I took Psychology 1, 2 and AP while in high school with a psychologist who did both pharmacy psychology and council psychology as well as being a college professor.
I was just informed that you could, supposedly, take anti-depressants for a period of time and it will "correct" the chemical imbalance thats present in the mind.
Can anybody clarify whether this statement is true or not. It would be greatly appreciated.
-Jamie
2007-07-06 07:06:46 · 6 answers · asked by poeticpyr07 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
I was under the same impression...it masks the problem. I've never heard of it balancing out the problem and eventually fixing it.
I've known a ton of people who take medication for stuff like that and nobody ever told me it fixed the problem eventually.
2007-07-06 07:37:16 · update #1
It depends - is the patient experiencing depression because of trauma, stress or loss? There are people whose depression is short-term and they'd eventually get past it themselves, but the A/D helps them through the healing process. These are the people for whom "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" and "Happiness is a Choice" are helpful.
If the depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, the A/D can only smooth out the bumps in the road. It's possible to learn to overcome depressive thought patterns, but if the depression is related to serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine levels in the brain, find the right meds at the right doses and get comfy. It's gonna be a long ride.
2007-07-10 18:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by mrscjr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
medications can, in essence, correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. A good analogy to this would be a diabetic who needs insulin. They can correct their sugar levels to a therapeutic level but they need to continue to take insulin for as long as they have the condition. Psychotropic medications may in fact seem to "cure" some people, particularly from depression but there is always the strong possibility of a recurrence. One of the greatest problems with working with these types of medications (all psychiatric meds) is that patients are often non-compliant due to various reasons including side effects.
2007-07-06 08:24:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been in natural medicine for over 30 years and have had several people come to me with this subject matter...I have watched several go down hill with other ailments caused the anti-depressant pills...they are horrible for the body...and none of these people were cured, however when I suggested the natural way...and they took it...I gave them a good all round vitamin and B-100's and they were taken off the anti-depressants..and I talked with them about the problems they were hiding under the drugs...I helped them have self esteem again..and deal with the abuse they had recieved and showed them the problems are in the past and now they could get a new life started...and usually within three weeks they would come out of it feeling much better (some had to come off the addiction to the pills given to them so it took longer) and most of them have good lives today.
It is like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound...if you do not deal with why they want antidepressants in the first place you are not helping them..people always want a quick fix, but pills are not it -as you know. If the chemical imbalance is caused by years of malnutrition it can be corrected by vitamins and minerals along with a good diet..but doctors dont get paid unless your sick there are far too many of them out there who bait the hook to get themselves money and they are well aware of what these pills do to the body..so they are securing a victim to put money in their pockets....the ratio of people who do get cured by these drugs is very small, and watching how many people are hooked on drugs is staggering, they out do the street drugs by far...there should be far more restrictions on any kind of doctor for pumping any kind of pills to give a quick fix. Nature is always better and the people who choose it usually live happy long lives.... hope it helps
2007-07-06 07:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by rowdysunsetart 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Antidepressants replace the chemicals that your brain is lacking. You will never cure it if it is a chemical thing. I have an imbalance and have been on Prozac for years. If I don't take it, then the depression comes back.
2007-07-06 08:08:08 · answer #4 · answered by db2byl 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Brain chemistry comes from amino acids, which comes from the protein you eat. People who have "chemical imbalances" need to change their diets.
Shocking, I know, but it really is that simple.
2007-07-06 12:50:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anti-depressants create an abnormal brain state. I believe they mask the problem, not cure it.
2007-07-06 07:25:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋