Bobrick,
Now that I've started actually reading your posts, I realise what a fool I've been. You're totally right.
Sorry once again.
Just wondered have you ever had any experience of taking antidepressants? You seem to have very strong opinions on them that's all.
Drugs: Antidepressants
192Bobrick wrote:There's a limit on what we can decide about antidepressants from personal testimonials, like that of happyandbored. His glowing endorsement applies to him. Good for him, but it's not a sample size to build an argument pro or con, which is why I said that the scope of his argument is dishonest, and mine is not.
I think I understand you. Although it does beg the question as to exactly what personal experiences and sample size you based the following percentages on:
Bobrick wrote:I would estimate that, at minimum, 20% of the people on antidepressants should not be. This is based on common sense- genuine chemically-related depression cannot possibly be accelerating in the population at the same rate that prescriptions for these drugs are.
I have suggested that, among this 20%, are people who are lazy failures, who, rather than draw from their own abilities to repair their lives, resort to peace of mind through chemistry.
Don't mean to be pedantic here - I realise now there are plenty of holes in my arguments. However, these two paragraphs don't seem to gel.
Drugs: Antidepressants
193this thread needs more hiatus
Ty Webb wrote:
You need to stop pretending that this is some kind of philosophical choice not to procreate and just admit you don't wear pants to the dentist.
Drugs: Antidepressants
195Rick Reuben wrote:The personal experience comes from many years of proximity to the lowest common denominator in America.
You must live in a pretty bad neighbourhood. Do you mind if you tell us a bit more about exactly what personal experiences have informed your view?
Drugs: Antidepressants
196Every time I see Rick's avatar I get really hungry.
That is all. Continue.
That is all. Continue.
Oh, and fuck Mars Volta.
Drugs: Antidepressants
197I agree with you, Bobrick. You don't have to keep asking me.
As for my prejudices shining through. I don't understand how you deduced that from such a simple question.
You seem to have a very low opinion of those around you, since you talk about your "proximity to the lowest common denominator". It seemed logical to conclude that you must be unhappy with the place you currently live.
What is it exactly that you don't like about your neighbourhood that you dismiss those around you as being "the lowest common denominator"? I'm interested, please don't take this the wrong way.
As for my prejudices shining through. I don't understand how you deduced that from such a simple question.
You seem to have a very low opinion of those around you, since you talk about your "proximity to the lowest common denominator". It seemed logical to conclude that you must be unhappy with the place you currently live.
What is it exactly that you don't like about your neighbourhood that you dismiss those around you as being "the lowest common denominator"? I'm interested, please don't take this the wrong way.
Drugs: Antidepressants
198Rick Reuben wrote:I'm a useless wart on this forum
Ty Webb wrote:
You need to stop pretending that this is some kind of philosophical choice not to procreate and just admit you don't wear pants to the dentist.
Drugs: Antidepressants
199Rick Reuben wrote:Can't you read? The world is my neighborhood.happyandbored wrote:your neighbourhoodhappyandbored wrote:I agree with you, Bobrick. You don't have to keep asking me.
You haven't answered. Your childish parody thread does not count.happyandbored wrote:The point is here, Rick Reuben has recently convinced me that antidepressants are over prescribed. Too many people are taking antidepressants because they are lazy and weakminded. If you disagree, just read everything Rick has said over on the antidepressants thread. It's mindblowing stuff.
Are antidepressants overprescribed, happyandbored? Yes or No? How about for children in particular?? Can you answer any question?
Oh so you're talking about the world as your neighbourhood. I understand now. You were talking about people in "proximity" to you though so it was a little bit confusing. Which countries have you visited out of interest? How does depression and the treatment of depression vary between the different countries and cultures you have visited?
Sorry about the paracetamol thread, I was trying to be lighthearted, but I was making a serious point. I just figured that perhaps the same argument could apply to other drugs.
Antidepressants are clearly overprescribed. Your common-sense based statistics which concluded that 20% or more of people taking antidepressants should not be taking them, are utterly damning. I cannot argue with you there.
I've never really thought about children taking antidepressants before: I guess so long as they're really depressed it's okay maybe? I don't know, you seem to understand these issues much better than me.
Drugs: Antidepressants
200Rick Reuben wrote:Wrong again. And please, drop the bullshit- you're bad at it. The '20%' is my personal opinion. Learn to distinguish betweeen 'an opinion' and the statistics I cite to support my opinion.happyandbored wrote: Your common-sense based statistics which concluded that 20% or more of people taking antidepressants should not be taking them, are utterly damning.
Canada. Nearly double the prescriptions for SSRI's in only five years.
Must be an epidemic of 'genuine' depression. There can be no other explanation for these trends.
I understand. You're saying that because SSRI prescriptions have almost doubled in Canada since 1999, that in your a opinion at least 20% of people taking antidepressants in your neighbourhood (Chicago, America, the world?) are not really depressed. The idea that an increase of that magnitude could be down to an increase in 'genuine' depression is absurd.
The idea that any other factors - for example population growth, reduced prescriptions of older treatments (eg, major tranquilizers and tricyclics), the new generation being prescribed newer drugs - could possibly be responsible for such a huge increase is ridiculous. Your opinion is clearly on solid ground.