Teenage Depression - Epidemic or overblown?

[Dis]

how can teenagers be depressed?

My teenage years rocked. I loved high school. I knew how good I had it.

I didn't become depressed until I was in my 20's. I blame it on the Smashing Pumpkins. Their music depressed me .

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Asher
Have you ever been on any real anti-depressants? They're not all fun and games, they have some very real and very serious sideeffects, unlike Ritalin.

I might of, actually... I know that I was on ritalin when I was a kid, along with another drug, but I don't remember what it was, or what it was for...

Which is it, "chronic" or "clinical"? Is that as specific was the diagnosis was? Sounds like you're part of the ever typical umbrella case.
Clincal depression is, for the most part, caused by a specific series of events in life that will depress you, not necessarily a true disorder.

What medication have you been on?

I don't know, I've been to so many psychatrists that I've probably been diagnosed with both, along with a dozen other types but as you can probably tell, I don't put much stock into it and don't really remember their exact diagnoses or explenations.

And I've always refused to take medication (not that my refusal mattered as a kid).

But when you've got sample sets of millions of people who have done these things, "their own experiences" slowly turn into "collective experiences" so such things can be generalized...

But what relivance do generalizations have on an individual?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Osweld
I might of, actually... I know that I was on ritalin when I was a kid, along with another drug, but I don't remember what it was, or what it was for...

I very very much doubt it then. The FDA doesn't even recommend teenagers take them, in fact I think they're still only approved for 18+ people, but it's prescribed anyway.

But what relivance do generalizations have on an individual?

Go check your original assertion, it had nothing to do with an individual.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Asher
Go check your original assertion, it had nothing to do with an individual.

What?

[Asher]

Depression is not a disease, it's a part of life.

[General Ludd]

Nice try on turning the discussion around.

So, you agree that a pyshcologist's "collective data" is no better then any schmoe's generalizations?

...or what?

[orange]

i don't want a war with Laz here, but I think it's overblown. Sure, there are real cases and they need to be dealt with in a responsible manner...but too many people want to pop a pill for every twitch and cough that they may have. It's natural to be a little down every now and then...you get over it. Natural highs and such...it's no big deal...no need for pills all the time.

I guess I'm lucky to have not dealt with depression, well...ever...even though I occasionally do get depressed for a day or so...i call them bad days...and go on with my life.

[Asher]

Re: Nice try on turning the discussion around.

Originally posted by Osweld
So, you agree that a pyshcologist's "collective data" is no better then any schmoe's generalizations?

...or what?

No, I don't agree. Clinical studies have control groups and treatment groups, there are noticable effects and improvements with the legal drugs.

It's also obvious that it's very hard to dianose things like bipolar disorder since they happen in episodes over years, it's not like being diagnosed for cancer or anything. For that reason most people with bipolar are diagnosed as such in their 20s or 30s, but have since adolescence, and many more just don't get treated because they don't want to. Not only the social stigma of taking antidepressants, but because they don't want to be dependant on them or have heard about withdrawl/sideeffects issues.

I don't think antidepressant drugs are overprescribed at all, and I'd like someone to link to some sites that say it is or at least provide rationalization for it. Taking antidepressants is NOT easy and it is NOT fun. They're prescribed when therapy alone does not solve anything, for the most part -- and they work, for the most part.

Comparing it to ADD and Ritalin is stupid as hell, it's like comparing circumcisions to open heart surgeries.

[chequita guevara]

Ritalin isn't an anti-depressant.

[orange]

why Asher? they're both equally delicate

[Asher]

Originally posted by orange
why Asher? they're both equally delicate

Compare the withdrawls for Ritalin to Paxil
Compare the severity and occurances of sideeffects also.
Hell, compare cost.

Ritalin is a very simple drug in comparison, today's antidepressants are very powerful and can have very serious sideeffects.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Ritalin isn't an anti-depressant.

I know that, I was refering to the other 'unkown' drug that I was on - no idea what it was, or what it was for.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by orange
It's natural to be a little down every now and then...you get over it.

Depression isn't being a little down. And while it is natural to be despressed, it is also natural to be killed and eaten by wild animals. That doesn't mean it is normal, desirable, or shouldn't be avoided.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Asher
today's antidepressants are very powerful and can have very serious sideeffects.

This is incorrect. In fact it is rather the opposite, they are rather mild by older medicines comparisons.

[Dis]

sex is the best way to cure depression. This is a proven fact.

The hard part is finding a mate when you are depressed. Depressed people aren't very attractive. At least to me. I tried going out with a self-hating depressed b!tch once, I just couldn't listen to her. Now maybe I could go out with a mute self hating-depressed person, but not one who talks.

depressed people