why is it so fashionable nowdays to diagnose a person who's going through a hard time with depression?

Question

And I am not talking only about amateur psychologists making those diagnoses; professional psychologists too.

Answer 1

I can best answer this for you. Pressure, social pressure, not getting enough sleep, stress, marital or relationship problems, money problems, working too much or too many hours. All of these alone do cause some deperession. But with the combination of all these together, you maybe heading for very mild depression, that do not required treatment. But if you are bombarded with these all the time with no time for yourself or relief. You are heading for a depression that will require treatment. Sometimes trying to make ends meet can cause major depression for certain individuals that are susceptible to become depressed. Good enough, yes?

Answer 2

Because then it takes the blame off the person w/ the depression.
"It's not my fault, I'm sick." They can play the victim easier.
I'm not saying that there are not people who really do have depression and really do need to seek professional help to deal with it...but there are a lot of people who use it as an excuse and do not take responsibility for their own lives. Their attitude, their willingness to take steps to change their circumstances, their happiness is ultimately their responsibility. I know times get tough and I know sometimes a prescription can help you get through the day or a hard month or year of your life...but some psychologists are becoming enablers...they are allowing people to take pills and be "sick" that don't really need to be. They just need a pep talk, a support group, and an attitude adjustment.
Some people really do have clinical depression...but like ADD, it is over diagnosed and over medicated.
Helping some people set a few Realistic goals and reach them is enough to get the ball rolling...all on their own.

Answer 3

There are criteria for major depressive episodes, which would then in turn mean someone was being diagnosed with depression. These critera are outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4-TR. This regulates what can and cannot be diagnosed as a mental disorder.

If a person meets these qualifications they are diagnosed with a particular disorder. (of course that doesn't mean every psychologist diagnoses responsibly) Why would someone having a hard time in life not be diagnosed with depression, if they are truly depressed? I'm not seeing your point.

Of course it's possible to go through a hard time and not be depressed or be depressed and not appear to be having that hard of a time.

Answer 4

Because in this quick fix society it's easier to give a person a pill and send them on their way than to take the time to engage in a relationship with them to get to the root of their issues. For professionals, the insurance industry limits the interventions they can provide now, to a predetermined formula on how all people with depression should recover -- limiting access to service. That totally runs contrary to individuals - we are not all the same, and one person's hard time is another person's life crisis. It stinks. I also marvel at how average people who have little knowledge of psychiatric illness throw around terms like they know what they mean -- like schizo or manic. Most times, they don't have a clue, yet they act like junior psychiatrists, thinkin' they have you all figured out. I want the drugs they're taking! lol. Take care!

Answer 5

depression is not fashionable. depression is a real disorder, just like cancer, diabetes, thyroid or kidney disease, or asthma. depression just affects a different body part and manifests itself a different way than other illnesses. brain chemistry can be unbalanced for any number of reasons and not one of those reasons would be because it's fashionable. i don't honestly believe there's one person with depression that chooses to have it.

my little sister always refers to her *bad hair days* as depression but has not yet found a single doctor anywhere who will diagnose her bad moods as depression. my older sister and i have both survived major clinical depression. i was not diagnosed properly until blood tests confirmed an imbalance and an mri showed activity and inactivity in areas of my brain that indicate depression.

anyone who believes depression is a choice, is fashionable or isn't real needs to have their own head examined.

Answer 6

It's the safe thing to do. You treat everything like it's a worst-case scenario, just in case the problem genuinely turns out to be a worst-case scenario.

If the problem turns out to be something minor, then no harm done. The patient will find the cure to be more of a hassle than the problem and will suddenly get over it themselves.

Answer 7

Because depression can be situational as well as chronic. Some people need help to get over the hurdle and when things are better, they no longer need that help.

Answer 8

because they want to see pills, big money in anti-depressents

Answer 9

BECAUSE IF YOU STILL WENT AROUND TELLING PEOPLE YOU ARE CRAZY OR HE IS CRAZY WHAT WOULD ALL THE PEOPLE THINK?...IT IS A NICER AND MORE EDUCATED WHY OF SAYING YOUR ARE NUTS.........

Answer 10

because drugs are cheaper than therapy