If I can comment on the last post - for many people medication pulls them up enough to almost be considered a cure
for others medication is only the start - it pulls the patient out of the black hole they feel trapped in, gives them enough energy to at least get out of bed (some depression patients literally stay in bed all day)
and it might help them get past suicidal thoughts
but medication is not the whole answer for everyone - thats part of what I was talking about when I said what has happend to Justneedsadvice is normal for families in which depression goes on for a long time - sometimes people think all they have to do is take the pills and everything will be ok
and if its not ok, then they think, well it must be something else thats still making me feel down, my spouse, my job, my life, or maybe Im simple not a good person.
When the meds dont work then a family needs to develop a plan, a process, ways of dealing with all the effects of depression, realizing its not the patients fault they are still depressed, and its not anyone elses fault either.
but they have to realize its a real problem and it has to be dealt with on a daily basis.
