Is “chemical imbalance” proved with scientific evidence?

[Vee]

If you actually had the testing done you’d see that it clearly does not promise anything. It merely...

That's true. If it's testing what you're looking for, then yes, it's worth your time. I'm also part of another group for my GAD/depression, and so many there complain that it doesn't give them the answers they are seeking. But many are seeking answers to tests that aren't available yet.

 

[Deleted member 43454]

I was told the whole chemical imbalance spiel. I sure as shit had a chemical imbalance AFTER taking them and trying to stop with withdrawal symptoms sucked ass.

 

[anonymous]

That's true. If it's testing what you're looking for, then yes, it's worth your time. I'm also part of an...

The response of these people seems a bit hissy-fit-ish if you ask me.

Finding the right medication is something that happens from the basic aspirin or ibuprofen or acetaminophen decision all the way up to more complicated life saving drugs.

It’s in no way unique to the psych world.

In fact, we are damn lucky to even have this option available to us. This kind of testing is not available for all drug types.

Glass half full VS glass half empty?

Instead of complaining that the tests aren’t good enough yet, be happy that we have this option which can save thousands of dollars, years of time, and YES, even save lives because it can help people get on the right drugs faster, thus avoiding possible suicide.

 

[Vee]

Really? None of them (SSRIs or SSNIs) work for me. I've been on all of the SSRIs and most o...

You know, you're not the first person to say this. I'm speaking generally. There are always exceptions to everything; there are no absolutes in psychology or anything, really.

Generally, there are lots of people who never stay on an antidepressant long enough to see if it works for them. Most people don't see results until around 4-12 weeks, and the drugs don't work on until they build up in a person's system. There are lots of people who get side effects in the first two weeks quit them and never try them again.

Then there are a few people who legitimately try all of one type, and because of their personal makeup, their body just does not respond. I've known a person who tried all the SSRIs, and SSRIs just don't work for them. They found some relief by going back to an older class of drug, a TCA, and they've stayed on it.

Most SSRIs are tested on people with MDD, not PTSD. Many studies just focus on testing people with one diagnosis, as well, not people who are diagnosed with multiple conditions or conditions that cause anxiety or depression.

 

[Vee]

Finding the right medication is something that happens from the basic aspirin or ibuprofen or acetaminophen decision all the way up to more complicated life saving drugs.
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I couldn't agree with that ^^^ more.

I know some people are sick of the "chemical imbalance" discussion, but I think discussions like this, as well as this whole forum, are extremely important. Remember, there is a billion dollar industry out there called Scient ology working against this. I'm not even sure if they believe that PTSD is a condition that legitimately exists. I've seen so many anti antidepressant sites out there sponsored by them. They say things like "antidepressants make you a zombie" or they change your personality or they're mind control drugs LOL

 

[joeylittle]

Really? None of them (SSRIs or SSNIs) work for me. I've been on all of the SSRIs and most of the SSNIs. Enough to say it doesn't work for me. And though I have PTSD and not Major Depressive Disorder, i still have major depression and major anxiety.

Like you are saying, MDD and being majorly depressed as a PTSD symptom are different things. It’s not necessarily surprising that they don’t respond to the drugs the same way. You also have BPD, which likely influences some stuff too, I’d imagine suicidality being quite affected by that.

I appreciated the genetic test. It didn’t help me find a working drug, but it did shed light on why I seem to need higher doses and why many psych meds I’ve tried havent worked long-term. Even if the science is still baby-science, it’s still something to work with. And that provides a little bit of logic in what can feel like an overwhelmingly random illness. Which, then, provides a toehold for a cognitive shift....which also helps.

@anthony has said before, and I very much agree - the placebo effect is incredibly relevant to mental health treatment, and should not be underestimated. A person must address the cognitive side of things, in conjunction with any kind of treatment protocol: meds, or therapy, or supplements...anything.

The way we think about things determines (to a large extent) how we think And how we think correlates directly to how we feel, and what we do.

A piece of the puzzle. Not all, but vital part.

 

[Cactus Bloom]

Yes, it was disproven years ago because a chemical balance could not be proven to state there is an imbalan...

I honestly had no idea that it wasn’t proven basically because I just never questioned anything until lately. There’s a lot of pe

I haven't heard that. Can you post a source?

There’s a lot of information about it but like with everything else, it really boils down to what you decide what to believe or not to believe. I have many links that provide evidence for this but then there’s also “evidence” that it is true. About the cause and effect of psychiatric medications that do long term harm. That’s the problem. You honestly don’t know who or what to believe. I’m not able to copy and paste links but tomorrow I’ll provide what to look at.


Basically, I’m so tired of being lied to but it is my fault that I am naive and believe things that I haven’t researched myself. I keep looking into anything I can just to get a feel for other views other than what I blindly believe. It’s always a learning process.

It is now back again: Chemical imbalance[/U...

I’m sorry, this is new to me and up until recently I believed it to be a fact so I’m doing as much research as I can to understand what all of this is about. I’ve been naive by believing many things without researching it on my own.

The response of these people seems a bit hissy-fit-ish if you ask me.

Finding the right medication...

But why take prescription drugs if they do a lot more harm than good especially in the long run? That’s basically what it all boils down to. Sure, if they do help you then definitely take them but also weigh the consequences of them also. Yes, they can save and do save lives but they should only be used short term. I’m just trying to figure things out and gather as much information as I can about it.

 

[anonymous]

So you’d tell an epileptic to stop taking their epilepsy medication?

Serious question.

As in I know you’d never tell an epileptic person that meds are short term, but the exact same meds that act in the exact same way are short term for people who take epileptic meds for their mood stabilizing effects?

And exactly who is saying that psych meds are more harmful than good? I know people who would be dead without their psych meds. I would probably be dead without psych meds.

You’re making sweeping accusations about medication that simply aren’t true.

If you don’t want meds, don’t take meds. It’s as simple as that.

 

[anthony]

I’ve been naive by believing many things without researching it on my own.

I believed what my doctors told me when initially diagnosed. I had nothing else to believe... but like you are now, I started researching. Things didn't add up entirely. A doctors opinion is not necessarily accurate, and they too contain bias from doctor to doctor.

Certainly do not believe what is written only on this site. Conduct your own research and question everything to find what is evidenced and what is theoretical, attempted to be wrapped as evidence based.

Mental health is near 95% theoretical -- which means no physical evidence to support the theory. I don't know the exact percentage, but its very little for actual physical evidence. Individual feedback is not physical evidence to support a theory, which is what comprised the majority of mental health doctine today.

 

[Cactus Bloom]

I believed what my doctors told me when initially diagnosed. I had nothing else to believe... but like you...

I’ve been spending the last 24 hours digging through so much information about the risks and dangers of antidepressants and antipsychotics and you’ll get the websites that say they are most likely harmless and if you have negative side effects then change medication. Others go way too far with the whole anti-psychiatry pseudoscience conspiracy that really invalidate so many people’s suffering with mental illness and trauma. It is a fact that no one knows exactly what causes mental illness. Every human being is different and unique and it is insane to try to put people in boxes to explain things that are extremely complex especially when it comes to our brains and how each of us experiences life. Understanding how trauma impacts us all differently and how it expresses itself throughout our lives can provide answers. Obviously I can’t and certainly hope I have ever come off as knowing the answers to anyone else’s opinions or beliefs or their realities.

I know all my problems are symptoms of chronic trauma starting from being a baby. I would have liked to have not been just given a prescription for depression when I first seeked out help because I wanted to die. What if a professional sat down with me for an hour to be compassionate and listen to me? Maybe I would still get a prescription but at least I could understand it wasn’t my fault or that I was bad because I had depression as a kid. I didn’t seriously start getting help until about 12 years ago. That was seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist regularly. Previous to that, I was just getting prescriptions from my general practitioner. Of course I took the medication. I didn’t care because all I wanted was for the pain to go away. Lots of people have great experiences with their psychiatrists and therapists who do work with them and help them understand their choices. I’m not anti-medication like someone had assumed. I’m reaching out to you because I’m scared and confused. I don’t have someone I can trust. That’s why I’m here.

 

[Cactus Bloom]

I was told the whole chemical imbalance spiel. I sure as shit had a chemical imbalance AFTER taki...

It still surprises me to realize that none of my doctors or psychiatrists ever said anything about withdrawals. Like I said, I have been completely complicit with just accepting everything my doctors told me without even knowing the side effects or that there were such things as withdrawals. I sure understood what withdrawals was when stopping to take my Lamictal cold turkey. Back then I wasn’t obsessed with googling:) I’ve been on benzos for over 10 years and there have been a couple doctors telling me to stop taking it without even being aware of how awful and sometimes deadly it is to people who stop cold turkey. That’s the only way I can sleep is because of benzos so I had to beg for them. These were medical doctors that I had gone to after moving to another state where my psychiatrist had been. Because of my extensive mental health history, medical doctors wasn’t comfortable with treating me and wanted me to see a psychiatrist. The problem was in the waiting time to see a new psychiatrist. Where I live now, the so called mental health care is the bottom of the barrel. I’m still disgusted that these doctors told me to just stop taking benzos. It’s a good thing I’m finally questioning things. Do you take any medication at all?

 

[Cactus Bloom]

I totally disagree with the bit about genetic testing. It CAN help predict which medications your bo...

I stumbled upon a blog about a woman wanting to educate people on what it means to have the MTHFR gene. It’s called myjourneywithmthfr. Good information.