Anti Depression Medication: Helping People Help Themselves
Depression is one of the most popular mental illnesses. In many ways, it is glamorized in popular culture-it has become the psychological disease of artists and authors, a fountain of creativity. But for those who suffer from depression, it is a serious matter, even life-threatening. Depression can be caused by any number of factors, and most often, it is a combination of numerous causes. While some individuals are genetically predisposed to depression, others are not, becoming depressed even though they have no family history of the disease. The most important and most critical step in the healing process for those suffering from depression is discovering its origination, because that will determine whether or not anti depression medication will prove successful, or whether psychotherapy and counseling, or some combination of everything, will be more productive.
The Source of the Pain
For many people, depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. Depending on the type of imbalance, one anti depression medication will work better than the next. The best depression medication for an abundance of one chemical will not be the best depression medication for a lack of the same chemical. Another anti depression medication may replicate a specific neurotransmitter that helps transport that same chemical, while another may block the existing neurotransmitters from being able to do their jobs. In the end, deciding on the right anti depression medication for the right chemical imbalance is a long process, but it is not the most important step-asking for help in the first place is the most important step.
Especially for those who are not suffering from a chemical imbalance, asking for help is the most crucial step in the healing process. The reason is if individuals do not want help, they will often not be able to overcome their depression. And the reason is that anti depression medication on its own is rarely enough, especially for those who are depressed due to a stress or trauma, or who are experiencing depression as a side effect of a more serious mental illness. For these people, therapy or counseling is essential-not only do they need to talk through their emotional pain, they also have to address other symptoms that may hint at a different psychological disease. While anti depression medication can help relieve a lot of the symptoms, especially for those who are predisposed to depression, it is rarely enough on its own. But if individuals do not want to help themselves, no amount of anti depression medication will make much of a difference.
