[entropyneur]

I am very tempted to add my personal anecdote to the pile, but let me make a humble request instead...

If you are not a medical professional, please stop spreading unscientific memes and try to keep your opinion on mental diseases to yourself. The question of whether the drugs work is better left to the actual scientists and not be allowed to cloud the basic fact that one should always seek medical attention if they feel they have a problem. Unlike most physical diseases, the mental ones often impair your judgement and all this tinfoil hat bullshit really isn't helping. So please, just don't.

Thanks.

[BWStearns]

I don't think anyone sharing their anecdotes (myself included) are asserting any kind of medical expertise or suggesting that a comment section generally reserved for relatively obscure debates about technology should replace a qualified physician/psychologist.

Discouraging the general dissemination of experience seems generally counterproductive unless of course someone is making claims that would discourage sound medical advice.

[zebra]

The route out of depression is simple - go to see a doctor. At first they will try to improve your state with talking sessions. If this doesn't work they should prescribe antidepressant. Can somebody offer better way?

[nikatwork]

Also - if your doctor seems unhelpful, aggressive or useless, keep changing doctors until you find a good one.

[mistercow]

I agree that personal anecdotes are best left untold unless they illustrate documented effects that you can back with evidence. But I strongly disagree that only professional doctors and scientists should discuss any form of science. That is anathema to an Enlightened world.