Do you think psychiatry/psychiatrists is/are full of crap?

I went to a psychiatrist* today at my college. I had struggled with a gambling problem and recent depressive episodes due to various factors. I filled out a stupid & simple questionnaire about how in the last 2 weeks I have felt depressed..

..and yeah I have good reason to feel sad - lost money gambling, got out of an abusive relationship, my 'friends' think I'm a failure and are mean instead of supportive - they don't take me seriously, latent symptoms of drug use..

So after I met this guy and told him about all my issues. He did a few things. He kept smiling like an idiot, gave me some BS "mind, body, soul" thing that he follows. Told me that I should watch a movie. He didn't give any constructive advice on my issues. But magically, after 30 minutes of hearing his BS he said oh hey I'm going to put you on prozac. I asked him - so what does Prozac do? He said it's an ssri - that's supposed to increase seratonin levels. I said - how do you test for that? He said oh we can't but uhh it's like a migraine you can't test for that but we give you drugs for it. He also slyly said well hey it's probably less harmful than the drugs you took.

That's the WEAKEST logic/argument I've ever heard for taking something that alters brain chemistry - it's about as weak as the logic I used when I used to experiment with drugs.

Anyways, a combination of poor diagnosis, low knowledge levels and a sense of a BS sales pitch from this guy made me shy away from taking what he prescribed me. I have never had any serious problems with depression aside from what happened recently - the problems for the past year that I used to have were due to external factors. Now that I've gotten the external factors out of my life I think I am going in the right direction. I also used meditation and pure reasoning to help myself after my latent symptoms of drug use and having to deal with people.

Do you think my reasoning is sound in this situation? Do you have any more knowledge on what these ssri's do? Do you think that Psychiatrists have the right to prescribe these drugs without correct diagnosis?

I'd like to hear your opinion on my situation and whether or not you think Psychiatrists and Psychiatry in general is a field that is still based on assumptions.

*this Psychiatrist is not just any psychiatrist.. he's on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Thanks!!

Mabey that was his way of telling you that you don't need psychiatry ?

Don't fall for This routine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UnJ4H8JLmM watch it till the end its funny but true.

I think drug marketting and greed is full of crap.
ADD ABILIFY ? see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VzMZX4nBz8

99.99% of people are full of crap

They are so often full of crap, I have seen more people screwed up on SSRIs than I have seen helped. I am sure there are some legitimate uses for SSRIs, but until they can properly identify low / off dopamine and serotonin levels, they should not be prescribing that stuff.

No, I don't think so. Like everything there are also good and bad psychologists. You just happened to encounter a bad one who doesn't have time to dig a little more and was looking for a quick fix. Perhaps he probably is rushed in that university environment... not that this is an excuse for what he did.

I think saying psychiatry/psychiatrists is/are full of crap based off your one experience seems like a weak argument, too.

I'll refrain from giving a generalized opinion on whether or not the entire profession is full of crap, but I do think that psychiatrist was a bad match for you.

Most of them will tell you about the "mind/body/soul" thing (it's called a holistic approach) they claim to take into consideration with their patients, but most of them only pay lip service to it. The mind, body and soul cry out for attention and caring that do not involve the use of chemicals. We often forget how to take care of ourselves by eating, sleeping, socializing, and keeping a routine properly. These are areas of life which need to be addressed before skipping to a medication for the answer.

When going into an appointment with a psychiatrist it's often best if you go in fully prepared with a goal in mind and a list of questions. If you didn't state that you wanted non-chemical treatments, that should have been one of the first things you mention. Otherwise it's fair game to them.

SSRI stands for "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor". Here, a quick neuroscience lesson: the small space between neurons where they connect to each other is called the synapse. The first cell produces and releases serotonin into the synapse, where it attaches to the next cell and causes it to fire. The second cell then "lets go" of the serotonin, and much of it is taken up into the first cell - this is called reuptake.

So basically, an SSRI inhibits the reuptake of serotonin into the first cell, which means there is a bunch of excess serotonin floating around in the synapse and it can cause the second cell to fire over and over again.

And to quote an external site: "Serotonin has been noted to produce an inhibitory effect on the nervous system that calms, soothes and generates feelings of general contentment and satiation."

So if your depression is caused by low serotonin levels, an SSRI would be an effective remedy. However, I don't think a psychiatrist has the right to force the drug upon you, especially if he barely even made a proper diagnosis. In mine and my friends' experiences, they don't spend a whole lot of time actually talking to you and just prescribe you drug after drug to see what works. It makes you feel like a lab rat. I've also found that once people are on antidepressants, they lose personality. They aren't sad anymore, but they're not happy or excited either. It turns you into a colourless person.

BUT - if you have severe depression and are feeling suicidal, a drug might save your life..

ravkes wrote: Do you think that Psychiatrists have the right to prescribe these drugs without correct diagnosis?

I don't believe in Therapy, but if it works for somebody else, then that's them. Besides I'm fine, and if I run into a challenge I don't need anybody but myself.

If -You- think about it, how can somebody really help you if they see you once a month for one hour only?

I have to start somewhere. If I have a real problem, one that has over takn me, I will become very willing to look at all answers. Thats if Im desperate. The more desperate , the better the Shrink appears, no matter who it is.