I recently realized that some people view me as being "against meds".   It's true I  refused anti-depressants for my PMS and again for my postpartum mood disorder (PPMD).  Finally at my wits' end with the PMS I took Zoloft for 6 weeks before throwing them out!  It may surprise you to know that I'm not anti-meds. What I am "for", however, is doctors providing patients <strong>all the alternatives.  I am for treating the cause </strong>

Obviously many people are helped by taking anti-depressants.  Lives are saved by such medications.  But did you know about 1 in 4 people are made worse by taking SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)? There are studies showing a placebo effect may be at play for some people - this suggestion is controversial.  But here's the thing - the number of SSRI's being prescribed for everything from acne to PMS to hot flashes has me concerned.  Anti-depressants aren't just being prescribed for depression.  Did you know they are even formulating a new SSRI specifically to treat low libido in women?

These stats may surprise you:
<ul>
	<li>Anti-depressant use in America is up 400 percent in two decades!!</li>
	<li>11% of Americans take an anti-depressant</li>
	<li>23% of women age 40 - 59 take antidepressants</li>
	<li>Anti-depressants are the third most prescribed drug in America</li>
</ul>
I don't think my situation is unique -  I wasn't offered alternatives and I was offerred anti-depressants for PMS and later for PPMD.  So my position is that year after year, health issue after health issue I was never "treated" I was just "prescribed".  That's what I am against.  Women's health issues are being painted with a mental health brush.

From a purely academic point of view, I have found it fascinating to listen to certain people who take anti-depressants.  They have to believe they are doing the right thing for them, because to believe otherwise would shatter their paradigm.  I've wondered if for some people who take anti-depressants cognitive dissonance must be at play.  For someone like me who doesn't want to take meds but eventually does - the behavior (taking meds) doesn't match the belief (I don't want to take meds).  Most people want to hold onto the belief that they make good choices - they have to believe they need the medication.  Information presented to the contrary results in a confirmation bias.  Some people spend a lot of time trying to convince others that anti-depressants are where it's at.

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