[dotgov]

The golden standard is talk therapy and working through internalized trauma and beliefs instilled by external forces that lead to bad outcomes for the individual. But that needs a well trained professional and costs around 200 bucks an hour and is not available to a big swath of the population. I have never taken anti-depressants, but the people I know that do are still not quite functional in their lives and it looks to me like they find it hard to cope with the nature of life. This is not to say that anti-depressants do not have temporary uses in specific situations. Personally, I find it hard to believe that a person with a chemically shut down libido can live a fulfilled life, then again a fulfilled life is defined differently across cultures (the pursuit of happiness is a US invention as far as I understand).

[mateus1]

If we're going into anecdotal evidences then I can tell you I have many friends that were suicidal who are successful and thriving that took SSRI for depression.

If you're cherry-picking negative examples that's the very definition of stigma.

[dotgov]

I think I was referring to that as "temporary uses in specific situations". Like getting clients into a state of therapy addressing underlying issues being viable. I might be misunderstanding, but the way I read your response is that they are not taking them anymore?

I do disagree with your cherry-picking assessment, I am relaying my lived experience. The people I know of that take SSRIs are either in an unhealthy environment or are masking trauma. Or a bit of both.

And speaking from personal experience: I was never suicidal, more like burnt out and depressed. What helped me was an exceptional therapist that assisted me in making sense of what I am feeling and gently worked with me to build a framework to cope. That involved a spiritual component and helped me regain my creativity.

My point being: I can not imagine that SSRIs would have enabled me to do that. I am glad they helped your friends. Out of curiosity I would be interested in what they had going on at that time. I also do understand that this is deeply personal and none of my business.