You. Off of My Bookshelf. Now.

[matrixrefugee]

So. Am on chapter 17 of "Eat Pray Love", which ground my gears royally. Author admits to having a depression problem and how she went off her meds for said problem. Then proceeds to blither about how depression isn't treated properly in Western countries, that rather than treat the symptoms we need to treat the cause

Comments

[northernwalker]

Ugh, I'd be pitching it too. I don't have depression, and yes, my understanding is that some of it is situational, but clinical depression is a medical issue and needs to be treated medically.

[koemiko]

Hrm.

As someone with clinically diagnosed major depression, I both agree and disagree. For severe cases, medication is a godsend; it brings people up to speed with the rest of the world, and into a wonderful state of normalcy. I know many people who couldn't achieve a healthy mental state without it, and I am glad we live in a country where mental health is considered a medical problem. However, I take issue with a few things.

My issue is, medication is often perscribed for people with minor cases of depression, or sudden onset depression. I recall my Psychology professor (a clinical psychologist herself) claiming that the order of treatment was pretty much this: "Find diagnosis, put the patient on medication, start treatment." Medication is not for everyone, and sometimes, there are other underlying problems (a bad marriage, a rocky home life, or being in a toxic relationship, etc.) that should be addressed first. Being put on medication sometimes only exacerbates the problem