Dear Reader,
There’s a ten letter word that has claimed the lives of millions of people across the U.S, whether it be metaphorically or literally. It doesn’t discriminate against wealth, race, age, or many other factors. Different people experience it throughout their lifetime in various ways. People are afraid to talk about it because it can make them seem weak. It can be crippling and oftentimes go unnoticed. This phenomenon goes by the name of Depression.
Now what exactly is Depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest[RJ(1] . Aside from its scientific definition, it is far from simple with no universal cure. Some people will be successful in their attempts of progress, while others may be stuck in a perpetual cycle of hopelessness.
Depression can be extremely disruptive to one’s everyday life, which leads many people to seek help. Oftentimes, people will go to their doctor and inform them of the symptoms they are experiencing, only to be unjustifiably prescribed SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or other anti-depressants.
These medications work to combat a chemical imbalance in the brain, by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin into neurons. To a person who is greatly suffering from depression, lacking the desire to even engage in activities they once loved or even finding themselves unable to maintain their daily routine, turning to SSRIs may seem promising. It can bring hope to people who otherwise feel like they are experience a sadness so extreme that they cannot even contemplate a future without it.
For people with chemical imbalances in their brain, taking anti-depressants can allow for a transformative experience. Of course, those who take antidepressants are very strong and deserve to receive the relief they are longing for. The point I am precisely trying to explain is that for the cases in which a patient has depression stemming from other reasons, they should have the opportunities to seek relief in other ways.
So then what is the danger in prescribing anti-depressants to patients who have symptoms of depression? Unfortunately, if the consumption of SSRIs without the combination of therapies such as psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), patients can be left even less capable than before in combatting depression. Irving Kirsch, a Director of the Placebo Studies program at Harvard’s Medical School states that,
“In an informational brochure issued to inform the public about depression, the US National Institute for Mental Health tells people that ‘depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain’ and adds that ‘important neurotransmitters – chemicals that brain cells use to communicate – appear to be out of balance’. This view is so widespread that it was even proffered by the editors of PLoS [Public Library of Science] Medicine in their summary that accompanied our article. ‘Depression,’ they wrote, ‘is a serious medical illness caused by imbalances in the brain chemicals that regulate mood’, and they went on to say that antidepressants are supposed to work by correcting these imbalances.
The editors wrote their comment on chemical imbalances as if it were an established fact, and this is also how it is presented by drug companies. Actually, it is not. Instead, even its proponents have to admit that it is a controversial hypothesis that has not yet been proven.”
This quote leads to the important questions of “Could Antidepressants be overprescribed? And if so, what are the consequences and why might they not work in the way that people expect them to?”
In This Could Be Why You’re Depressed or Anxious, a TED talk by Johann Hari, he explains his personal journey with antidepressants as he wonders why after taking them for years, he still dealt with profuse feelings of despondency. After years of no improvement, Hari began to conduct research by consulting psychiatrists and delving into countless scientific studies. Hari goes on to tell of how one of the leading doctors at the United Nations put out an official statement clarifying that it is necessarily to talk about the imbalances in the way we live, rather than chemical imbalances.
*While anti-depressants give real relief to some people, for others depression persists because this problem goes deeper than their biology. For this very reason, the solutions need to go much deeper as well.*
Personally, I have been prescribed antidepressants on several occasions. This has actually made me feel worse because it makes seems as if there’s no other option or that I am not capable of improving through other methods. I believe that there are many reasons behind/ for the depression that many of us experience. To simply be told that a drug can help or fix these problems is misleading.
Not to oversimplify a very complex phenomenon but I believe that the anti-depressant that we may need could be support from others and a feeling of belonging. We need people to show us that they won’t give up on us or judge us for the struggles we have with mental health.
We have to start teaching people that they have (more) control over their depression (than health professionals let off), not the other way around.
And I know it’s difficult, or it may even seem impossible to manage at times. The feelings of hopelessness can be all-consuming. I know there are days when you may not even be able to get out of bed. There are days when you might feel like you are a burden to everyone around you. You ask yourself, “why am I suffering so much?”
It is during these times that we have to give ourselves permission to feel. There are circumstances that warrant being sad, and at that sad for a long time. But we must also make active efforts to improve our daily habits, get to the root of our traumas, and pursue peace.
Because of the struggles I have experienced in mental health for the last seven years of my life I have been able to reach more people than I ever would have otherwise. What I have learned through my experiences with depression is that we are never too far gone, and there are people who are for us, even when we feel unlovable. These battles have taught me that there is hope for me just like there is hope for others dealing with similar problems.
There has to be an open-dialogue about the other seven causes of depression and what we can do as a society to help those in need of help. Instead of just rushing to give them medications, maybe we should sit and listen to them and make them feel heard. I hope to see a future where the US National Institute for Mental health can allocate as much money to rehabilitation and mental health programs for mental health as we do to research and improvement in anti-depressants.
To anyone reading this, I implore you to educate yourself regarding the causes and effects of depression. Realize that you must question the information that is given to you, even if it seems to come from a reputable source. With the information you learn you may be able to better understand those fighting mental illnesses. We need more people who are aware of mental illnesses so that we can ultimately work towards helping these people.
Finally, to those suffering from depression, I am for you. I want you to have access to the resources you deserve, so that you can get better. You are loved and you have so much to offer to society. You may struggle to see your purpose or how you can continue to live your life this way. I see you. Your struggles are valid. Remember that it’s ok to have bad days. It’s ok to feel like you have nothing left to give. I hope that you can surround yourself with people who encourage you and love you for who you are. You are not alone.
Jessica Roat's Blog 