To read that 27-million Americans are on anti-depressants and that more and more people are accepting the ‘diagnosis’ of depression is one thing.
It is so hard to believe or even imagine that so much of our population is on anti-depressant medication. One has to wonder why we are so depressed, and why the pharmaceutical companies promote their medications as the end all be all to depression. Anti-depressants come with multiple side effects and drawbacks, they are not the cure all either. One has to wonder when the ads clearly state a side effect may make you suicidal if the drug is truly safe, or one that you may want to stay away from.
Why were past generations able to deal with life without having to take anti-depressants, sure there was St. John’s Wort that was known for eleviating signs of depression. I am certain there were other home therapies that were used through out time that we have forgotten about. Have our lives changed so dramatically that the only way we can exist and be functional is through daily medication?
I look at myself and then think about our diets, my family 50 years ago grew all of the food they needed, as well as raised their own meat on their farm. While I am lucky that I do can organic vegetables, and I try to stay away from most processed food, but I am no where near the level where my family was. How much of depression lies on the highly processed food chain that we benefit from where our ancestors did not?
I can not say either way. I think it warrants a serious look at when a significant number of our population is now on a maintenance drug. One has to wonder if we are using the right approach in making people feel better. The cost, the side effects, I have to think there is a better way than leaving a large part of our population stuck with taking anti-depressants.
