What happens if you take antidepressants when you aren't depressed?

Jerry Martinez5 said:Wait, hasn't this already been answered? Or am I just mixing up different threads? 😕

Antidepressants only ease the symptoms. In that sense, they mask them. Depression isn't cured by meds; they're just a tool used during treatment. They dampen the symptoms just enough so you can actually face your problems.

The only real way to treat it, as far as I know, is psychotherapy. The goal there is to change the person—how they view themselves, their life, and the world around them. People who just pop pills and wait for it to pass... 👎

Oh, I see; I merely wished to hear it confirmed one more time.

Hannah Davis18 said:Also, just saying, talking about drugs like this is pretty messed up. 😢Especially when we're talking about people undergoing medical treatment. I mean, you wouldn't tell someone on morphine that they're just getting high at the government's expense.☕

In that sense, AD is expensive: it makes you feel better than you actually deserve. I guess lonegardener just took it a step further.

I’ve taken this argument to an absurd level. AD is just an escape from a grim reality—it’s meant to give someone a window of opportunity to actually start fixing that reality. If they don't take that chance, I guess eventually even the pills won't be enough to help. 😢

Alright, someone help a girl out—I've decided to go off AD on my own! I think there’s a massive misunderstanding happening here. I mean, maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but it feels like everyone is missing the point entirely. Regarding what Hannah Davis18 said—honestly, I don't know how you can even argue that. It’s pretty straightforward if you actually look at the facts. And then you have Jerry Martinez5 chiming in with those wild theories... I guess it’s easy to get carried away, but it’s a bit much, isn't it? I read what Eric Thomas89 posted earlier, and while I see where he's coming from, I still think the logic is a little thin. Maybe it’s just me. But seriously, the way people are reacting to this is almost comical. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Anyway, just my two cents. I’ll probably just sit back and watch this mess unfold.

Jerry Martinez5 said:In that sense, AD is expensive: it makes you feel better than you actually deserve. I guess lonegardener just took it a step further.

I’ve taken this argument to an absurd level. AD is just an escape from a grim reality—it’s meant to give someone a window of opportunity to actually start fixing that reality. If they don't take that chance, I guess eventually even the pills won't be enough to help. 😢

Alright, someone help a girl out—I've decided to go off AD on my own! I think there’s a massive misunderstanding happening here. I mean, maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but it feels like everyone is missing the point entirely. Regarding what Hannah Davis18 said—honestly, I don't know how you can even argue that. It’s pretty straightforward if you actually look at the facts. And then you have Jerry Martinez5 chiming in with those wild theories... I guess it’s easy to get carried away, but it’s a bit much, isn't it? I read what Eric Thomas89 posted earlier, and while I see where he's coming from, I still think the logic is a little thin. Maybe it’s just me. But seriously, the way people are reacting to this is almost comical. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Anyway, just my two cents. I’ll probably just sit back and watch this mess unfold.

Why would anyone say "better than you deserve"? 😢 Doesn't everyone deserve to feel wonderful?

I would argue that it qualifies as a drug because it relies on an external, chemical factor to artificially elevate our mood.

Jerry Martinez5 said:In that sense, AD is expensive: it makes you feel better than you actually deserve. I guess lonegardener just took it a step further.

I’ve taken this argument to an absurd level. AD is just an escape from a grim reality—it’s meant to give someone a window of opportunity to actually start fixing that reality. If they don't take that chance, I guess eventually even the pills won't be enough to help. 😢

Alright, someone help a girl out—I've decided to go off AD on my own! I think there’s a massive misunderstanding happening here. I mean, maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but it feels like everyone is missing the point entirely. Regarding what Hannah Davis18 said—honestly, I don't know how you can even argue that. It’s pretty straightforward if you actually look at the facts. And then you have Jerry Martinez5 chiming in with those wild theories... I guess it’s easy to get carried away, but it’s a bit much, isn't it? I read what Eric Thomas89 posted earlier, and while I see where he's coming from, I still think the logic is a little thin. Maybe it’s just me. But seriously, the way people are reacting to this is almost comical. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck. Anyway, just my two cents. I’ll probably just sit back and watch this mess unfold.

not really. AD is a medication. primarily.
it's a med that helps you deal with the "trash" and survive a brutal stretch of time. some drama shouldn't be dealt with "live" because it drains too much energy, and then your daily life just falls apart.

wearyowl29 said:So, I was thinking about this today—what actually happens if someone who isn't dealing with depression decides to pop some antidepressants, like Zoloft or something?
And another thing on my mind... is it even possible to fake depression or anxiety when you're sitting there in a doctor's office?🤷

Honestly, I have no clue what "deprozel" is—sounds like some random brand name. But my take? If you’re already feeling like garbage, losing all your motivation and stuff... if you feel miserable, exhausted, lonely, and like nobody gets you... you probably *are* dealing with depression. I won't play doctor since I don't know how deep you are in this, but I can tell you that when I finally went to see my physician, I felt that same resistance. It's totally normal to feel that way because suddenly you can't trust anything anymore... not even yourself or your own emotions. Guilt is such a huge part of depression, too... and self-doubt? Yeah, that's a big one.

hiddenhound3 said:Why would anyone say "better than you deserve"? 😢 Doesn't everyone deserve to feel wonderful?

I would argue that it qualifies as a drug because it relies on an external, chemical factor to artificially elevate our mood.

It's about feeling better than you deserve in that specific moment. For instance, maybe you're 25 and desperate to be independent. You're struggling because you haven't graduated yet and your parents are breathing down your neck. AD gives you a boost more than you deserve, but what you actually need is help fixing your life: graduating, finding a job, moving out of your parents' house 👍

You can't change that internal sense of inadequacy without changing your actual circumstances. Unless you use drugs: which is just a temporary fix with a massive list of side effects 👎

Jerry Martinez5 said:It's about feeling better than you deserve in that specific moment. For instance, maybe you're 25 and desperate to be independent. You're struggling because you haven't graduated yet and your parents are breathing down your neck. AD gives you a boost more than you deserve, but what you actually need is help fixing your life: graduating, finding a job, moving out of your parents' house 👍

You can't change that internal sense of inadequacy without changing your actual circumstances. Unless you use drugs: which is just a temporary fix with a massive list of side effects 👎

I am of the opinion that the process actually works in reverse: once you achieve internal maturity, that stability begins to manifest in your external reality. Regardless, I find that one's twenties are a uniquely turbulent decade and quite a prime period for experiencing depression.

Jerry Martinez5 said:The issue isn't you; it's Apemant. 🤣🤣🤣
He's a great typer, but he clearly gets a huge kick out of derailing the conversation. 👎
Apemant, just start your own thread about whatever you want. 🙂

Regarding Edith: I've heard that too. Who wouldn't want to avoid a diagnosis causing issues? But what does a diagnosis even mean? It's just a sentence, nothing more. If you're doing the work, things change.

Your honor, i plead not guilty. 😍

Troll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

So, the *primary motive* of a troll is to trigger an emotional reaction or intentionally steer the topic away... which is just a fancy way of saying they are being *malicious*. Do you honestly think I'm being malicious? Like, do you think my goal is to upset anyone for the sake of internet drama, or that I'm trying to hijack the conversation? To me, it seems obvious: I just have some wild associations 🤷 — certain topics remind me of things I've been thinking about lately, and I just can't help myself from rambling a bit about them. 🤣

For what it's worth, I don't actually enjoy starting new threads, for some reason. 😕

Hannah Davis18 said:I mean, it’s a lot. Some people just don't want to know what they're actually dealing with. I guess it's one way to protect the patient, maybe.

How can you not see the difference? I mean, seriously, I can't really help you if you can't tell organic stuff apart from basic mechanics.😳

😕 Wait, what?

A "robot" could be based entirely on something organic. Besides, you're losing sight of the context here: you brought up the idea of robots as a response to my point about happiness or emotion pills. What would be "mechanical" about that? That would be perfectly organic. You take a pill and feel butterflies in your stomach for six months. Then you take another one and feel deep love for the next six. And so on. Within a lifetime, you'd have the chance to experience everything you've ever been interested in, in a simple, fast, easy, and perhaps even cheap way. 😬

Jerry Martinez5
In that sense, AD is expensive: it makes you feel better than you actually deserve. It’s just that lonegardener took it a step further.

Exactly. Just look at that lovely little phrase: 'better than you deserve.' Hihihiihi. If only I knew what one truly had to 'deserve' something...

Though, you do clarify later:

Jerry Martinez5 said:It's about feeling better than you deserve in that specific moment. For instance, maybe you're 25 and desperate to be independent. You're struggling because you haven't graduated yet and your parents are breathing down your neck. AD gives you a boost more than you deserve, but what you actually need is help fixing your life: graduating, finding a job, moving out of your parents' house 👍

You can't change that internal sense of inadequacy without changing your actual circumstances. Unless you use drugs: which is just a temporary fix with a massive list of side effects 👎

However, you're making at least two mistakes there. First, you're suggesting 'how a person ought to live.' It doesn't matter if most people agree with you, or even if I do—it remains an unfounded prescription for someone else's life. Someone might choose to live with their parents, and there's certainly nothing written in stone saying that's wrong, or that they don't 'deserve' to feel good just because they haven't 'struck out on their own.' Second, I am talking specifically about a pill that would have a *long-term* effect, but *without* any negative side effects.

If we actually had a pill like that, you could feel great without wasting all your energy on graduating, job hunting, and those other mostly futile activities. 😬

AD is actually solid because it helps you weather those storms that might otherwise absolutely wreck your mental state—if you get on AD early enough, you might just avoid ending up in a psychiatric ward in some corner of the US.
Another perk of AD is that it gives you a lift... sure, it’s temporary and artificial, but it doesn't boost you beyond what you deserve; it just shows you how good you *could* feel. It kind of proves there isn't some objective reason why you can't be doing great and finally getting your life together, aside from that damn depression... Maybe you'll find a bit more motivation or strength to fight the depression... And maybe you can actually summon some of that drive back up in your brain once you eventually taper off the AD.

That being said, I really think decent psychotherapy is the make-or-break factor here. Using AD alongside good therapy can be incredibly helpful, but if your therapist is garbage, the whole thing can go south fast.

As for that whole "you should handle everything on your own" crowd... well, it really depends on how you view mental illness. If it's just a temporary dip in serotonin levels caused by whatever life throws at you, then it's basically like a migraine—you don't just sit there waiting to "overcome" a migraine on your own, you take an Advil... Or if it's like high blood pressure; plenty of people in this country spend half their lives on meds for hypertension, so why shouldn't someone take something for low serotonin? It's the same logic, I guess... Though, yeah, it's dangerous too—you either end up with a stroke, start hallucinating, or decide to jump out a window...
We can't run from the fact that our psyche is just as vulnerable as any other part of the body... You try to toughen yourself up, physically and mentally, as much as possible, but the reality is that everyone hits a wall. You have to accept those limits.
Sometimes it feels like my entire worldview shifts every sixty minutes...

lonegardener said:So, what you're saying is that once you feel great, you get bored after a few days (or months? years?) and suddenly crave feeling miserable just to prove you're still breathing? 😬

Unknown, I'm not... entirely convinced. 😈

I don't follow—how is this even a derailment?
😲🤷
If I had started talking about quantum mechanics, that would be a detour. To me, there seems to be a very direct link between the title and my question.

edit: Or maybe there isn't. It looks like Nemrut has something specific on their mind and just wants a practical answer. But personally, I was more interested in the general concept of chasing a "good mood" through external chemicals.

There isn't any madness happening here, I promise!😁
I'm genuinely curious about the answer, though.

wearyowl29 said:There isn't any madness happening here, I promise!😁
I'm genuinely curious about the answer, though.

Look, you're asking if someone can charm their way into a depression diagnosis, or how much AD actually affects a healthy person. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to realize there's something fishy going on here.

Maybe it's not about your partner—are you perhaps starting to suspect someone else? 😍

lonegardener said:Look, you're asking if someone can charm their way into a depression diagnosis, or how much AD actually affects a healthy person. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to realize there's something fishy going on here.

Maybe it's not about your partner—are you perhaps starting to suspect someone else? 😍

Depression is no big deal! I'm actually out here practicing my symptoms of hebephrenic schizophrenia just so I can score some long-term disability... and maybe an early retirement out of this grind...

wearyowl29 said:Depression is no big deal! I'm actually out here practicing my symptoms of hebephrenic schizophrenia just so I can score some long-term disability... and maybe an early retirement out of this grind...

man, don't mess around with stuff like that. 🙂

A friend of mine recently saw a psychiatrist because she was dealing with what she thought was depression. To be fair, she definitely had some symptoms, but they didn't last long enough for a formal diagnosis. The doctor initially refused to prescribe her an AD, but she kept pushing for it. Eventually, he gave in—I'm not sure how—and told her they’d use the medication as a way to test if she actually had clinical depression. His logic was that an AD won't do anything at all for a healthy person.

Hannah Davis18 said:God damn it, man. 😬
So just say right away that being a donkey is what gets you going.
Why couldn't Hannah Davis18 just be donkey-like? After a while, you realize having periods of sadness, joy, peace... it's the ups and downs that actually make us feel alive.
Besides, there's plenty of things in real life similar to being a donkey, so it's not exactly bliss when you get hooked: :diego maradona:.

Or, to put it in the words of Balašević from his song "portret život moj"...

***

You added such vivid colors to that portret život moj:
waves of blue, shades of lava, swirls of green.

And you didn't hold back on the black,
but without it, the white would have just faded away—
without the black, the white wouldn't mean a thing.

_

Paul Garcia25 said:1. Their mood doesn't suddenly skyrocket into hypomania—it usually just stays level.
2. They deal with all those unpleasant side effects.

The reality is that antidepressants aren't designed to turn a depressed person into a ray of sunshine (hypomanic or euphoric); they simply drag someone out of a negative hole and back down to zero—that "everything feels flat" sensation.

PS
Psychiatrists aren't exactly omnipotent, but they can tell when someone is playing games with their symptoms—which, in certain contexts, can actually cross the line into criminal territory (forensic psychiatry spends a lot of time teaching how to distinguish a genuine patient from someone just faking it).

Well, it varies, I suppose, but when you look at studies involving healthy volunteers to see how AD affects baseline behavior, about 80% of them actually experienced mania or hypomania.

2. The medication causes unpleasant side effects.

For most people, those "side effects" are actually that very mania and hypomania we're talking about.🙂

Basically, antidepressants don't make a depressed person "happy" (as in hypomanic or euphoric); they just pull them out of that negative hole and back up to zero (that "everything feels level" state).

It all depends on the severity of the depression. Bringing someone to "zero" doesn't necessarily mean they'll act like they "don't care about anything"—which, by the way, would actually imply the treatment isn't working properly.
The whole point of using antidepressants is to reach that zero mark, but "zero" is supposed to be normal, healthy behavior, not some kind of total lethargy.

If you want that "I don't give a damn" feeling, that's what antipsychotics are used for.

Psychiatrists aren't omnipotent, obviously, but they can tell when someone is faking symptoms—and honestly, that can even cross into criminal territory (forensic psychiatry actually trains specialists specifically to distinguish between a truly ill patient and someone who is just simulating illness).

You hit the nail on the head here.😁

That attempt at "deception" actually has a technical term: malingering, where the goal is to gain some sort of specific advantage or benefit.

crimsonhound80 said:Well, it varies, I suppose, but when you look at studies involving healthy volunteers to see how AD affects baseline behavior, about 80% of them actually experienced mania or hypomania.

2. The medication causes unpleasant side effects.

For most people, those "side effects" are actually that very mania and hypomania we're talking about.🙂

Basically, antidepressants don't make a depressed person "happy" (as in hypomanic or euphoric); they just pull them out of that negative hole and back up to zero (that "everything feels level" state).

It all depends on the severity of the depression. Bringing someone to "zero" doesn't necessarily mean they'll act like they "don't care about anything"—which, by the way, would actually imply the treatment isn't working properly.
The whole point of using antidepressants is to reach that zero mark, but "zero" is supposed to be normal, healthy behavior, not some kind of total lethargy.

If you want that "I don't give a damn" feeling, that's what antipsychotics are used for.

Psychiatrists aren't omnipotent, obviously, but they can tell when someone is faking symptoms—and honestly, that can even cross into criminal territory (forensic psychiatry actually trains specialists specifically to distinguish between a truly ill patient and someone who is just simulating illness).

You hit the nail on the head here.😁

That attempt at "deception" actually has a technical term: malingering, where the goal is to gain some sort of specific advantage or benefit.

Personally, I love hypomania 😍😍😍
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I feel like I'm on top of the world—crushing my goals, getting my degree, dominating in sports, and feeling ultra happy. 😍

But whatever. Side effects from meds usually level out once your body gets used to them anyway. 😢

Paul Garcia25 said:1. Their mood doesn't suddenly skyrocket into hypomania—it usually just stays level.
2. They deal with all those unpleasant side effects.

The reality is that antidepressants aren't designed to turn a depressed person into a ray of sunshine (hypomanic or euphoric); they simply drag someone out of a negative hole and back down to zero—that "everything feels flat" sensation.

PS
Psychiatrists aren't exactly omnipotent, but they can tell when someone is playing games with their symptoms—which, in certain contexts, can actually cross the line into criminal territory (forensic psychiatry spends a lot of time teaching how to distinguish a genuine patient from someone just faking it).

Faking it could technically be considered a crime too, but whether they actually catch on really depends on their skill level and just how good the person is at acting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenhan_experiment

Hannah Davis18 said:man, don't mess around with stuff like that. 🙂

You're totally right, hebephrenia is just plain nasty...