Why do people turn so quickly to medication when dealing with depression and anxiety?

Question

Especially when there are so many side effects (suicidal tendencies in children who take anti-depressants) and so many more effective ways to solve the root problems causing the depression and anxiety?

I had troubles with depression and anxiety and found success in journaling, cutting back on caffeine, and modifying my thoughts to a more positive point of view.

Answer 1

good question. i had really bad anxiety fir a while. and I'll say, that it is the worst feeling to have, so I understand why people want to take meds. I however was to afraid to become dependent on anything so I used other methods like meditaion, writing in a journal and deep breathing techniques. I guess everyone has there own way of dealing with things, but people should throughly research any meds before taking them.

Answer 2

I am guessing you are in your teens to mid twentys. Anxiety and depression has been happening to alot and I mean ALOT of people lately. Most of them young people but some a bit older. I have anxiety myself that started 6 months ago. I have been through a few antidepressants, had panic attacks, and passive anxiety, felt like crap ect. The idea of going to therapy is actually a good idea, However just know that the long this gets left untreated, the more time it has to manifest and become stronger so I would get help ASAP! Also for someone with as many symptoms as you described, I would recommend going on some medication if you aren't already on some. But make sure you don't take just anything the doctor gives you. I was prescribed some medication recently that would of turned everything worse for me so be smart when getting prescribed stuff. I'm not saying all medication is bad just that some you should stay away from certain ones. Also try to get some more support from family / friends if you can and just be strong! I wish you the best and hope everything works out!

Answer 3

True depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain this can not be altered by therapy or so called effective ways to solve the root problems there is a differance in problems and true anxiety or depression. How ever especially in children medication alone is not going to fix the problem it involves a whole treatment plan including medication, psychological testing and counseling but not just individual counseling family counseling. You should also realize antidepressant medication isnt a life time thing once your chemical imbalance is corrected then you often can go without medication. It is by no means an easy way out because it involves much more than swallowing a pill. that in its self fixes nothing it merly sugar coats the problem.

Answer 4

There is no quick fix when dealing with depression and very high levels of anxiety. If the symptoms are severe, they need to be addressed. Medications are actually one of the most effective ways to do this, however they should be used in conjunction with therapy to get the most out of each form of treatment and get the best results. And there are other things that also help, like exercise, meditation, journaling, eating healthy, etc...but if a person has a chemical imbalance, this is not enough. These are very good things to do in addition to getting treatment. And for mild depression and anxiety. Since clinical depression is biologically based, you can't think it away. Not going on medication for some people is like a diabetic refusing insulin. This is a potentially fatal illness we are talking about. It is not about just feeling sad or down.

People are being very misled about the side effect of increasing suicidal tendencies in children. There is an increase from 2% with a placebo to 4% in suicidal thoughts and behaviors with children on antidepressants, but not an increase in actual suicide. And since they have realized mood disorders can begin in childhood and started treating these kids, the suicide rate for young people has actually gone down. If you put a child (or anyone) on an antidepressant (or any medication) the person should be closely monitored for adverse effects. If they appear, the medication is discontinued. 96% of children taking antidepressants do NOT have an increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

I've done significant research on this subject. This is not so much my opinion, this is based on the facts.

Now, treating depression is one thing, but if people are turning to meds like Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan to treat minor anxiety...than that is another issue. That really is a quick fix, but doctors tend to be fairly cautious about prescribing these particular medications. I suppose it really depends on the intensity of the anxiety and how significantly it interferes with a persons ability to function. If a person is unable to function in daily life, they are certainly not going to be able to handle addressing the root problems. There needs to be a level of stability attained in order for that to be possible.

Answer 5

Some people need medication to restore their brain chemistry. Severe, biological major depressions usually aren't helped by writing in a journal or cutting back on caffeine. Some mild depressions can be helped by techniques like these and getting more exercise and better nutrition. But not severe major depressions which seem to come on for no reason or bipolar depressions.

Answer 6

I think each person's situation is different and I would never think someone took too long or waited too short of a time before getting help. Each person must do what is right for them.

Some people's problems are due to an imbalance of chemicals in their brain and will power will not overcome that just like it would not overcome any other disease. For some reason people do not want to consider depression a disease like diabetes or cancer, but it is.

Answer 7

1. Suicidal tendencies is a rare side effect that has taken medicines that are very helpful for some people off the market for them. I was on multiple anti-depressants during my teen years and never had any trouble with them but was taken off all of them because of those stupid studies. Apparently me killing myself without the meds was better than running a slim chance I might kill myself on them.

2.Quick fix? I'm sorry you guys aren't depressed you're suffering from delusions! It's taken me over 6 years to find a medicine that helped with my illness. That's not freaking quick at all.

3. What about the people who have tried all your "better" methods? What if none of that works? Are we just supposed to torture ourselves and then die because we needed more help than you?

4. Not everyone has a "root". I inherited my illness thanks. Most of my cousins (who weren't raised anywhere near me so shush about environmental transference) have either anxiety issues, clinical depression, or some happy combo thereof. We all had wonderful loving childhoods...marred only by our mental issues.

Personally I've tried every one of your happy little techniques. I've been in multiple kinds of therapy, behavior modification, diet restrictions, meditation and biofeedback, and all sorts of vitamin and wacknut supplements. I still couldn't function normally. Was I just supposed to live a life of pain and fear for a few years and then just give up and die? I've never understood why people who can manage their illness through happy thoughts and longs walks in the park seem to think the rest of us are pill popper freaks only in it for the drugs. You're not better than those of us who need medicines...personally I think you're just no where near as sick.

Answer 8

I take meds for my anxiety/depression. I've tried counselling, journaling, exercise etc... but the meds seem to be the only tihng that works. I have issues with this and would love to be rid of them but, i take heed of something my doctor told me. he said if i was diabetic i would not be refusing insulin because of the stigma that went with it. I take the meds because they keep me happy and relitively healthy in the same way a diabetic would take their insulin.

Its still an illness be it mental or physical and sometimes you can't always find the root of the problem.

Answer 9

questions like this really irk me. i could ask ..."why do people immediately jump to conclusions regarding people with depression/anxiety - and the idea that that they are " turning" to medication too hastily ?" i would tend to beleive that most of us that are taking medications to assist with chemical disorders, have worked with their doctors (an MD must prescribe these meds...they dont come out of a bubble gum machine), see thier docs regularly for med management, and very possibly are in counciling or therapy in conjunction with medication.
journaling , cutting back on caffine...those are all very positive steps to take. but the truth is....for some of us...it isnt enough. trust me....being on meds isnt something i flaunt! but ive come to realise that its something my brain needs, so im no longer ashamed of it.

by the way...when my son was 3 and a half...he was seen by a psychologist,who later admitted to us that he foresaw my son living in an institution, because of his severe perseverating. eventually we worked with a child psychiatrist who diagnosed him wth aspergers syndrome (after MUCH testing). he is now 15 years old and has a superior IQ. his vocabulary is incredible and he sometimes corrects his english and computer teachers! he does have trouble socially (he is very introverted and has very few friends), and with obsessive thinking. he takes an SSRI to help with those thoughts...and trust me they make a world of difference for him.
my daughter was having severe panic attacks last year, and she too was prescribed meds.they allowed her to live without fear of an attack.so...another thing to realise is that depression and anxiety disorders are very often hereditary.
i dont mean to ramble....but i want you to know at least THIS mom takes meds very seriously.

Answer 10

It is way to unbarable for some people to bare with! Sometimes it's either meds or taking your own life off this very earth