His TED talk has been floating around here recently. I loved it. I downloaded his book but have not read it yet. This article is a different POV on the subject. I did read in the intro to his book that his father was CEO of forester. One thing I don't agree with in this article is I didn't think he was as keen on meds in his talk as is presented by Strato. Solomon presented several options for treatment and even said med treatment is "atrocious". That said I think iatrogenic symptoms is quite possible and pretty common.

Andrew Solomon, poster child for psychiatric misdiagnosis ? Beyond Meds

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[onionknight]

I've read the article, and while I obviously can't know exactly what he was going through at the time, if he quit a Benzo cold turkey, it is very likely he would experience withdrawal symptoms, which are quite awful and would fit what he is considering "agitated depression." But doctors don't know about the severity and possibility of withdrawal and have no real motivation (because it is so easy to just prescribe another drug) to learn about it. If you're suffering bad withdrawal, reinstating the drug might be the only thing in the short term that can take the agony away.

It is important that a counter-narrative to the "medication for life" narrative exists. Antidepressants cause serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms--while not delivering on their promise. This is a reality for some people, and I'm sorry if that upsets those who need to justify their personal choices by making them seem like the best choice for everyone.

I've noticed doctors and big pharma who are usually influencing doctors really play down the effects of withdrawal. Not just Benzos which I have never been subscribed but ssri's too. Even tapering off some people will not do well yet this is not often acknowledged like a dirty little secret. Forget that they don't even tell you it's a possibility.

I've been mostly lucky that I haven't had to switch ssri's to find the "right" one too often. But I don't want to be on them for life and I agree, I don't, can't buy into the "for life" scenario for everyone, particularly me.

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[onionknight]

For me, when i started them, I would have loved something that taken me from and kept me from the horrible low that is a depressive episode, but all the drugs did to me was make me numb, and that is not how I will go through my life. Yeah, I have reoccuring depressing, but no, antidepressants aren't going to give me back and protect my non-depressed mindset.

Also downplayed is the risk that antidepressants will make you numb or change your personality. There was also a study released recently that showed just how downplayed these side effects are.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...underestimated

And see now... I feel like anybody who has been justifiably critical of ssri's has known this for a long time. There's a forum somewhere devoted to people struggling with ads and there have got to be more than is in this group. I took a survey a couple years ago for a study gathering evidence like that. It wasn't this group though. I don't remember who.

Interestingly I just found this article for another thread. The numbness is the most devastating because I make art. That's my primary motivation for finding an alternative. A very close second is the impact to my cognitive thinking. I am convinced the last two years have had the most adverse impact. Of course they won't believe me. My PA accepts my wishes but I am not sure she believes me.

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2...ts-be-creative



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