Is “chemical imbalance” proved with scientific evidence?

[Cactus Bloom]

I couldn't agree with that ^^^ more.

I know some people are sick of the "chemical imbalance" discussion,...

I’ve ran across some of those sites! I was so furious because they claim there is no such thing as mental illnesses and all you have to do is exercise, think positive and eat right and all problems are solved. Of course doing those things can help people but no way do they even come close to helping others. The thing is, that people who suffer from deep emotional pain and mental illnesses are wanting to get better and try all of the healthy eating, exercise, natural medication, etc. and it doesn’t help at all. I’ve done all of that also and it hasn’t helped me at all. But the antipsychotics and all the antidepressants haven’t helped me that much either. I haven’t had much luck with medications either. I need to find a good therapist to help resolve or process past traumas. It appears that money is the name of the game in every faucets of our lives.

 

[Cactus Bloom]

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

Serious question.

As in I k...

I’m sorry if that’s what I came off of saying that antidepressants don’t work. I’ve been obsessed with google lately because I wanted to learn more about what happens to our nervous system and our brains when exposed to chronic trauma. I’m trying to understand myself better and why I am the way that I am and I came upon an article about how chemical imbalances isn’t based on scientific evidence. I of course didn’t believe it until I started looking into it more and it is true that no one even knows what causes mental illnesses because there isn’t a physical test or measurement to take to prove it. With technology, we’re learning more than we ever have but because our brains and life experiences are so complex, it’s a huge task. Then I found lots of information about the dangers of medication and of course the good that they do for many. I honestly didn’t realize the long term effects some of the drugs like benzos do to a persons brain. Maybe I’m proof that something damaged my brain because I’m not smart enough to know anything. I apologize for my ignorance.

 

[anthony]

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

Stop creating conflict, one is about mental health, the other is a physical condition. Medication is vastly different for both, along with its research and validity for treating both distinctions.

 

[anonymous]

Stop creating conflict, one is about mental health, the other is a physical condition. Medication is vastly...

The drugs act in the same way on the body, by regulating electrical signals. It’s a valid argument. Just as there are many medications out there that are used for different reasons. Medications are not so “smart” as to act differently in an epileptic VS someone who uses it for mood stabilization. Same drug provides electrical regulation in both patients, it’s just that the electrical disregulation has manifested as different disorders. It’s a valid argument.

 

[anthony]

The drugs act in the same way on the body, by regulating electrical signals.

Evidence this please. That is not how all drugs work at all. They can't even evidence a chemical compositional balance, and now you're tossing in electrical signals as a factual. Cite this please. Just like citing a factual chemical balance is not possible.

 

[blackemerald1]

Anonymous the use of anti-epileptic medications for use in mental health disorders came about only because a doctor somewhere noticed that his epileptic patient appeared calmer whilst on his epileptic meds. Or maybe my memory serves me wrong and they noticed their mice were a bit more dopier that usual...I cannot recall and it doesn't matter. This led to a explosion of let's just call it living human lab rats...and I was one of them, who were 'experimented' or 'trialed' on them to see what would happen.... Well they never asked me but hey if a drug company can make one drug serve two master's and sell more...they will give it a red hot go!

The 'electrical impulses' which is a bit of a crude description regarding Epilepsy anyway...only appeared to slow down. It hasn't actually been proven either. Hence you can get numerous Epileptic patients who do not respond to drugs made specifically for that condition and continue to suffer Epileptic fits and who do die.

Anyway, getting back to the use of those drugs in the mental health area again, those drugs have been also shown not to be effective in numerous patients and no consistent and proven results. So after absolutely intolerable adverse reactions I was weaned off them and that was just about worse than staying on them. I still cannot pick to this day which was actually worse...

So, there are no hard and fast drugs that work in all medical patients with the same diseases or illnesses. The same goes for drugs in the mental health areas. If there was then theoretically everyone would be absolutely fine because we would all just be re-wired by taking a pill or two.

It's not a happy place to be but that is the reality and be sure to read this, that's my own personal experience I am speaking from. I can assure you there is not a one size fits all in anything....

it’s just that the electrical disregulation has manifested as different disorders. It’s a valid argument.

No it isn't.

 

[Gs172003]

Anonymous the use of anti-epileptic medications for use in mental health disorders came about only...

I am on topimax and at higher doses this crap sucks.