What is YOUR anti-depressant of choice?

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by gini
My first reaction to this thread was light hearted..........I immediately thought about my kitties.....and when I have been down, I can always count on Rascal for some love and reassurance.

With so many people coming forward and volunteering that they need these medications - then no......this isn't a light hearted subject at all.

I think light-hearted may not be the word I was looking for....sort of but not quite - maybe loving or compassionate might have been better? Maybe soft-hearted? Here is a cut and paste of the beginning:
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Not to offend - but to attempt to take Clinical Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Panic, Bi-Polar and other related illnesses out of the DogHouse and into the public eye and maybe take a look at some of the issues. This poll is NOT meant to be taken scientifically though I did attempt to make the list as complete as possible - but hopefully to get an idea perhaps of the fact that *mental* illness being quite common to various degrees and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. We have had a very (see **companion below) good thread going in the DogHouse but it does not need to be there. So...here we go!

*light-hearted at times is quite OK but please remember that we are talking about Depression as an ILLNESS and not "the blues" that virtually everyone gets from time to time. I think that all of us here would likely agree that our wonderful pets offer the very best therapy of all!! Thanks!!
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Also: there is a sort of **companion thread called *Withdrawn* that Karen moved from the DogHouse - and here is a statement I made there - also explaining my motivation to continue this topic in the first place:
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AGAIN - no medical advice here - just discussion to assure people this is COMMON, it is OK, ways of coping are available - some medical, some practical - but the problems so very common and global - OK? See that lovely self assured actress on the big screen? See your physician or lawyer with all the degrees? See the friendly lady that takes your money at the bank or grocery store? See the statesman with the big words and confident speech? The man who keeps the school clean? The lady who keeps people in stitches with funny cat stories? They likely get depressed, probably get counseling and may even take medication. NO BIG DEAL!
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Serious? YES, potentially
Shameful or odd? NO WAY
Common? like the common cold, sadly
An Easy Remedy? NO, but talking about it is a great first step