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Originally Posted by AlanY
Certainly there are mental conditions that require medication (bipolar disorder/manic depression, schizophrenia, etc.). Anyone who doubts that is just being dense or hasn't spent any time with people with these conditions. They're not something a person can pull themselves out of.
With regular depression, I see people's points about the importance of resolving external factors instead of relying strictly on medication, but unfortunately, that doesn't work for everyone. And even if a person can pull himself out of it himself, that process takes time, and while he is still depressed he can dig himself into a deeper and deeper hole all too easily. It becomes a vicious cycle. Depression leads to developing bigger life problems, which leads to it being harder and harder to pull oneself out of it through cognitive techniques alone, leading to deeper depression, and the cycle repeats. So even if one accepts that medication is not the ultimate answer, you've got to recognize that it's a useful tool for preventing things from getting temporarily worse. No one should feel ashamed or reticent to consider medication in times of crisis. By the way, this is especially true for students like the original poster. Don't let a bout of depression or mania destroy your future. One or two semesters of bad academic results may foreclose the possibility of getting the job you want, or of getting into the postgraduate program you want. These things stick with you forever. Sure, you may be able to muddle through by yourself and resolve issues after a year or two of introspection, but by then it may be too late. Get professional help early and don't be afraid of medication, while it can still make a big difference to your future. |
