Not to get into an argument not medically qualified, but as some who has extensive experience with both recreational and clinical drug use, asciilifeform makes some good points here.
Yes, it's absurd that psychiatry often doesn't involve any blood tests, which really makes to hard to take seriously as a medical discipline. I've had both good and bad psychiatrists, but it's hard to escape the conclusion that 'fill this prescription, tell me how it's working in a month' is not much more than licensed drug dealing. SSRIs and suchlike are designed to build up their effect over time rather than supplying instant chemical gratification, which is a good idea, but as medical tools I think they're fairly half-assed.
Between study, experience, and practice at observing my reactions, I feel moderately competent to monitor my own brain chemistry, at least as well as any lay person can. Mapping out the metabolic curve of a drug in the body isn't so terribly hard and SSRIs feel very much like the chemical equivalent of treating the symptom rather than the cause. In short, they seem to flatten affect, such that the amplitude of yuor mood swings is reduced and you don't care how you're feeling to the same degree as normal. On several occasions I've taken a course, been quit disappointed, and come off them - subsequent improvement, if any, has more to do with increased self-regard for having taken action to address the problem.
I do feel, strongly, that dopamine deficiency is part of my particular problem - and as pointed out, the clinical options there are somewhat limited. It's on reason I still smkoe; nicotine is a very effective dopamine agonist. Unfortunately, it's brought me to first-stage emphysema and every time I light up my lungs ask me why there isn't a better way. Although I have been diagnosed with moderately several Adult ADHD (via interviews and tests...another example of the medical catching-up psychiatry needs), my doctor's been rather reluctant to break out the Adderall or suchlike because he worries there might be a potential for abuse. At his hourly rate, I don't argue, but frankly I'm OK with it because it can hardly be worse than tarring my lungs. My past experience with illegal stimulants like cocaine is that they're quite enjoyable but don't exercise any significant compulsion on me. I took the latter semi-regularly for a while but got bored with staying in and having the same wired conversation with my roommate, so I just dropped it.
Just my anecdotal perspective. I find it depressingly easy to understand why so many people wind up 'on drugs'. They work, but it's infra dig to start your clinical approach from there.
Yes, it's absurd that psychiatry often doesn't involve any blood tests, which really makes to hard to take seriously as a medical discipline. I've had both good and bad psychiatrists, but it's hard to escape the conclusion that 'fill this prescription, tell me how it's working in a month' is not much more than licensed drug dealing. SSRIs and suchlike are designed to build up their effect over time rather than supplying instant chemical gratification, which is a good idea, but as medical tools I think they're fairly half-assed.
Between study, experience, and practice at observing my reactions, I feel moderately competent to monitor my own brain chemistry, at least as well as any lay person can. Mapping out the metabolic curve of a drug in the body isn't so terribly hard and SSRIs feel very much like the chemical equivalent of treating the symptom rather than the cause. In short, they seem to flatten affect, such that the amplitude of yuor mood swings is reduced and you don't care how you're feeling to the same degree as normal. On several occasions I've taken a course, been quit disappointed, and come off them - subsequent improvement, if any, has more to do with increased self-regard for having taken action to address the problem.
I do feel, strongly, that dopamine deficiency is part of my particular problem - and as pointed out, the clinical options there are somewhat limited. It's on reason I still smkoe; nicotine is a very effective dopamine agonist. Unfortunately, it's brought me to first-stage emphysema and every time I light up my lungs ask me why there isn't a better way. Although I have been diagnosed with moderately several Adult ADHD (via interviews and tests...another example of the medical catching-up psychiatry needs), my doctor's been rather reluctant to break out the Adderall or suchlike because he worries there might be a potential for abuse. At his hourly rate, I don't argue, but frankly I'm OK with it because it can hardly be worse than tarring my lungs. My past experience with illegal stimulants like cocaine is that they're quite enjoyable but don't exercise any significant compulsion on me. I took the latter semi-regularly for a while but got bored with staying in and having the same wired conversation with my roommate, so I just dropped it.
Just my anecdotal perspective. I find it depressingly easy to understand why so many people wind up 'on drugs'. They work, but it's infra dig to start your clinical approach from there.