Does It Work?

[Kamuro]

[SIZE=1]Lately there have been more disputes then ever about psychological medicine and whether it's truly essential or not. Tom Cruise is one of the more noteable people that believes that mental problems or chemical inbalance can be solved without the use of medication. He has spoken out several times against the use of such medication and is obviously very adamant about the issue. Medicine like Zoloft, Ritalin, Welbutrin, etc. Medicine responsible not for physical illness, but the temporation of one's mind and interaction with others in everyday life.

There has been numerous cases in which this kind of medicine proves most useful. People unable to sit still have been able to attend school and live a "normal" life among the rest of us. Cases such as ADD and ADHD, are deemed curable under this type of medication. It works both ways as well, people who suffer from depression are also perscribed this type of medication, evening out their mental difficulties in an opposing fashion.

However in some cases the mind proves to difficult to comprehend, the medication doesn't work, and in some cases causes further inbalance and leads to suicide. It's a doctor's job to decide whether or not a child needs this medication, yet both sides have reliable evidence that the medicine either works, or doesn't work. Of course, it can be a case by case problem, but from that POV how is one truly able to tell whether the child needs medication or not?

The basis of the thread is to ask what you think. Is there a way to cure these types of ailments without using medicine? Do you believe in to many cases doctors have immediately turned to these types of medication without exploring other areas that may help to balance a child's mental indifference without the use of drugs? Is it possible, in even the most severe cases, to subdue inner thoughts and live a life among the rest of us on an even playing field? What do you think?[/SIZE]

[Chaos]

I believe nowadays that doctors are too quick to classify a child or any person for that matter with a disorder. ADD, ADHD, etc. is all too common, and I can't count the number of times I've heard someone say they're bi-polar when they're really just a dramawhore. A lot of today's quote-unquote disorders are simply children and young adults who have simply grown up without any control and discipline. Doctors see and know this, but also know that a "miracle cure" also pays their bills and keeps parents happy, so they just write out prescriptions to sedate the child into a wasteland of mental inactivity.

Granted, there are true cases in which some people VERY MUCH so have mental disabilities, and for that I believe is where time should be taken to study and test and correct through trial and error. There are people out there who genuinely have voices in their heads and those are the ones that need help, not a hyperactive child who is just "expressing him/herself." Guh. All this new-age liberal crap has left parents no control over kids these days.

So I think there are times when doctors just see dollar bills from filling out a Zoloft prescription, and that parents just don't do the right thing, but also that there are times when some people should honestly be committed to a facility where their well-being can be documented and ensured. And I also think there are times when the right thing IS done by giving out medication to a patient, but that those times are few and far between.

One side note, a slightly philosophical one at that; is there even a norm for us humans? Is there a dedicated level or standard of set measurments that mark out being "average" or "normal?" Every person is different from another, so perhaps the problem IS that medication needs to be given judged on a case-by-case issue. That may prove tedious but probably much safer in the long run.

[Retribution]

[quote name='Chaos']One side note, a slightly philosophical one at that; is there even a norm for us humans? Is there a dedicated level or standard of set measurments that mark out being "average" or "normal?" Every person is different from another, so perhaps the problem IS that medication needs to be given judged on a case-by-case issue. That may prove tedious but probably much safer in the long run.[/quote]
[SIZE=1]Yeah, normal exists. Normal is taking everyone's things in common, and calling it so. There will always be "normal." If you fail to have things in common with the general populace, you will be "abnormal." *shrug*

Anyway, some mental illnesses are chemical, and can't be beaten by just "trying harder" or some other crap like that. Chronic depression can't be alleviated by just looking at the brighter side of life, or trying harder. Some illnesses are genetic, and therefore need medication.

But as for every other kid having ADD, that's just an excuse parents give themselves for their poor upbringing of a child. Granted, I'm sure some kids actually do have ADD/ADHD... but for this one, I agree with Chaos (for the most part).[/SIZE]

[Bio]

[font=Trebuchet MS]I can't say I'm very knowledgeable about the topic, but my brother being depressed has given me at least a little experience. I know that he went to therapy and took medication, but eventually just stopped doing both because they didn't seem to work. Now, he's fine; he got through it on his own.

However, it's probably different from case to case. If there [i]is [/i]a chemical imbalance that causes depression, then it could probably fix itself as a person develops (assuming that this theoretical person in an adolescent). If the person is an adult, then it probably wouldn't fix itself, unless the imbalance is something that goes away over time.

If that's the case, then medicine really isn't necessary, and would only create temporary and/or misleading results. If it's not, then I suppose medication [i]is[/i] necessary. Again, all of this is theory. I haven't even read any recent articles on the subject, heh.

As for ADD and ADHD... I haven't really ever heard of someone with ADD or ADHD functioning very well in society without some form of medication to keep them focused. Regardless of what's "normal" or not, it would be easier if you're able to pay attention.
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[AzureWolf]

[COLOR=blue]Tom Cruise, great actor, one of my favorites. But his opinions are just a reflection of his blind devotion to this Scientology religion he joined. He's only preaching what they feed him. If he didn't say them so mechanically and had more basis for saying what he says, then I'd value his opinions more.

As for the question at hand, every doctor knows and will tell you the same thing: drugs, prescriptions, and all other human interventions are only half the cure. The other half is from the self. It's been well-documented that if you are happy and optimistic, you overcome a sickness faster, and if you are depressed and pessimistic, the opposite occurs.

If people have enough willpower, they can overcome quite more than the "average" person. You'll always hear the story about the doctor who says, "Oh, he'll never walk again." And then the person becomes so resolved and determine to oust the doctor that he does the seemingly impossible. However, while the doctor says, "He'll never walk again," he knows that's what the person needs to hear in order to be motivated enough to overcome the affliction. So really, the doctor is saying one thing but means, "He can walk again, but only if he thinks he can't anymore. If I say he can if he tries, then he won't try hard enough."

Don't get me wrong, it's not like the doctor is flat-out lying either. It's more a case of, the person is more than likely not going to ever walk again, but putting it this way, there's a slim chance he could.

Our generation has always been more devoted to the school of rational thinking and therefore has seriously underestimated and ignored the irrational school. So we are so stuck on believing on tangible medications that we forget the capacity of the mind, body, and spirit.[/COLOR]

[Pumpkin]

[QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1]
Anyway, some mental illnesses are chemical, and can't be beaten by just "trying harder" or some other crap like that. Chronic depression can't be alleviated by just looking at the brighter side of life, or trying harder. Some illnesses are genetic, and therefore need medication.
[/SIZE][/QUOTE]
[SIZE=1][b]Jackpot.[/b] Retri, took the words straight out of my mouth. For one thing, there is a big difference in the need of medication. Below is a defination of the word "Chronic".

[QUOTE]
[b]Chronic[/b]
* Of long duration; continuing
* Lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases
* Subject to a habit or pattern of behavior for a long time
[/QUOTE]As Retri pointed out, there are people out there that have diseases, that might not be curable without medication. As for people who have mild depression or a small case of what they assume is ADD, have more of a chance about turning their life around. I would suggest counseling would be the best cure. Yes, I believe doctors do hand out prescriptions like candy at times. This can cause people to scramble for a quick fix.

Parents are quick to solve their teenager's hormones or behavior. I know for one I did a report on Bi-polar disorder in school after hearing many students claim to may have suffer from the disease, and what I looked up is nothing close to what they described. Bi-polar is one thing that is very hard to diagnoise. Because some behavior disorders are so hard to diagnose, doctors do not always get the right diagnosis, leading to some children with the wrong kind of medication. However, I do not think that medication is bad, however unless its abused for all the wrong reasons.

If someone is really struggling, then maybe the medication may help you. I know for one, I had problem sleeping and the doctor gave me anti-depressents as a sleeping pill. It wasn't being depressed that was making me not sleep, my sleeping pattern was just very messed up. One of the pills made me drowsy and feel lazy and the other made me extremely alert and hyper. It all depends on the person, and its hard to find the right pill that works for you. Not everyone's problems can be solved with medication, but that doesn't mean you can't try it.

So, point being said, there are people who have a natural chemical imbalance and must stay reliant on the needs of medication and there are those that can overcome it themselves. But however you chose, it's mainly up to you. I don't think the medication should be restricted to those who feel they personally need the prescription of pills. If thats what they think will make them better, then go ahead. But I would suggest toughing it out before jumping to conclusions.
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[Gavin]

[SIZE=1]Interesting, most interesting.

I don't have much experience with the subject, as no one in my family has ever been diagnosed with an illness, physical or otherwise that requires consistent medication. I do feel however in this modern "sixty second society", to quote one of English teachers that medication is being handed out far to easily, everything needs to have a quick cure because the world just keeps going, at least that's just my take on it.

There are of course those who will require medication to overcome illnesses, and I don't in any way begrudge them needing it, however it seems that doctors and specialists are very quick to diagnose people with ADD or other such problems. I mean how many children really could suffer from ADD or a sister illnesses, in my old high school there were 350 students and I don't recall a single one of them being diagnosed with ADD. Many cases of ADD seem to be just used as an excuse to give a child medication rather than finding out the root of the problem.[/SIZE]

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]I [b]do[/b] think that there is an over-eagerness on the part of the doctors to prescribe drugs, and I [b]do[/b] think that, especially with a lot of ADD/ADHD cases, it is merely a case of milksop parents being pushed around by their three year-old child. To put it simply, most ADD 'cases' that are given medication could probably have had their habit nipped in the bud early be a firm, decisive and disciplined parent. Why most parents don't realise this is beyond me.

However, whether or not the child is truly sick, children with these ADD symptoms often fail to fit in with society, and can cause damage and/or injury to other's property or self. While there are other ways of curing this 'imaginary' ADD, the drugs do it now, and do it well. But, if you begin to discipline your child, and wean them off the drugs, then you can solve the problem easily. Sadly, most people are looking for a instant fix these days. Why wait when you can have results now?

I absolutely advocate and support the use of medication in people with real problems however. My mother was depressed for several months, and then she got Zoloft, and things improved. The benefit of these kinds of medications is undeniable.

You can't have people saying "this stuff helps people", and others saying "this stuff doesn't help people". Obviously, the former is correct. If they have proof that it can help people, then even if it isn't the right solution for everyone, it [b]is[/b] a solution.[/size]

[Semjaza]

[quote name='AzureWolf][COLOR=blue']Tom Cruise, great actor, one of my favorites. But his opinions are just a reflection of his blind devotion to this Scientology religion he joined. He's only preaching what they feed him. If he didn't say them so mechanically and had more basis for saying what he says, then I'd value his opinions more.[/COLOR][/quote]

In terms of Tom Cruise, that's all there is to really say. The guy has been like this, obviously, for years, but now that his publicist is a relative into Scientology too it's coming out all over the place all at once lol.

I don't care, first of all, what celebrities think. Him being in movies gives him no real room to claim his ideas on the matter are any more informed. In some interview he got all upset (Matt Lauder?) and claimed he studied psychology and there's no science behind medication... what? Since when is Tom Cruise a known psychologist to begin with? Let alone someone that knows more than the likely expensive practitioners of celebrities (in this case is was Brooke Shields' depression after pregnancy). If anything, he studied some biased Scientology version of it... if even that much.

The stuff doesn't work for everyone, but what does? The main issue is around doctors prescribing things too soon, drug companies lying to people about effects and other doctors not pursuing futher potential issues. I don't think it makes the concept of medications for these issues "unscientific" lol.