The NZ media's coverage of medical/health issues, reports & etc is usually pretty patchy, but the Herald's story this morning really infuriated me. Couldn't the reporter have managed to interview at least one person on SSRIs to see what they thought or, um, actually experienced?

I think that most people who have genuinelly suffered from clinical depression - as opposed to a bit of a blue patch - benefit from SSRIs. I think the problems are that a) most people don't understand what real depression is & b) SSRIs are totally over-perscribed.

I know several people who are on SSRIs who shouldn't be: they never struck me as clinically depresssed, and the drugs have made no real difference to either them or their lives. I also know people who have prescriptions for SSRI who, effectively, use them as a recreational drug - not because they need them. Surely that points to over-prescription?

Personally, my life was probably saved by aropax. Yet I resisted going on to it for as long as possible - preferring to self medicate. It took the combined persuasive efforts of everyone close to me + my doctor and my psychologist to convince me that I had no other choice if I wanted to function again.

I combined the SSRIs with cognitive behavioural therapy (as reccommended). After that first horrendous & scary three weeks, my life changed for the better. Now, I feel like I'm a real, functioning person again.

I think that if anyone who would genuinelly benefit from SSRIs is put off by the Herald's report of that study it is outrageous, and the paper should take some responsibility. Which, of course, would never happen.

My boyfriend & I were in Sydney last weekend (to see Lou Reed). On Sunday my boyfriend was going to see the Black Caps play the Australians with a friend of his who happens to have life-tickets to the members’ stand at the SCG. As my cousin, who has lived in Sydney for the last 15 years (& has an Aussie accent), had been most kindly driving us round all weekend, my boyfriend invited him to go to and see the cricket with him & his mates.
My cousin was keen and, on the day, they all trooped off – ‘respectably’ dressed as required. Unfortunately, on their arrival at the members’ stand, my cousin (who is a polite, charming guy) was turned away three times before he was finally, reluctantly allowed in. Even though the life-member vouched for him every time.
& what was the reason? Well, it was pretty unclear really. But there’s one slight difference between my cousin & the rest of the guys: They’re all white New Zealanders & Australians. Whereas my cousin is adopted - & he just happens to be half Chinese, half Fijian…