It appears that the UK and USA have different ways of approaching mental health.

It seems that in the States it is a case of 'throw a pill at it and it will go away'.

I find this very distressing. I'm not saying that the right medication at the right time may not enable a person in distress to be able to cope a little easier when the pain is too much to bear, but to see pharmacology as the be all and end all of healing pain and it's causes, is just really depressing in itself.

What happened to being heard and the human element?
I can't help feeling that if someone just sat down with Thunderbear and allowed her to vent her feelings as strong as they may be, in a safe space, and for her not to be devalued or belittled in the process, maybe, just maybe she may be able to start to see how to sort out her problems.
I really sense her feeling of frustration of not being heard in her post. I'm not entirely convinced that is just down to the medication issues...

I have a firm belief that each of us are the best person to be able to solve our own problems. We are all in the most unique position to be able to understand the unique tangle of stuff that we call our psyche. Being able to talk and explore it is what good therapy should be about, being allowed to detangle that confusing mess of feelings and behaviours that we all carry around in our heads.

Drugs allow us some respite from the pain. In my mind they should only be used as a holiday from dealing with it. Numbing pain doesn't make it go away for good.
Throwing chemicals at mental health issues is a short term solution in my book, not the final answer.

I do wish you peace and some respite Thunderbear. And strength. But I suspect you have hidden reserves .

Hugs.