Depression

Everyone becomes depressed, irritable, and/or anxious at one time or another. This is a normal response to the daily stresses of life. However, why are there so many people on anti-depressives? One possible answer is that “they exist!” People who are depressed want relief. They want something that will get them out of bed in the morning and carry them through the day. Anti-depressives can do this. However, how long does one stay on this medication and what are the risks and side-effects? These are important questions to ask.

First, let’s talk about chemical imbalance. The idea behind anti-depressives is to alter the chemistry in the brain to elevate ones mood (mostly by increasing serotonin availability in the brain). For instance, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is used to treat depression by interfering with serotonin transport between neuronal (brain) cells. This allows for an increased action of serotonin on receptors in the brain, yielding elevated mood and feeling of well being. That’s great! Right? Well, one problem with this is that it is not really “correcting” the imbalance, which would imply that the body can now function “correctly” on its own. Furthermore, there are a long list of possible side effects: headache, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, anorexia, dyspepsia (indigestion), blurred vision, myalgias (muscle soreness), arthralgias (joint pain), sexual dysfunction, menstrual irregularities, etc, etc…you get my point. These possible side-effects definitely do not imply that an imbalance is being “corrected”.

So, what does one do now? The fact is, depression is a complex issue that is unique to each individual it touches. There are treatment plans that are geared towards correcting the imbalance. However, these options need to be carefully matched with each individual. This requires a detailed evaluation by a physician and a multifaceted treatment regiment.

For more information or to schedule an
appointment, please call St Johns Health Center:
503.286.4400