<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amy</b></i>
I would be careful about taking a benzodiazapime for a long period of time. They are addictive.
Plus they mask the problem because they are muscle relaxants. An SSRI can actually help your brain "receive" the seratonin that your brain is producing. If you have increased seratonin, your'e less likely to have depression and panic attacks.
There's a common misperception about SSRI's like Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor and Lexapro is that they actually alter your moods. But the reality is, they are allowing the existing receptors in your brain to receive the seratonin that your body produces naturally.
Think of it like two magnets that for whatever reason aren't attracted to each other anymore. SSRI helps the magnets come together again. It doesn't create the magnets. Or make more magnets. Just allows them to return to normal.</end quote></div>
I think depression is a really tricky subject. Here's my two cents.
I think it's a definate gradual occurance (at least real depression, not situational). You might be anxious for a while, or become quite stressed, and if this happens for a prolonged period of time, depression can become reality. Sometimes you can get out of it on your own, but if it's a repeat occurance, chances are you might need some help.
They know that long periods of anxiety, depression, actually changes the structure of the brain, so that the neurons create associated with these feelings actually strengthen, so your brain in more programmed for that specific feeling. So the more upset or depressed you feel, the more your brain relates and adapts to that feeling, and it becomes a vicious cycle. That's why it can feel so hopeless.
SSRI's as Amy said, are there to boost seratonin in the brain. Seratonin is associated with mood, and lower levels have been associated with depression. So, if you can increase your sense of well being for a while, your brain will have time to reprogram itself to the state that it used to be.
However, I think anti anxiety medicines work just as well. Although they mght mask the symptoms (lower seratonin or dopamine) they are also addressing the thing that cause the lower seratonin in the first place (anxiety, stress). So, if you treat the anxiety for a while, you'll feel better, and hopefully go back to your original state of well being before the meds. You'll feel more content overall, and your brain will restructure to that feeling.
I prefer anti anxiety meds. I tried zoloft for about a month cause i was feeling down, thinking too much stuff, and just wanted to be a robot for a while hehe. I found the side affects to be really annoying and kinda disturbing (teeth grinding, night sweats, no sleep) and that was on the lower dose.
I don't think I'm depressed. I just think that i am a little high strung and overworried sometimes. For me, antianxiety meds are what I like. It's just my preference though. You might think it is masking the depression (low seratonin) but that's how the low seratonin came into existence in the first place.