DEPRESSION AND MEDICATION

We live in a very complicated world and sometimes we get depressed. Many choose to take medications to help with this, but a recent Harvard study showed that depression medication--for those who are mildly to moderately depressed--has no more impact than that of a placebo. For the severely depressed, medication was found to have more effect.

For some time, professionals have recommended that individuals seek therapy for depression, along with medication. Some, however, don't tolerate medication and choose to forego it altogether. Others don't like how these medications make them feel.

For some time now, many have used the phrase "chemical imbalance", referring to the belief that those who are depressed have some sort of medical condition that leaves the depressed with no option other than medication. Clients have even reported to me that their physicians have told them they'll "have to be on medication" for the rest of their lives.

Pretty scary stuff, not to mention how expensive it can get.

Let's talk about depression--

Life Situations

We get depressed when we suffer losses--relationships that end, the death of loved ones, job losses or major life changes. I tell clients that sometimes depression makes sense. This can be the functional response to a very trying situation. 

Scary Moments Ahead

It is commonly recognized by professionals that big changes--even so called "good"ones--can leave us struggling with depression. Not all postpartum depression is due to hormonal changes. Sometimes we just feel overwhelmed and ill-equipped.

Teens can experience depression due partly to their being at a pivotal place in their lives. They can feel like their jumping off a very big cliff into grown-up responsibilities. For the first time, they are being launched into a big world with lots of expecations of them. Frequently, they have significant expectations of themselves. These are typically smart kids who comprehend that everything is changing. As with having a newborn child, depression at these moments can be more confusing because this is what you wanted! You wanted to go off to college, to create a life of your own. You dreamed of having a family. Why are you now feeling so blue?

The Highly Competent

Some individuals who seek help for depression have never before been in a situations they couldn't handle. These individuals are accustomed to having others call them strong, even in the face of big challenges. In their lives, they've always shoved aside feelings of sadness, discomfort and loss and soldiered on. They deal. These folks almost always have had some tough situations in their lives that they've handled--usually very well--and they are distressed and bewildered to find themselves suddenly struggling with depressed feelings that they can't shake. Often, they tell me that there is no reason for this depression, as their lives are great.

These are all transitional moments--even if you can't see anything changing. Sometimes, we feel weighed down by depression because we need to change something, need to tweak our internal perspective a little.There are those with severe depression who can find medication to be life-saving and some in the middle of major transitions need to use medication like they'd use a crutch with a broken leg.

Sometimes, you need help while you're doing some healing/shifting. There's certainly no shame in needing a crutch.