Why are so many people suffering with depression?

Question

Whats are causes?
It seems to be a growing condition?
What could the goverment/NHS do to help?
Should herbal options be the first point of call before mainstream meds?

Answer 1

Why does everyone want a medical cure? There has not been a cure for anything in over 50 years. The money is in the treatment. Want to get numb? Go ahead and take your antidepressants.

It's my position that depression is a social condition. Our society has become more and more disconnected from each other, and the natural result is depression. We are social animals. We need social interaction and to be connected to our community again. I know, it's a pipe dream.

Most doctors who treat depression are trained to concentrate on the science of the brain chemistry. Most don't consider social, nutritional, environmental, and other conditions when treating a condition, or what causes that brain chemistry.

Answer 2

The faster pace of life we lead now, can contribute to depression, the need to strive for bigger & better all the time can send someone into a depressive state if they feel they are not achieving .
Also the modern diet, although we know we should eat healthier, the vast majority dont.

the government needs to invest more into the treatment and prevention of mental health,
educate children in schools, so mental health becomes a more accepted condtion.
Herbal ports of call can be dangerous in the treatment of mental illness. St John's Wort is notorious for causing side effects and ecacerbating conditions and reacting with other medication a person may be taking, Herbal meds are not tested as stringently as phameceutical meds and just because it is a plant doesn't make it safe does it?

Answer 3

Hi Zee, I don't think herbs should be the first point of call, I think diet should be. The typical diet today is lacking so much that there are diseases on the rise. For instance heart disease in our youth, all due to poor eating habits.

When we don't feed our bodies well how can we expect our brains to function as well as if we were eating a well balanced diet, high in the essential fatty acids and water, both of which our brains so desperately need every day.

Along with the good diet, a daily supplement that provides a full range of essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

The next step I think is to look at exercise. I don't know about others but when I don't get enough exercise I automatically get feeling down.

And finally stress. Today I think we put more stress on ourselves and our youth than ever before. This stress affects our physical and mental health and I believe needs to be addressed before considering medication to combat depression.

When all of these issues have been covered then perhaps it would be time to consider medication but not until we have addressed the obvious short falls of todays lifestyle.

Answer 4

Because Life sucks.

Economic problems, bad news (the whole reason the News is on is to cause anxiety). And there are many more factors.

My #1 coice is TOO MANY PEOPLE. The planet is loaded up, and then the nut jobs all crowd together in cities. Very depressing.

And those meds don't really help.

Herbal remedies can help. But of course the one herb that reall works well on depression is outlawed by depression-mongers in power.

Yep, life sucks.

Answer 5

Depression can be hereditary but stress caused by work and living conditions can lead to depression too.

Ideally counselling and changes in lifestyle should be the first option to help manage depression, but a distinct lack of qualified therapists and tight NHS budgets lead to thousands being given Prozac and left to get on with it.

Answer 6

My depression has started at the age of 43, I used to be able to "get over things" in my own way, through exercise and talking, however this past month i have actually been on my 1st antidepressants and the 1st time i have seeked proffessional help.
Aswell as the antidepressants, I am waiting to see a councillor
At 17 i found my grandfather hanging
And in the past 7 yrs i have married and divorced my ex who mentally abused me.
I have seen my mother burned alive
Been suspended from work for 6 mnths and returned
Now through no fault of mine my sister has decided i serve no purpose to her and wont talk to me

So at 43 i think i have done pretty well for this being the 1st time i have seeked professional help.

Unless you go through it you cant possibly understand what its like to be depressed

I suggest you read what other people have gone through on here, all of mine are minor comparred to some others

Answer 7

the reasons 4 depression all seem to point towards a deficiency of some kind, whether its vitamins or natural sunlight. Also stress plays a a factor. So 4 myself i eat what i need as opposed to what i like, exercise regular and don't allow society to stress me out, especially the pressures exerted by television programs. Some people are more sensitive than others so the are affected by subtle things like radio/micro waves emitted by electro technical apparatus. I think medicines can cause dependency and is only a temporary solution.

Answer 8

I live in France and here the main cause is too much government intervention in private life and affairs. Too many rules and regulations, too many things forbidden, private business too regulated. A fast pacing rate of unemployment and a concerning general decrease of wages ensued during the last 20 years. In the end this country is divided into two main categories of people: the excluded, and the included.

Also, suicide at work is become a new phenomenon.

Answer 9

Yes, it seems like it is quite widespread! Every second or third question here is to talk about depression. I've gone through a bad depression once, and it just seems the way the world is, so fast paced and families broken or far apart, etc. that it takes its toll on people.

Here is some stats on depression:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-publication.shtml

Answer 10

Depression is a very complex illness and misunderstood by many people. Unless you have suffered depression yourself, please do us a favour and STFU!

I have suffered depression and it is a daily fight I can tell you, not helped by uneducated morons with their attitudes. The problem is, depression is not easily seen, many people appear to be fine to the untrained eye, but that does not mean they are not suffering.

To those who suffer depression, get help asap, whether it's from your GP or herbalist, if it works for you, go for it.

Finally, depression can be caused by many things, bereavement, chronic illness, unemployment, bullying to name a few, however, sometimes it just happens with no apparent reason, this does not make it any less real for the sufferer.