the issue is basically one of exhausting environmental / social interventions BEFORE resorting to medications.

pinksoil felt like she was heading for a major depressive episode...

therefore... give environmental / social interventions ONE WEEK before resorting to medications.

given the side effects of medications.

some people activity schedule for a week and find that they aren't doing any better. in that case... well... after two weeks of that... maybe take so meds to give you a hand.

but to resort to medications on the basis of distress lasting... a couple hours? is likely to result in more harm than help.

and really... the idea is for you to ultimately learn to manage your moods yourself without relying on meds (ie to come off the meds) and so... why not try it BEFORE your body becomes tolerant to the meds (such that you will have to suffer through a withdrawal syndrome at the other end as well as getting better at the activity scheduling).

?

******** aside... dx of mental illness DOES affect ones career (or potential career) as a mental health professional. it affects what you can and cannot say (in good conscience) on your applications and it affects what you can and cannot say (in good conscience) on your application for a lisence to practice as a mental health professional. given that pinksoil wants to be a mental health professional it is a significant advantage for her career for her to be able to say (in good conscience) SURE I STRUGGLE WITH %#@&#! - AS DO MOST PEOPLE. WILL IT AFFECT MY ABILITY TO PRACTICE? HELL NO!

whereas if she belives she has a mental disorder... she is screwing herself over, basically. especially when... she hasn't taken the steps to help herself BEFORE resorting to medication.

it is of course up to her.
my take is of course different from the drug companies perspective (which has come to be endorsed by consumers)
but with respect to mental health professionals...
well...
best not go there.