> > > > I'm quite opposed to throwing drugs at a psychological problem. #1, it just treats the symptoms- - - it doesn't treat the underlying causes.
> > >
> > > This is one of the things we were saying to Sakura in chat when she asked for opinions yesterday. But we all seemed to agree ["we" being me, Dave, Mousie and Nyperold; any of them should feel free to correct me if I misunderstood their opinions] that this was one reason Sakura *should* be considering medication.
> > >
> > > If the cause of her trouble is not a chemical imbalance but problems in her life and/or background, of course she will still need to solve the underlying problems herself. However, using a drug to relieve the *symptoms* can clear up the extraneous stress-related problems and thus allow her to get on with solving the underlying problem.
> >
> > Actually, it sometimes works that way and sometimes doesn't. You need a qualified psychologist to evaluate which method you need.
>
>
> That's why I said "should be CONSIDERING" and "CAN clear up the extraneous problems", using "can" in the sense of "might". I'm sorry if that was imprecise.
>
> I know nothing about psychologists or psychiatrists, so I can't venture an opinion on that issue. Have you had personal experience of one or both?
>
> Brunnen-"either profession would probably have a field day with the inside of my head"G

Yep. I'm a psych major and I spend most of my on-campus time talking to psychologists/psychiatrists. I'm not saying you're wrong- - - what I am saying is that she needs to go see another doctor before she takes this drug because 1) the one she has sounds like he either hasn't told her what she has or isn't sure himself if she has SAD or major depression -- - For him to prescribe a drug either without knowing exactly why or without telling HER exactly why is inexcuseable and points to the possibility that he's a "throw drugs at everything" kind of shrink. 2) Because paxil is becoming like what Valium was to the 80's - - docs are prescribing the devil out of this stuff because it makes their patients feel better - - Good therapy often lasts years, and sometimes the doctor will lose a patient because the patient doesn't feel better immediately, so the shrink gets two advantages out of paxil - - he keeps his patient AND he ensures that she has to keep coming back to him for more drugs. Paxil's actually becoming worse than valium because they're running VERY dangerous ads on the radio talking about how if you're shy or withdrawn or don't have many good social encounters, Paxil is the wonderdrug that will make you the hit of the party. Shy people should NOT be taking drugs to make them more outgoing. That's a horrid abuse of the drug, and for the drug company itself to suggest it is apalling. So when she said it was Paxil, about 40 red flags went up right there :)