Depression And Its Effects On Depression

Over the years the “rate of antidepressant use among all ages [have] seen an increase by nearly 400%...” even though deemed ineffective (Smith). This increase came about after more doctors were given a wider range of prescription rights; this allowed them to access a wider range of drugs, capable of delivering a greater level of high if misused. Patients are often prescribed medications without being fully evaluated, leading to treatments which might not be needed. As a result “‘… at least half the folks who are being treated with antidepressants aren't benefiting from the active pharmacological effects of the drugs themselves but from a placebo effect’ " (Hollon, Smith)which affects a person’s state of mind. The Placebo Effect creates the feeling that an ineffective drug is working because it is supposed to work even if the prescribed medication was a simple sugar-water mixture. The efficiency of antidepressants decrease as the prescriber moves across the classes. They are especially less effective when used to treat serious medical conditions but are often used instead of more serious

In 2005 the Center of Disease Control and Prevention 's (CDC’s) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) tracked Americans using antidepressants for three years. The study concluded in 2008 that more than 1 in 10 Americans ages 12 and older have used an antidepressant drug. This study comes in the wake of a heated debate in the media about the effectiveness of antidepressants treating depression. Last year, antidepressants were the second most commonly prescribed medication, right behind drugs directed to lower cholesterol. With so many people in the United States relying on these drugs, it is easy to question if they are just expensive, overused placebos.

Dr. Mercola says, “The use of antidepressant drugs—medicine’s answer for depression—doubled in just one decade, from 13.3 million in 1996 to 27 million in 2005”(Antidepressant Drugs Do Not work.. ). This quote is showing that depression is becoming a common psychological illness. That means more drugs are being prescribed everyday. The antidepressant drug industry is getting rich off of pills that cause nausea, weight gain, anxiety, and insomnia. Even with all of those side effects we still feel sad and lonely. Nevertheless, people still are pouring their money into these infective

Pharmaceuticals are a very popular method of curing depression. Although they are popular these drugs show little to no progress in curing depression. In the article, "Taking Anti-Depressant Medication: A Qualitative Examination of Internet Postings,” proves this. The article gives accounts of multiple patients who have taken the medication and recorded their results. One patient states, “It seems like I’m about five times as anxious/depressed as I was pre-Paroxetine”. (353). Research proves that pharmaceuticals do not help individuals with their depression, but in fact cause it to worsen. The studies shows that many individuals receive a

be medically defined as a chemical imbalance in your brain, but personally I believe it’s much

However simple it may sound to us, little concepts such as healthy eating, healthy lifestyle and having enough sleep can have tremendous effect on how one feels emotionally. Insufficient sleep on its own is enough to stimulate problems that result in anxiety and depression. On the other hand, physical exercise has been scientifically proven to have a considerable effect on the level of depression by reducing the symptoms. In case you are feeling low, overwhelmed or stuck, it could be a proper occasion to stroll your feet and distract your mind for some time.

Despite the increasing number of studies on the over prescription of antidepressants some support this rise in antidepressant use, arguing that it is better to diagnose depression too often and too little (Barber 2008). Research has also been conducted not on over prescription, but in fact under prescription of antidepressants. These researchers are challenging the wide-spread assumption that doctors are handing out antidepressants too often, and suggest that they are in fact being underused instead of overused. In contrast to the study by Macdonald et al. (2009), Cameron et al. (2009) challenged the hypothesis that

Depression is a devastating disorder, though one may find it hard to understand or take seriously. You can’t see it or touch it, but when it settles over you or your loved one, it can affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Depression can disable everything from waking up in the morning to going to work, even sleeping at night. Sufferers experience feelings of intense despair and hopelessness. Activities they used to find joy in no longer interest them and in some cases may lead to attempted suicide. Infact, Depression is the leading cause of medical disability worldwide and accounts for over 210 billion dollars each year in medical expenses and missed days of work. Antidepressants are prescribed at an all-time high and fail to consistently do better than placebo pills (Wittenborn, 551). I myself have experienced this first hand, shelling out money I didn’t have for antidepressants that had little to effect or just made my symptoms worse.

Depression used to be diagnosed as melancholia..Between 1938 and 1955.Several reports showed that the commonness of depression in the general population was below 1%. “In the mid-1990s,the lifetime risk for depression was estimated as 3% to 4% worldwide.”(2) To control depression,the use of antidepressioants has grown rapidly since the late 1950s.By the late 1990s nearly 1.77 million people were taking one or even mulitiple antidepressioants for depression or diesases assumedly on the depressive spectrum.It has been suggested that in spite of the large uses of antidepressioants have been undertreated.

Depression has become a chronic illness throughout society. The illness not only is a psychological hazard. The sedentary symptoms create physical infirmity. For many years studies and research have influenced the use of antidepressant medications as treatment for depression. Much money and time has been spent in promoting the ideas of chemically assisted happiness. Yet, a much inexpensive alternative to the treatment of depression is ignored by the medical community. Changes in eating habits, physical activity, like an increase in exercise, and natural supplements have shown a more positive outlook. The possibility of being able to avoid the use of medications and changing lifestyle habits is

The first step to treating many of these new cases of depression is the prescription and use of antidepressant medication, however this has cause a mass flooding of our society with unnecessary prescription drugs. Due to the ease of treatment, primarily with prescription drugs, and the large range of severity in depression is often over diagnosed, adding to the problem.

Hook: The recognition of depression as a common mental illness should lead to studies regarding what form of treatment is best for a patient, but antidepressants seem to be the unimpressive go-to.

Is depression a subject that people typically tend to brush aside? Rather than facing away from a serious issue that people suffer from in their daily lives, we should discuss the methods to help people with their struggle from depression. A common method to treat depression is the use of antidepressants. But are they effective? Do they cause more harm and danger than aid? Are there other methods that can provide greater improvement rather than a pill? Instead​ ​of​ ​using​ ​antidepressants​ ​there​ ​are​ ​other​ ​alternatives such​ ​as​ ​placebos​ ​and​ ​types​ ​of​ ​therapy​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​just​ ​as,​ ​or​ ​more​ ​effective​ ​than​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of ​prescription​ antidepressants.

Depression is a major issue affecting many in a person’s everyday life. There are many ways to combat depression, whether it be medication such as antidepressants or therapeutic treatments such as psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy or even herbal remedies. (“Diseases and Disorders: Depression”). Antidepressants temporarily stop depression, but since the side effects can be harmful or life threatening, alternative treatments are a much safer and efficient way to combat depression.

In a world today where antidepressant medications seem to be handed out like candy, could it be that not every person who says they are “depressed” needs medication? Is a full on antidepressant the best solution for a person who is displaying the symptoms of a very mild form of depression? In order to explore this topic more fully, we must establish the definition and diagnosis of depression. According to the DSM-V, depression is defined and diagnosed with at least five of the following symptoms during a two-week period: