Can life, by being difficult, cause depression instead of a chemical imbalance?

Question

Life can throw so many obstacles our way and is filled with difficult things at times. Sometimes it's too much, so it can cause me to get depressed, give up, and just generally be low all the time.

Now, instead of diagnosing me as a depressed person with an imbalance, why not just assume I'm a normal person who got served more than he could handle?

That's what irritates me about psychology/psychiatry; they throw those chemical imbalances, mental disorder diagnoses far too loosely, when you may be totaly normal, living in an insane world ( which I strongly believe is the case).

So therefore if the cause of my depression, and perhaps the cause for others' depression is REAL LIFE, rather than their own neurotransmitters,

what is the best way to deal with it?

Drugs? Talk Therapy?


So can life, by it's daily grind, bills, unfairness, materialism, bullshit, etc, cause depression, more so than something neurological?

And if so, why do docs FAVOR the neurological aspect?

Answer 1

Yes. Absolutely. Glad to see that someone is getting the point here. ^_^ Catch is, a lot of it is a combination or what science would call a moiety. It works rather like some forms of cancer or heart disease: yes, you can be *born* more prone to depression than other people, but living an emotionally unhealthy, distressing and outright abusive lifestyle will do it too. And the deeper you get into the science of it, the more you realize that you *have to* change both the lifestyle *and* the neuro-chemistry. Meaning, pills and "cognitive behavioral" workbooks and rubber bands around the wrist *alone* aren't enough--the circumstances of someone's *actual real life* have to improve as well for treatments to stick and get people *Better*.

And as for why the doctors favor the Neurological aspect? Part of it is their training, this is what they are taught to do with nearly *any* illness, to look at it in terms of *treatments*, which usually means drugs and therapies *after* things go wrong, versus say prevention or rehabilitation.

But a lot of it is that HMOs and the Big Pharmaceutical companies just flat out *dictate* policy courtesy of their iron-clad control of how folks *get paid*. Doctors are human beings like anyone else and do need to work for a living, but the way Big Insurance and Big Drug Companies combine to form a *racket* with regards to legitimate medical illnesses that *just so happen* to involve a brain....it's almost criminal (negligence, fraud courtesy of baiting and switching, malpractice as well, if you want to get specific).

So a lot of it is just a consequence of the Money People being jerks, as per usual. You can spot my latest Question at my Profile for more stuff in this vein. And if you really want to do things the hard way you can also look up some of my Best Answers in the Psychology and Mental Health categories here too. Some are long and ranty....because this is a sore-nerve issue for me, and one I am familiar with courtesy of being a neglected client.

But one other thing you should look at as well: When you talk of "improving the circumstances" of people's lives, in the United States at least it stops becoming a health issue and becomes a *political* hot-potato as all manner of Pampered Rich People (putting it politely) come forth and whine incessantly about losing *one red cent* of their profits. Simply put, we can't even make most workplaces *free of cigarette smoke* in spite of the evidence showing that second-hand smoke *does* lead to cancers as bad as those of active smokers....people piss and moan about losing money, as their workers *die*, of slow suffocation.

And life in America is like this for *every* thing you can attempt to improve the circumstances of the mentally ill, because for most of us, there's just no money. Even those of us who *can* work for a living on proper medication aren't *allowed to* courtesy of HMO bigotry and "healthcare" plans that will cover *Quack Science* like chiropractic but not cover *one red cent* of anything regarding psychiatric issues *even when it is in their best interest* to do so--in order to keep folks *Working for a living and off of welfare!*

So yeah....sorry for the rantlet there, but I've only been saying this since day one here. I've only been telling the truth as I know it--as I've lived it. And I get tired too of having to "sell my soul" to the Devil--the local mental health system that has a monopoly on care to the poor--just to stay on meds and keep myself from losing function day in and day out. I get tired of the endlessly *parasitic* nature of this "business" which is all about Profiteering off of our Misery, keeping us Stable--read Dependent and trapped in the system--and not allowing us to get Better--read Self-Sufficient and able to live *without lining their pockets*.

And frankly I get tired of ranting about it, even if I seem to be one of a *handful* of people on the damn internet who has *clue one* what is going on. The ignorance and bigotry people show on this issue is *appalling* and medieval and is *difficult* to fight when you already have your own issues to deal with and they are *not* being dealt with.

But yeah....my apologies for going on so. I hope this is at least somewhat helpful. Thanks for your time. ^_^ Email me if you'd like to know more.

Answer 2

Hey A Guy

Depression is not only caused by a chemical balance alone. Use me for example, I am depressed due to how my life has been. That is least to say highly contributing to my depression and then I do have a chemical imbalance and both must be treated, I treat by psych visits, talk therapy every week and medication therapy every day and 3 times a day

Not All Doc's do favor the neurology aspect of depression, I know some great ones that look first at the whole life around you taking in as much infor as you can give and the look into the neurological aspect and then take it from there.

There are many different causes to Depression. I have a great site for you to look at. It is really in-depth from beginning to end. I hope you check it out

Be Safe and Be Well my friend

Answer 3

Off-coarse life can make you depressed(with all the crap thrown your way). I rarely think it is a chemical imbalance. I think everyone has the tendency to become depressed, it's all about how you handle it. If a strong person with a humorous personality becomes depressed, they handle it much differently to a weak introvert. Some people like the drugs the docs provide and often get addicted to the good feeling the drugs generate. Whereas a strong person would kick the doc unda the @ss and get through it(very good) themselves. Docs have to say the things they've been taught and have to prescribe the drugs they do because that's their job and that's what they know. I believe you can get through depression if you WANT to. But if you like attention from people who feel sorry for you, you won't. It's a bad thing to go through and you can get out a better person, if you so choose to. I hope you get out of your depression and see that there is more to life than your four room walls and bed. Open your eyes and see what you're missing.

Answer 4

The psychological field is also sadly a buisness and they need to make money just like any business. I don't think too many people would buy medications or treatments if they suffered from normal everyday life. I have had at least six diagnosises and tried almost every medication and the only thing this did for me was wasted my time, made me feel worse (why arn't I normal? why do I have to take these pills to feel like everyone else?),and I did get the side effects they warn you about.

Life can be very hard at times I think going to psyc anything is damaging and does more negitive than good for most people. Why don't they consider how your parents raised you? as this is a very important yet compleatly over looked contributer? Why do people think that you can slap one lable/diagnosis on you and thats it you are now depressed or have bi polar disorder which puts you in this column, when do they take each person and look at what they feel and who they are? Everybody is different their entire lifes experiences change each ones perceptions and could get them thinking in a way that does not help them, making it harder to fit in or do everyday tasks, teaching people where their misconceptions and having them learn how to correct certain usually simple behaviors that would help but it doesn't make enough money, why do you need to go back for more treatment if you do get better, It's easier to just give you pills plus with all of the medications it took me about about 8 years to try almost all of them and when that didn't work they said "we need to find a good combination of 2 different types" I thought how long is this going to take, and never took anything again. Contrary to popular belief I stopped cold turkey and I felt better, started to learn why I acted and thought the way I did made some adjustments and my problems are almost gone. I hope people can break the useless negitive I'm sick this is my diagnosis and I take these pills way of thinking and just learn and actually get better. And stop shoving pills down your childrens necks and give them love instead, they won't be so depressed if they feel they are loved.

I appoligize if I have offended anyone I don't believe every doctor has or at least had bad intentions, but this has got to stop.

Answer 5

The answer is definitely yes!

I have no history of depression whatsoever, either in my family or in my own life. I've always been a total optimist and was able to cope through some really difficult times.

However, after two years of total, unrelenting trauma and stress, I developed depression; it happened very gradually. I tried many different 'natural' remedies and nothing helped.

Ultimately, I had to start taking antidepressants, and the third one I tried has been working pretty well.

I think that chronic stress can probably cause some kind of chemical/hormonal disturbance, and this can then result in depression.

Counselling and also cognitive behavioural therapy are said to work really well for depression. I'd suggest though that for a severe and ongoing depression, medication is the best thing.

Answer 6

Life's hardships are definitely a large factor in a serious depression. So is a person's environment. I've had 9 full years of bizarre and unrelenting catastrophies, bad luck, mean people, illnesses, loss of loved ones and homelessness that would make anyone lose their mind, let alone be depressed. And I do have depression and see a psychiatrist for it, but neither he nor I attribute my depressions to life's hardships. Because many times I muddle through the hard times and get depressed over something trivial and inconsequential. So I don't bother with antidepressants--it seems futile and sooner or later problems get resolved anyway. Luckily, I also experience manic episodes far more than depression, so that in itself is my own weird antedote of euphoria that blots out all the crap and allows me to be happy in my own world, even if people don't understand me, so what? I get along and always will.

Answer 7

Life can often hand us a great big load of crap and it can cause depression. I really feel (though I may be biased) that talk therapy is the best for depression. You are right that psychology/psychiatry toss around way to many diagnoses that really may not be that accurate.
There are lots of things that can make you depressed. Past issues from a bad childhood, a bad relationship, financial loss, grief etc. Most depression can be cured by talk therapy if the client is willing to dredge up the issues, work on them then let them go. It isn't always easy.

Answer 8

I think that doctors "favor the neurological aspect" because its in favor of them. They make $ off of giving people a diagnoses.

And yes, while there are people that need medication , there are also people that are just going through rough times in life . That alone can bring us down. I just came through a real difficult time in my life but everything turned around for the better because I prayed . You may or may not believe in prayer but it was the only thing that got me through this crisis. I never thought about going to a therapist because I didnt want to hear that it was a "chemical imbalance " or anything like that. Prayer and the strength of my family is what got me through every challenging situation, even when I thought about suicide. Prayer worked for me.

Answer 9

I agree that we have become a pill-happy society. If there's a problem, fix it with a pill. That's just an unhealthy outlook altogether.

However, there are cases where there IS a chemical imbalance. Yes, depression can be caused by your environment. What can happen is when the body is exposed to any trauma, stress, chaos, or "getting served more than you can handle" for an extended period of time, in order to cope, the body is sending signals to the brain and chemicals are being released in the brain. If this happens over a long period of time, the body can train itself that a depressed state is normal, so when the stressors finally go away, the body stays in a depressed state. - Hence, the body has a chemical imbalance.

However, I agree with you full heartedly that medication should only be used in extreme cases. Unless it is severe, if the body got itself into a psychosomatic state without meds, there has to be a way to get the body out of the state without the intervention of meds.

Answer 10

As of right now, you have to call your doctor. It even states that this is a major side effect and should call your doctor right away! Don't wait to see what all the answers are because you will not pull out of this on your own for a while. Nothing will work except calling your doctor. Explain to the receptionist/nurse that answers the phone exactly what you have put down here. They will help you, not the answers that someone puts on a forum. This is a very serious matter and should be dealt in that way.

Answer 11

I think of myself as of a strong one, it took several big strokes at me to make me fall, and frankly some would not even got alive out of first few. I was such a chirpy, annoyingly happy person everybody hinged on. Guess that changed as I have meds everywhere, car, job, job second, living room, bedroom, even my cat's carry-on. I need colour-coded pills to get through my week, I made a very powerfull enemy of myself to myself. Bills have to be paid, business has to be taken care off, there are lesser who count on me, and it will never get better. I reach out and fall on my face. I talk and get prescription. Is it a help or addiction? I don't know, but stress makes brain functions alter in such a subtle ways and neural systems adapt to it and whatever they do, should be our self-defense, and left alone - but why it hurts the most when it actually doesn't?