over 24 years ago, a 'drug rep' at a hospital I was working at told us about some 'new' drugs coming out for 'depression'. He said, and I remember this distinctly, 'Now they just have to think up some disorders to prescribe them for'. We all had an uneasy laugh, but even then we could see the writing on the wall and...I believed him. And I still do. We are NOT a nation, or world full of bi-polar depressives. We are people who experience life's ups and downs and don't know how to handle our emotions without running to the medicine chest. Please note: I am not talking about seriously psychotic people (I have worked in mental health), I am talking about people who are depressed because life isnt what they expected. I am talking about people who get depressed when a loved one dies, or their finances crash or their kids run away or the dog dies. The people who run to their doctor for such things. Things happen in everyone's life, that are sad and depressing. There is no magic 'cure'....you have to ride through it. If you are seeing or hearing things that are not there, by all means, get medical help. But if you are feeling depressed over events in your life, join the club! One can learn how to grasp that sadness, acknowledge it, then let it go. We need more therapists, not drugs. Sorry for going on and on, but this issue of over diagnosing and medicating depression has bugged me for years!
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over 24 years ago, a 'drug rep' at a hospital I was working at told us about some 'new' drugs coming out for 'depression'. He said, and I remember this distinctly, 'Now they just have to think up some disorders to prescribe them for'. We all had an uneasy laugh, but even then we could see the writing on the wall and...I believed him. And I still do. We are NOT a nation, or world full of bi-polar depressives. We are people who experience life's ups and downs and don't know how to handle our emotions without running to the medicine chest. Please note: I am not talking about seriously psychotic people (I have worked in mental health), I am talking about people who are depressed because life isnt what they expected. I am talking about people who get depressed when a loved one dies, or their finances crash or their kids run away or the dog dies. The people who run to their doctor for such things. Things happen in everyone's life, that are sad and depressing. There is no magic 'cure'....you have to ride through it. If you are seeing or hearing things that are not there, by all means, get medical help. But if you are feeling depressed over events in your life, join the club! One can learn how to grasp that sadness, acknowledge it, then let it go. We need more therapists, not drugs. Sorry for going on and on, but this issue of over diagnosing and medicating depression has bugged me for years!
August 30, 2010 - 9:39amThis Comment
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