds too, they just don't offer the info so freely as women do, due to the stigma associated with the disease. | |
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emruld
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Joined: 4/4/2009
Msg: 339 | |
| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/30/2009 8:05:39 PM | | wow.. in reply to mssg 6... welbutrin doesnt zap ur libido or make u gain? i gained well.. prob 80 pounds on it.. was tired all the time and sex nauseated me... went off it... and wow.. i could have an 'o' again lmao... would never go back on them ( i was on for anxiety) would much rather deal with the panic attacks | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/31/2009 4:48:30 AM | This completely depends on the age of the girl.
As I recall as a youth, kids were considered "Cool" if they were on them.
As a matter of fact, with the advent of EMO as a replacement for GOTH that theory was thus canonized.
If she is a full grown woman, and not the early-mid 20's crowd, then I assume that she is working out her problems. Not to say the aforementioned applies to all youth, as it does not.
So no, it would not affect me in the slightest. If I loved her. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/31/2009 5:00:34 AM | | I think you should do what's in your best interest. If some man cant handle the fact that you need a little pill to make your life more manageable he probably isn't worth having around in the first place. | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 5/31/2009 8:56:19 AM |
(Msg 342) If she is taking buproprion/welbutrin SR then I would be blessed to have a girl that is taking welbutrin SR.
buproprion/welbutrin SR = increases libido especially on women, because its offhand treatment use is for wives who lost their libido.
I WOULD BE BLESSSED.
Now we'll start seeing men's profiles, "seeking woman on buproprion/welbutrin SR."  | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 6/2/2009 5:08:39 PM | hmmm....well, things always become clearer the more you get to know someone.
So....I don't know how you mean this question. If you mean you just meet someone and they tell you that., what do you think?
My take is like this.....if a person...any person has had a struggle with clinical depression, and they are taking medication that helps them with this problem....and the quality of their life is improved by it.....then, they are very wise.
As, Kimbo has said before, it's not the humans who are treating their Life's hurdles that frighten me...it's the bazillions walking around that 'need' to be medicated that do... 
Kimbo******************************* | |
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*ALIE*
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Joined: 5/26/2009
Msg: 349 | |
| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 7/1/2009 2:14:15 PM | it is unfortunate that so many people share the views of Tom Cruise.
i do agree that many people are prescribed medication for no reason. but for thoes of us who require medication to lead a "normal life" we get thrown to the way side.
i have suffered from anxiety and depression for my entire life. at 17 i finally started medication. (i am currently 21). If i hadn't recieved the medication and councelling that i did i would not be here today! because my mental health is so well controlled people do not know i am on medication unless i tell them.
coming from an extremly disfunctional family combined with 'tainted' genes puts me where i am today. i am happy to say that i love the person i am on medication and my mum says i am a completly different person than before the medication started.
i don't plan on getting off my medication any time soon or ever.
ill stand by and wait for the harsh comments and for thoes i have been talking to, to stop communication.
alie :) | |
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| what do guys think of girls who take antidepressants?
Posted: 7/1/2009 2:30:02 PM | | I have ADHD and Fibromyalgia, but have opted not to take medication for either of these things. I tried several medications for ADHD, and they either made me lethargic, too sleepy to function at work or more hyper and scattered than I am without medication. I drive one of my co workers crazy at work some days, but we teach special education students and I tell her that maybe she is just having a bad day with her students if I am getting on her nerves so badly. The end of the school year is so busy, but I always manage to multi task just fine. I was born at 24 weeks gestation age, and have always wondered if being a preemie was the cause of my ADHD. Small price to pay for my life, as many babies born 52 years ago at my birth weight either died or were severely disabled. | |
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