this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2023
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Therapy Under Capitalism (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 years ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/comics@lemmy.ml
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[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

This. But without joking. Absolutely this. The more I find out about my depression and my anxiety, the more I understand that it's not an illness, it's being mindful of the current reality that makes me suffer.

Typical antidepressants are meant to manipulate serotonine levels. However, there is to this day not one study that clearly shows that there is a connection between serotonine levels and depression. Those pills, however, really make you complacent. Many people report "feeling less" and being "emotionally numb" after taking them.

Right now, even primary care physicians are giving these pills out like candy. So many people take these pills. Ridiculous numbers from the UK: 17% are taking antidepressants, and 13% are on opioid pain prescriptions. That is absolutely mind boggling.

I only ever took plant based antidepressants, and the older I get, the more happy I am about that decision. Before anyone wants to say that those can't work: They were tested to be almost equally effective, but without the side effects. And I wasn't getting numb or anything, and I still have my libido. (Edit: Though, I should mention: Them being tested as equally effective doesn't mean they have a good effect. Just to be sure to not appear as saying that either of these two options - natural or synthetic - are tested to be very effective. Sadly not.)

I don't know how so many people are fine with this world. Day after day, I find myself to be more and more other-worldly about this reality. So often I try to tell myself that it can't really be that bad, and that it somehow will turn out to be okay some day. But I don't think so... anymore. I think we are on the bring of a big collapse.

Sorry for the rant, but... that's how I see things lately. I hope for the best, though.

[–] lemmyreader@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think we are on the bring of a big collapse.

I think the collapse has been there for decades already. Maybe it was not so visible among humans but I imagine that animals and nature have felt it clearly already. Whether to blame the amount of pills made and given, is because of capitalism or neoliberalism I'm not sure. I have read Not Made of Wood: A Psychiatrist Discovers His Own Profession by Jan Foudraine, a book which became popular in the seventies and has helped to make mental help better than it was before, however lately the lack of time for patients, and the work pressure have made giving pills very popular. Not just doctors and psychiatrists give pills but also psychologists started to do so :( There is still hope, for example the resistance of Lützerath is Germany shows imo that not all of us have turned into mindless money greed capitalist robots.

[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

for example the resistance of Lützerath is Germany shows imo that not all of us have turned into mindless money greed capitalist robots.

The irony is that most of these young people have voted for the very party that approved of the digs in Lützerath - the "green" party. That's the literal name, and they have a history of approving war, and now that they are in power (with 2 other parties), they also approve of destruction of nature.

[–] lemmyreader@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yes, sad. "power corrupts" applies. But I'd say usually it is good to not place your bet only on national politics. Watching the local community politics instead and do "direct action" or consumer behavior change (which may include for example small things like eating less meat, not buying from big brands which produce non sustainable products, or slightly adjusting some bus stop billboard ad) makes sense.

[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Well said! :)

[–] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Typical antidepressants are meant to manipulate serotonine levels. However, there is to this day not one study that clearly shows that there is a connection between serotonine levels and depression.

Serotonin levels in the brain respond to antidepressants.^[Andrews, Paul W., Aadil Bharwani, Kyuwon R. Lee, Molly Fox, and J. Anderson Thomson Jr. “Is Serotonin an Upper or a Downer? The Evolution of the Serotonergic System and Its Role in Depression and the Antidepressant Response.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 51 (April 2015): 164–88. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.018.]

Yeah, because Psychiatrists are allowed to lie about the phenomena of the brain.

Those pills, however, really make you complacent. Many people report “feeling less” and being “emotionally numb” after taking them.

Yep. They also cause health problems.

Right now, even primary care physicians are giving these pills out like candy. So many people take these pills. Ridiculous numbers from the UK: 17% are taking antidepressants, and 13% are on opioid pain prescriptions. That is absolutely mind boggling.

It's straight up fraud by the rich drug capitalists.

The rise in ADHD drugs also occurred during the War on Drugs. Meth and Weed use by the oppressed are punished by the rich, yet they turn around and promote it to children. It comes off like cultural appropriation.

I only ever took plant based antidepressants, and the older I get, the more happy I am about that decision. Before anyone wants to say that those can’t work: They were tested to be almost equally effective, but without the side effects. And I wasn’t getting numb or anything, and I still have my libido.

Do you have a resource on the testing they did?

[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Do you have a resource on the testing they did?

It was a German meta study of I believe 12 studies where placebo was tested against both synthetic ADs and St. Johns Wort (which is what I take). That was 13 years ago. I try to see what I can find.

[–] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It was a German meta study of I believe 12 studies where placebo was tested against both synthetic ADs and St. Johns Wort (which is what I take). That was 13 years ago. I try to see what I can find.

Thanks, I'll read that study if you find it.

[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I think it was this one: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000448.pub3/full

You can find the full text here (Click on the blue buttons [Libgen] to download): https://libgen.li/edition.php?id=36416454

Very interesting bit: "Both in placebo‐controlled trials and in comparisons with standard antidepressants, trials from German‐speaking countries reported findings more favourable to hypericum."

That's odd. I wonder what the reason might be.

Trying to ping the user @lemmyreader@lemmy.ml Please tell me if that worked. :)

[–] lemmyreader@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Thanks for sharing the web links.

Trying to ping the user @lemmyreader@lemmy.ml Please tell me if that worked. :)

Worked :) And let's ping in the original question poster as well @Amicchan@lemmy.ml just in case.

Hypericum (St. John's Wort) pills can be bought in some regular shops here in Europe. I have a tendency to use them in the Winter, but this time it didn't go so well. I also have it as tea, maybe I'll give that a try again when needed. Luckily I found other ways to feel better. Odd thing about the results for German speaking countries.

Trials from German-speaking countries reported more positive findings than trials from other countries (RR = 1.78; 95%CI 1.42 to 2.25 vs.1.07; 95% CI 0.88 to 1.31, respectively; see comparison 1.5 and Figure 2).

What do these numbers mean exactly ? Was it a huge difference or not so much ?

[–] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

Thanks for the study. I'll check it out!

[–] lemmyreader@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Interesting that you mention St.Johns Wort, it is something which I used from time to time, and I like that it is natural with minimal side effects. (I've been told that women should be very careful with this as it conflict with some contraceptives).

[–] Stoned_Ape@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

St. Johns Wort generally changes the outcome of dosage of medications. A lot of stuff should be taken in different doses. Pill contraceptives are reduced in efficacy by St. Johns Wort, and that can mean that the protection is lowered.

[–] derek 2 points 2 years ago

oooph! too real.