When the cure seems worse than the illness

Re: “ ... But Still Sad” (March 27): Feeling sad is a natural, human reaction to many things. Taking a pill will never solve any of these problems. The person has to do something about them. That is why the pills don’t work; they don’t address the real problem. They make a person numb or oblivious or otherwise make them less capable of doing something and therefore less capable of ultimately feeling happy. They are the same as alcohol, street drugs or any other dodge of confronting and getting better at handling the real problem.

People need education about how to deal with a person who is invalidating them, how to communicate well despite adversity, how to do a job well, what to do to feel better when one loses a loved one, how to accomplish goals and a whole host of other situations. No pill will ever be a substitute.

SUE HARRISON

Sunnyvale

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Re “The Future Holds More Than Pills” (March 27): I simply cannot believe you would actually print an article finding anything positive to say about electro-convulsive therapy. Even a small child is taught not to stick objects in an electrical outlet.

One needs to get to the root of what is causing this mental anguish of a person, not cover it up with drugs or electricity or slicing out sections of one’s brain.

VICKY FAYTON

Sunland

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Shock treatment is nothing short of brutal, and to promote this as a useful therapy is nothing short of criminal.

The media has the power to inspire a society and a culture to higher levels of responsibility and beauty. It disgusts me when it is used to promote such uncivilized treatment and label it as “help.”

KAREN DALE

Lake View Terrace

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Man’s inhumanity to man never fails to astound me. Would I run 400 volts through my stereo to “fix” it? I don’t think so. I would question the sanity of anyone who would suggest doing so. Doing this to a human being should be outlawed. Perhaps then these so-called caregivers would become inspired to come up with more humane techniques.

Don’t expect things to change so long as they can get a hefty fee for a few pennies of electricity. It certainly seems the insane are running the asylum.

BEN OCHART

Glendale