Reply #186: SO true...

[marions ghost]

Drugs absolutely have their place but it's easy to see that they are often over-prescribed and under-monitored for things that could be better dealt with in other ways. You are right--because of the tendency to just treat the symptoms, PTSD can go undiagnosed and untreated until it manifests in the most extreme forms, for example.

For those who feel drugs are helping them greatly that is wonderful. But for others who are not be helped by them, there may be other ways to go. This is not an "either/or" situation--go chemicals or go natural. Not everyone has to choose the same course. Why shouldn't people with depression consider all the options and find what works best for them? The studies about fish oil and depression are most interesting. What would be the harm in paying attention to nutrition even while taking the medication?

While this is a very informative discussion I think the polarization of the options is not very productive. The smartest doctors are willing to consider all the angles.