[JessicaTG]

I started an SSRI a couple of months ago to help treat major depression and anxiety. My GP went over all of the side effects and potential health risks, timelines, as well as its severe withdrawal symptoms and that if I wanted to stop I should slowly wean off it by lowering the dosage (cutting the pills in half for a while, then quarters, etc). This was in Sydney, so some at least do it :-)

[anon192831]

If you can find access to a psychedelic like LSD/mushrooms, it is more likely a far more effective treatment for anxiety & depression than any SSRI's available.

Microdoses can be very effective and a regimen only needs to last a handful of doses and stopping would have very little side effects. As long as authenticity of the substance can be proven, generally psychedelics are very safe, especially at microdose levels.

A little googling for psychedelic + depression will provide data. A couple of research/articles below.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/026988111667551...

http://www.biblioteca.cij.gob.mx/Archivos/Materiales_de_cons...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.businessinsider.com/psyched...

[fsloth]

"If you can find access to a psychedelic like LSD/mushrooms, it is more likely a far more effective treatment for anxiety & depression than any SSRI's available."

That's a horribly irresponsible thing to say.

Even though psychedelics look like a promising therapeutic regimen to some people, they should be administered in a therapeutic setting with the supervision of a psychiatrist or therapist, in the least.

Given depression patients have limited energy to do anything, the energy reserves would be far better spent in finding a good therapist rather than sourcing illegal substances.

"As long as authenticity of the substance can be proven, generally psychedelics are very safe, especially at microdose levels."

Please stop.

The most important thing a depressed person needs to do, is to find the professionals with whom they can begin the healing process. Finding a good psychiatrist and a cognitive behaviorial psychotherapist would be my first prirorities.

I'm not denying your claims. But most western societies have primary care pathways to deal with depression in a competent and effective way.

This is not a 100% guarantee, like you could give in a trivial medical matter. Mental illnesses can be really difficult - hence you will always find individuals from whom nothing works. But lot of people get help through the "official" methods - hence that should the first strategy for anyone suffering from depression.

[matthewbauer]

Please don’t pretend to be an expert in something like this. These things can be life threatening and you are suggesting using speculative treatments that may or may not work.

[Gibbon1]

> These things can be life threatening

Hallucinogens aren't 'life threatening'

[DanBC]

Suicide is, and untreated depression can lead to death by suicide.