Top Ten Reasons Not to Buy Antidepressants, Part 1 of 5

My sister has had chronic depression ever since she had scarlet fever at age six. I have never had this disease. Unfortunately, many teachers, school counselors, and acquaintances urge people who don't have a depressive disorder at all to use antidepressants. Even doctors may recommend antidepressants for someone who may have a disease, but not the specific disease antidepressants are meant to treat. While this series of articles can't provide all the information people need to diagnose and cure every kind of depression that's not caused by chronic serotonin deficiency, it does offer a brief overview of other biological and psychological conditions that can cause people to feel depressed.

This series is NOT meant to be a substitute for consulting a psychiatrist or psychologist. Readers who are considering or using antidepressants should discuss these ideas with their mental health care advisors. Discontinuing any medication without consulting a doctor can be dangerous.

Blues Buster #1: Is It Normal Grief?

Consider when you began feeling "depressed." If it was right after a disturbing event such as a death, a natural disaster, a violent crime, etc., what you are feeling is called grief, not depression. Competent psychiatrists sometimes prescribe mood boosters to help someone experiencing grief cope with minor stresses such as funerals and courtroom appearances, but the "treatment" for grief that works best in the long run is for you, the grieving person, to take time to adjust to whatever change has taken place. When adults lose a spouse or child, or when children lose a parent or sibling, the grief process often takes about a year.