5% of the troops are on antidepressants--Barbara Starr on CNN

Did I get that right? She was pushing the Combat Stress story for the guys who brutalized and murdered Abeer and her family. She tossed out that stat. Now, if this is true, why are these men on active duty?

...Americans with regular access to health care who are on antidepressants.

:eyes:

but either haven't sought it or otherwise don't have it available to them.

As for being on active duty, just because someone is on antidepressants doesn't mean they are unfit for duty. For many, it may be the only way they can function at all. My old roommate was on Prozac. After he had been on it for a while he was pretty much his old self. He went back to school and finished his degree. When he stopped taking it he was a mean and hateful drunk who blamed everyone for his unhappiness.

No, he was just trying to function. I'm sure he fought a lot of wars in his own mind though. He lost by the way. He died at an early age of a heart attack. Too much drinking, smoking and nasty foods.

There were two points I was trying to make. The first is that I'd rather have people on medication because at least they realize they have a problem and are actively seeking help for it. Don't try to stigmatize people who are on meds and who have sought help. I'm not going to join in on a wholesale condemnation of everyone in the military that have sought and are receiving psychiatric help for whatever reason they need it.

The second point was that I would assume (and I have nothing to back me up but a hunch) there are a lot of people over there who need to be on some type of medication for their mental health but aren't. That is the sad part.

As for why are they on active duty? For some it is because the branch of the military that they are in needs them there. For others, it may just be that the medication they are on is working and allowing them to fulfill their duty.

I figured it would be at least 25%.

My guess is many who need it are doing without. You're right...it's too low.

ears like Lieberman. Everyone knows it's 31% or 12.5 million.

everyone.

Granted, the thought of someone being in charge during life and death situations while having medication adjusted isn't very appealing... but if those individuals are suffering from mental challenges, better to have them be treated than to have them going about without check.

Since my only experience is personal, I'll use myself as an example. When I was suffering with depression and anxiety issues, I was of little use to anyone. I barely got up in the morning... rarely went to sleep at night... didn't care about myself, my family or my home. Within 2 weeks of being placed on anti-depressants, I was a new person. I could function again. I could drive kids to practice, clean my home and just take some joy in everyday life.

I know there are some here who believe medications to be horrible. Unfortunately, I was one of those people until it happened to me. Nothing... absolutely nothing I tried to 'heal' myself worked (not sunshine, not vitamins, not diet changes, not exercise, not herbs, not aromatherapy, etc.). The medication works and now that I can look back and see the horrible place I came from I can only sit and wonder why I allowed myself to go through hell for so long without seeking some help.

that seems to me to be the more directly relevant drug.