It's okay on the rambling, a lot of people use me for therapy. :) (Actually, I once looked into majoring in psychiatry for it, and am still considering general psychology). Also, you'd be surprised about what in psychology applies to us and what doesn't. Most people fall on a spectrum of dysfunctionality, and most people slip and slide across this scale regularly in their lives as their situations change. Your mood and your way of thinking isn't set one moment to the next, let along through your whole life, so your psychology is just as fluid.
As for your situation - well, like I said, you aren't depressed because of a serotonin issue, you were depressed because your life sucked.
Depression is basically feeling sad, and no longer caring about life. Sometimes, this is your brain acting up. Most of the time, and in your case, there is a reason behind why you feel that way. That you have a counselor to help is one of the best treatments for depression in your case, as talking through it helps quite a bit, especially as your issues are genuine, and not just brain chemistry gone screwy.
Anti-depressants are basically SSRI compounds which adjust your serotonin levels - hormones that control mood. Not having enough serotonin is basically depression.
The reason why I normally advise against anti-depressants is because I've generally noticed that for the most part, they aren't needed and won't help. The reason why so many people complain about anti-depressants not working is because their problem isn't something that can be cured by them. People are desperate to think their lives are all happy and perfect and live up to their dreams, so they blame their sadness on chemicals. But what most people don't realize is that really? Their lives just suck, and something in it is screwing with them.
In your case, anti-depressants are working for you, but in a different way. The serotonin isn't really doing anything to cheer you up, but it is calming you down, and letting you live your life, which is cheering you up. So for you, I'd say stick to the SSRI's, as they are helping you, if a bit more indirectly than intended.
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Date: 2010-02-02 10:49 am (UTC)As for your situation - well, like I said, you aren't depressed because of a serotonin issue, you were depressed because your life sucked.
Depression is basically feeling sad, and no longer caring about life. Sometimes, this is your brain acting up. Most of the time, and in your case, there is a reason behind why you feel that way. That you have a counselor to help is one of the best treatments for depression in your case, as talking through it helps quite a bit, especially as your issues are genuine, and not just brain chemistry gone screwy.
Anti-depressants are basically SSRI compounds which adjust your serotonin levels - hormones that control mood. Not having enough serotonin is basically depression.
The reason why I normally advise against anti-depressants is because I've generally noticed that for the most part, they aren't needed and won't help. The reason why so many people complain about anti-depressants not working is because their problem isn't something that can be cured by them. People are desperate to think their lives are all happy and perfect and live up to their dreams, so they blame their sadness on chemicals. But what most people don't realize is that really? Their lives just suck, and something in it is screwing with them.
In your case, anti-depressants are working for you, but in a different way. The serotonin isn't really doing anything to cheer you up, but it is calming you down, and letting you live your life, which is cheering you up. So for you, I'd say stick to the SSRI's, as they are helping you, if a bit more indirectly than intended.