The Student Room Group

Discussion Regarding Depression

I do not agree that depression is an illness and i hate te idea of anti-depressant drugs. Depression is like a 'void' we can slip into now and again. it is the most common 'mental illness' out of them all, as psychiatrist state this as -'the common cold of psychiatry' the fact that so many people have had a depression at some point in there lives gives enough reason for it not to be an illness, its simple an emotion ( my opinion, i cannot stress enough ).
I only deem abnormal behaviour as an actual possible 'illness'.
But back on subject - I believe that counselling will get rid of any depression. I am speaking from first hand experience from taking medication then under going therapy.
When i was on the drugs it was a strange feeling, i didn't feel down but i knew i should be down but i wasn't down so i ended up getting really confused and stressed. I then stopped taking the medication (fluruxotine sp?) and went back to my usual ways, only difference now was the questions id get when i had my low spells had gone, id just me left feeling down without knowing why or how to get rid of it.
I then started seeing a psychologist and we've discus almost every aspect of my life, from college to personal perception. At the time i didn't think it was working, i had it set in my mind no one can help me ect, but eventfully the lower points started happening less and less until now its totally disappeared.
I believe depression happens on an unconscious level. After the stages of repression, feelings are buried down into the ego. Therapy simply brings these feelings to the surface and sort of, 'sorts them out'.
If you now say you've been in therapy for god knows how long and it isn't working i suggest you find another therapist
Reply 1
"the fact that so many people have had a depression at some point in there lives gives enough reason for it not to be an illness"

I have to disagree, the fact most of us contract chicken pox doesnt make it any less of an illness/disease. Depression can be caused by low levels of serotonin in the brain. And the SSRI Anti-depressants like Fluoxotine (Prozac) are meant to try and remedy this. From what I understand they work my helping the brain retain serotinin already produced making it available to the brain for longer amounts of time. And over time this is supposed to life the moods, so that the depression sufferer can be more positive and feel they can start to deal with the issues. Although for someone with mild possibly to moderate depression, maybe therapy/ councelling would be enough. But others need the boost for the drugs to be able to take those steps.

Prozac isn't just used to treat depression but also OCD, and eating disorders, as the same chemical serotonin, or lack of is involved in these illnesses too.

"I only deem abnormal behaviour as an actual possible 'illness'."

Say for example.. wanting to take ones life due to severe depressing suicidal thoughts? I beleve that depressed people can act in abnormal ways depending on how severly depressed they are.

Depression can also run in families, so there is possibly a genetic factor in this, infact mental illness in general can run in familys. I would consider depression to be mental illness as it can effect your quality of life.

I am by no means trying to discredit you in anyway. You are going by you experiences. There are various degree and manifestations of depression to consider. If anyone wants to read about it I think this site is quite easy to understand http://www.enotalone.com/article/4116.html
the fact that so many people have had a depression at some point in there lives gives enough reason for it not to be an illness, its simple an emotion


Yes, but the point is that when it becomes persistant it is a disorder.
Reply 3
If drugs help people then who cares? Therapy is waaaaay more expensive.
Reply 4
puppy
If drugs help people then who cares? Therapy is waaaaay more expensive.


Its the fact that depression can be triggered by an even or sucession of events, the medication will deal with the side effects of depression but not the underlying issues. It's like taking pain killers for on going back pain, it just masks the symptons and doesn't deal with the cause. Therapy/ councelling is supposed to help you deal with an sort out whatever issues there are that triggered and contribute to the depression. So idealy both medication and therapy should be undertaken. Then you should be able to come off the drugs without sinking back into the depression... well thats the theory anyway.
Reply 5

There are different types of depression, that's what the OP seems to have not taken into consideration. Personally, I've been through councelling, and all sorts, and it hasn't helped my depression, whereas the medication has. I've been told by at least three doctors that my form of depression is biological rather than pychological, and is thus an illness, or perhaps more specifically a deficiency. My body absorbs seratonin too quickly, thus it isn't in my system long enough to trigger the right levels of the mood hormones endorphines (the happy hormone that chocolate is known to trigger).