Why do people turn so quickly to medication when dealing with depression and anxiety?
August 30th, 2010
Julie N asked:
Especially when there are so many side effects (suicidal tendencies in children who take anti-depressants) and so many more effective ways to solve the root problems causing the depression and anxiety?
I had troubles with depression and anxiety and found success in journaling, cutting back on caffeine, and modifying my thoughts to a more positive point of view.
Spyware Removal
Especially when there are so many side effects (suicidal tendencies in children who take anti-depressants) and so many more effective ways to solve the root problems causing the depression and anxiety?
I had troubles with depression and anxiety and found success in journaling, cutting back on caffeine, and modifying my thoughts to a more positive point of view.
Spyware Removal
Categories: Mental Health | Tags: Anti Depressants, Dealing With Depression, Medication
SAMUEL
I think it’s the strong desire for a ‘fast’ solution.
Antionette
good question. i had really bad anxiety fir a while. and I’ll say, that it is the worst feeling to have, so I understand why people want to take meds. I however was to afraid to become dependent on anything so I used other methods like meditaion, writing in a journal and deep breathing techniques. I guess everyone has there own way of dealing with things, but people should throughly research any meds before taking them.
Diana
some people want any easy instant solution. Dr sometimes will prescribe too easily and some patients insist on a pill. I am with you there are too many meds handed out these days.
Rohit
People do these things because they just don’t think that they are good enough and that they shouldn’t be here right now so they do something that isn’t physically painful but it can kill you or seriously damage you.
Pamela
for some people it works. it doesn’t help that pharmaceuticals are pushing and maybe paying doctors to put people on their meds so people become addicted. I think you can give people placebos and they would never know. thats my 2 cents.
Gary
because it helps
Marcus
It is way to unbarable for some people to bare with! Sometimes it’s either meds or taking your own life off this very earth
John
some drs push the medication
Carrie
It’s a quick fix, and a much simpler “solution” than working through the root problems tends to be.
Darren
True depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain this can not be altered by therapy or so called effective ways to solve the root problems there is a differance in problems and true anxiety or depression. How ever especially in children medication alone is not going to fix the problem it involves a whole treatment plan including medication, psychological testing and counseling but not just individual counseling family counseling. You should also realize antidepressant medication isnt a life time thing once your chemical imbalance is corrected then you often can go without medication. It is by no means an easy way out because it involves much more than swallowing a pill. that in its self fixes nothing it merly sugar coats the problem.
Janet L
I take meds for my anxiety/depression. I’ve tried counselling, journaling, exercise etc… but the meds seem to be the only tihng that works. I have issues with this and would love to be rid of them but, i take heed of something my doctor told me. he said if i was diabetic i would not be refusing insulin because of the stigma that went with it. I take the meds because they keep me happy and relitively healthy in the same way a diabetic would take their insulin.
Its still an illness be it mental or physical and sometimes you can’t always find the root of the problem.
Kamika
I think each person’s situation is different and I would never think someone took too long or waited too short of a time before getting help. Each person must do what is right for them.
Some people’s problems are due to an imbalance of chemicals in their brain and will power will not overcome that just like it would not overcome any other disease. For some reason people do not want to consider depression a disease like diabetes or cancer, but it is.
Luis
There is no quick fix when dealing with depression and very high levels of anxiety. If the symptoms are severe, they need to be addressed. Medications are actually one of the most effective ways to do this, however they should be used in conjunction with therapy to get the most out of each form of treatment and get the best results. And there are other things that also help, like exercise, meditation, journaling, eating healthy, etc…but if a person has a chemical imbalance, this is not enough. These are very good things to do in addition to getting treatment. And for mild depression and anxiety. Since clinical depression is biologically based, you can’t think it away. Not going on medication for some people is like a diabetic refusing insulin. This is a potentially fatal illness we are talking about. It is not about just feeling sad or down.
People are being very misled about the side effect of increasing suicidal tendencies in children. There is an increase from 2% with a placebo to 4% in suicidal thoughts and behaviors with children on antidepressants, but not an increase in actual *******. And since they have realized mood disorders can begin in childhood and started treating these kids, the ******* rate for young people has actually gone down. If you put a child (or anyone) on an antidepressant (or any medication) the person should be closely monitored for adverse effects. If they appear, the medication is discontinued. 96% of children taking antidepressants do NOT have an increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
I’ve done significant research on this subject. This is not so much my opinion, this is based on the facts.
Now, treating depression is one thing, but if people are turning to meds like Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan to treat minor anxiety…than that is another issue. That really is a quick fix, but doctors tend to be fairly cautious about prescribing these particular medications. I suppose it really depends on the intensity of the anxiety and how significantly it interferes with a persons ability to function. If a person is unable to function in daily life, they are certainly not going to be able to handle addressing the root problems. There needs to be a level of stability attained in order for that to be possible.
Oksana
questions like this really irk me. i could ask …”why do people immediately jump to conclusions regarding people with depression/anxiety – and the idea that that they are ” turning” to medication too hastily ?” i would tend to beleive that most of us that are taking medications to assist with chemical disorders, have worked with their doctors (an MD must prescribe these meds…they dont come out of a bubble gum machine), see thier docs regularly for med management, and very possibly are in counciling or therapy in conjunction with medication.
journaling , cutting back on caffine…those are all very positive steps to take. but the truth is….for some of us…it isnt enough. trust me….being on meds isnt something i flaunt! but ive come to realise that its something my brain needs, so im no longer ashamed of it.
by the way…when my son was 3 and a half…he was seen by a psychologist,who later admitted to us that he foresaw my son living in an institution, because of his severe perseverating. eventually we worked with a child psychiatrist who diagnosed him wth aspergers syndrome (after MUCH testing). he is now 15 years old and has a superior IQ. his vocabulary is incredible and he sometimes corrects his english and computer teachers! he does have trouble socially (he is very introverted and has very few friends), and with obsessive thinking. he takes an SSRI to help with those thoughts…and trust me they make a world of difference for him.
my daughter was having severe panic attacks last year, and she too was prescribed meds.they allowed her to live without fear of an attack.so…another thing to realise is that depression and anxiety disorders are very often hereditary.
i dont mean to ramble….but i want you to know at least THIS mom takes meds very seriously.
Joanne
Good for you! Some people have very nasty physical symptoms that go with those disorders and medicine helps.
Sabrine
Some people need medication to restore their brain chemistry. Severe, biological major depressions usually aren’t helped by writing in a journal or cutting back on caffeine. Some mild depressions can be helped by techniques like these and getting more exercise and better nutrition. But not severe major depressions which seem to come on for no reason or bipolar depressions.