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Originally Posted by joelyle  Thanks for your feedback.
Isn't it possible depression is environmental (being subject to depressed family members) vs. genetic? I see depression as a result of reality being out of line with expectations; I have decreased my level of depression without therapy and medication. I believe this was a choice on my part (did not want, of course, to pass this to my daughters). |
Yeah, the environmental component definitely has something to do with it. Still, I'm thinking there has to be some sort of genetic trait--in my family, its so widespread on both sides its not even funny. Of course there's similar environmental origins....
It's definitely to your credit that you've been able to deal with it without resorting to medication and/or therapy. I've been on an antidepressant for years now and really most of the improvement I've made had a lot more to do with more proactive changes in my environment, activities and general outlook on life. I'd quit taking my antidepressant (Effexor) altogether if the withdrawal wasn't so nasty. I've tapered down my dosage significantly, but its worth it to me to not have to deal with the brutal withdrawal symptoms. This is one of those things that shrinks don't explain as well as they should when you start on antidepressants--I guess the argument they'd make is that the upside of treating your depression now is more significant than the potential withdrawal problems down the road.....