Question:
Having always been the 'herbal tea and meditation rather thanparacetamol' type I tend to be of the opinion that medication, whereunnecessary should be avoided .... okay, it's just _my_ opinion and therest of the world are free to pop as many pills as they want without myideals being forced down their throat with them, but where people I careabout are concerned I tend to be just the teeniest bit overprotective.Now here's the problem, a friend of mine has been taking anti-depressants for quite a while and I have the feeling that were he tocome off them it's be a very painful (psychologically and emotionally)experience.The problem is the dependency thing, I think he'd be much better offwithout the things but coming off that type of drug is never easy.I know it helps if you feel supported and like someone cares, and that alot of natural remedies can ease the side effects but does anyone elsehave any bright ideas about this kind of thing?I'd like to try and get him off them, with magic if necessary - but Iwant to make sure I don't cause more psychological damage than good.

Answer: Please, please don't do this. By this type of reasoning, a diabetic shouldgo off their insulin because they are "dependent" on it. Are you awarethat there a a huge number of people who are on anti-depressents becausethey lack a certain chemical in their brain? The medication simplysupplies the missing chemicals that allows for proper functioning.

Remember the analogy of the little cog. You're looking at one *small* areaof the whole person. *Your* judgment of what is necessary for anotherperson does not see what that *one* cog will affect however far down theline. Besides, it is not your business to decide that someone should dosomething that affects themselves only, either by direct or indirectmanipulation. Do you want someone to make those types of decisions for*you*. I know I wouldn't.