There used to be one person that talked about many valid alternative techniques people can use. Her username was LucyG. She is no longer a member at PC. I miss her.

It is good that big Pharma creates drugs that have saved many lives but they also look the other way when some of them do real harm but are making them a lot of money. Also, just noticed there is a chance you could get pregnant--this means you have to be extra careful about what you take. I would google info on anything you are considering taking including if there have been any lawsuits brought against the drug and pay close attention to how it makes you feel.

At 48, I was put on Welbutrin and Xanax because of suicide ideation (I admitted it for the 1st time after coming closer than I ever had before). It did stop the thoughts for a while. When a job (and the insurance connected to it) ended--to save money I did not go back to my doctor. About 20 days after taking my last Welbutrin (Bupropin) dose, I was a mess of paranoid thoughts/rumination/anger. I still was taking Xanax because my psych always prescribed to me more than I needed. When I tried to do the same thing a 2nd time--I felt numb to the fear. I feel like my medications contributed to being able to attempt yet I still take them today--they do alleviate some of the pain/rumination that just seems to plague me periodically.

I have very mixed feelings about psych drugs. Many have side effects that make them untenable. Everyone has to weigh the benefits verses the disadvantages but one problem with this is that some of them are hard to stop once you start. Hopefully better psych drugs will be discovered in the future.

My advice is that you may need a psych drug but before you start get a good physical (for instance problems with your thyroid can make you depressed), read the latest info on nutrition and make sure you're eating healthy (lack of omega 3 oils, vitamin D, to much sugar, etc. can contribute to depression), exercise, and try therapy. However, many of us do have a chemical component to our depression. I keep denying it to myself, but I do. I could manage without my drugs but my mood swings would be more extreme--this is hard on both me and my family.

Good luck with your research!