Antidepressants are drugs that are suppose to help a person feel better. We have become a nation of quick fixes beginning with our economy all the way to our medical field. I am very concerned of where we are going as a nation when it comes to prescribing pills to help people deal with the stresses of life. Most of us probably know someone that has been depressed and has been given medication to "cure" the "illness". I, for example, have my mother in law that is going through grief as she lost her 19 year old son in a terrible accident. Doctors have told her that is she takes medication for depression she will feel better. I have spoken with her and warned her about the consequences of antidepressants. One thing that I have learned is that psychotherapy is more effective and with no side effects.
Antidepressants have been known to cause suicidal thoughts and even the FDA has made the pharmaceutical companies put a warning label on the box. Many of the antidepressants are used to target different diseases and the dosage is the same. We know very little about what causes depression and yet we are willing to fill our brain with substances that who knows the long term effect. What bothers me the most is that many of this powerful antidepressants are given to children. Many of this drugs were never meant to be given to children, they were meant for adults. Yet we continue prescribing this medications more than ever.
I can spend hours with you telling you why antidepressants should be reconsidered but who am I? I am an undergraduate student with no experience in this field that is why I am directing you to a very reputable magazine and psychologist to explain this better. Click Here
*** Also here is a video from ABC also talking about the negative effects of the use of antidepressants.***
I agree with you completely on how antidepressants should be rethought. Pretty soon the person who is experiencing those depressed feelings will become immune to the drug and will probably have to up their dosage... then they will have difficulty functioning without it. Sorry about your mother in law, interesting post!
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right when you say that we have become a nation of quick fixes. That's certainly true. I find it appalling that people honestly believe that something so extraordinarily and unimaginably complex as the human brain could be so simply reduced to having "imbalances" in neurotransmitters systems, and chemicals in pills and capsules can effectively 'fix' the problem and quickly. I believe these pills are becoming chemical crutches; people are going to have start relying on these pills to deal with everyday stresses, like you were saying. I'm sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's loss. The mental health system is trying it's hardest to pathologize grief. Grief is a normal, human process. Even though it's a negative experience, it's a necessary one in order for us to overcome our sadness. Your video about antidepressant withdrawal and Paxil discontinuation is also very interesting.
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