Depression in today's world? Should we just treat it with tough love?

Question

My grandmother god bless her used to say, when someone was feeling depressed and low, then in her day, a short sharp dose of an acid tongue was all that was needed to get them moving again, either that or a hard days work on the plough....

Should this 'alternative therapy' be considered as well as the pills and potions?

Answer 1

Interesting question. I happen to think that doctors are all too quick to diagnose people with "stress" or "depression" and put them on a course of medication these days. People seem to be taking time off work left right and centre for stress or depression as well. its like its the buzz word at the momment and if you're feeling a bit down or stressed or if you're having an off day you're now suffering from depression or stress. Its ridicuous. Depression is a serious illness and I think that the large majority of people diagnosed with it today, don't really have it in the extreme sense, they're just feeling a bit down. If this is the case, medication should be the last form of treatment prescribed to them. Not only can people become dependant on drugs to make them feel better, but medication has side effects (some of which are as extreme as encouraging suicidal thoughts believe it or not) and more imporantly than any of these factors, if people are on medication, it means they don't tackle the issues relating to their depression. Often factors contrubuting to a prologuended low mood can be changed. People can change their lives for the better and get on with things and stop feeling so down. So I do kind of agree with your tough love idea! People should be told to sort out their problems and offered help in doing this through counselling or therapy groups. Medication is the easy way out for the doctors and patients alike. I say snap out of it for gods sake and realise that no matter how bad things are, they will get better and only you have the power to change it! However, if people have clinical depression which is a serious psychological condition, tough love would not work. In fact, any kind of treatment struggles to be 100% effective and a tough love approach would almost certainly make the depression much much worse.

Answer 2

I don't want to sound unsympathetic but I do have the feeling that we seem to be less stoic than the generations ago. Why does the ego of modern men/women bruise so much more easily? Maybe as children, we were too protected and spoiled so now as grown-ups, we just can't handle a few emotional blows as well as our grandparents did. Or maybe we live in a society too affluent, we can afford the time to indulge in misery? If we have to get up at five to plough the fields and feed the animals, to cook for a family of ten people and walk five miles a day to get fresh water, we would probably be too busy to get upset by small things.

Answer 3

HI, i used to think very much this way, until my breakdown, after being a nervous wreck for 2 years, shouting really doesnt help, especially with the PTSD.... Im sure it could be enough for lots of people tho, some people seem to get way depressed, if they break a nail. In the end we are all different, so im just going to go take my bp pills and anxiety pill, and hope that my doughnut has jam in, or if not, some nice buttery toast..

I think the tough method should be tried, especially with those who are nowhere near suicidal, but how would the state cope, if people started topping themselves, when told to grow up..

Ive now been depressed for all most 3 years

Answer 4

Have you ever suffered from depression. Nobody can ever understand what it feels like until they have experienced it. Work does keep your mind busy so I agree about the hard days work, but an acid tongue could drive the person over the edge. All you need is to know that someone is there. And maybe words of encouragement.

Answer 5

Depression is caused by a chemical disorder. Those who have severe cases of depression have been found to have a lot of adrenaline in them. Without the pills, there is no hope for getting better.

However, treating depression with medication and therapy is a good idea. Treating depression simply with pills seems like a bad idea.

Answer 6

no.

it's not pills and potions that help, really. it needs psycological attention and therapy. depression is a serious and very common problem. it hurts people all over the world, from all walks of life and knows no gender. nobody can be certain what causes it but anyone who's had to deal with it knows that grandmother never had it.

it needs understanding.

Answer 7

Clinical depression is not just feeling a bit low - it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. So telling someone with depression to 'buck up' or saying ' things could be worse!' isn't helping. Sensitive understanding and support will.

Answer 8

Sort of, if the depression is down to "living in a world in which nothing seems to get done", set yourself some tasks that you can complete - and do them.

Once complete, if your brain is wired correctly, you should feel some personal satisfaction for sorting it...

ie: tidy a shelf, cupboard, or a wardrobe, etc - or learn a new skill, etc...

Too many people now are just sitting back watching TV (even though they go to work) - do something in which you can see the result.

Answer 9

Depression is a horrible thing to suffer from and no-one understands how you are feeling unless they have suffered from it themselves. Using that sort of 'alternative therapy' is unlikely to work on the majority of people. Having recently suffered from depression myself, I know this for a fact. It just makes you feel worse when people tell you to "snap out of it." It's definitely not as easy as that.

Answer 10

This "therapy" might work in some situations.

However, you should adapt yourself to situations with people based on their individual characteristics. There is no one "therapy" for all situations.

In the case of genuine depression, the person should probably be referred to a trained therapist of some sort. Unfortunately, many therapists are fruitcakes.