6 votes

Drugs alone won't fix our epidemic of depression

7 comments

  1. [2]
    NubWizard
    Link
    I enjoyed the three suggestions at the end of the article outlining steps to take that aren't prescriptive medications that help in over coming depression Meditation Exercise Diet I have changed...

    I enjoyed the three suggestions at the end of the article outlining steps to take that aren't prescriptive medications that help in over coming depression

    • Meditation
    • Exercise
    • Diet

    I have changed all three of these for the better in the past year and the results have worked for me. 10 minutes of meditation and listening to a Dharma talk once a week, riding my bike to work, and eating heavy probiotic foods.

    However, routine is really important as well. Making sure you wake up and go to sleep at similar times and applying some structure to your day. I addition, making sure you follow basic hygiene strictly is important. While depressed, it's so easy to slip into the habit of staying up late and sleeping in and your body never really makes the adjustments well.

    I would also throw out there alcohol consumption is a big part of depression too. I found no matter how much I drank or how little, I would experience a mental hangover of increased depression and anxiety that didn't go away unless I abstained for a week. I quit drinking outright almost two years ago and it has been crazy the difference it has made on me with the drive to better myself.

    5 votes
    1. Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      Exercise should be first on that list. In fact, it's so important it should be repeated at least three times. Exercise fixes and prevents so many health problems it's honestly insane how little it...

      Exercise should be first on that list. In fact, it's so important it should be repeated at least three times. Exercise fixes and prevents so many health problems it's honestly insane how little it is valued in the US.

      5 votes
  2. [4]
    Archimedes
    Link
    I'm not sure I understand who this article is targeted at. Medical professions certainly should already know that mental health needs a holistic approach and the general public often...

    I'm not sure I understand who this article is targeted at. Medical professions certainly should already know that mental health needs a holistic approach and the general public often underestimates the need for pharmaceutical treatment component. I've never heard of depression being understood as a "Prozac deficiency disease". Is this a common thing that I'm unaware of?

    1. [3]
      NubWizard
      Link Parent
      I don't know, you would be surprised at how many doctors understand the holistic approach but would just rather prescribe something and the patient go away. I had to take my SO to the emergency...

      I don't know, you would be surprised at how many doctors understand the holistic approach but would just rather prescribe something and the patient go away. I had to take my SO to the emergency department over the weekend due to a scratched cornea that was bothering her past the three day mark.

      She goes in to see the doctor, he prescribes her an antibiotic for the eye, then completely ignoring her currently prescribed medication of Naltrexone (a prescription usually prescribed for alcoholism and opiate addiction), and offers her a Vicodin script. I sat there dumbfounded on how a trained medical professional could just offer something like that for eye pain that could be fixed with ibuprofen.

      It's just no wonder that we have a prescription problem in the US for managing pain (emotional and physical).

      2 votes
      1. spit-evil-olive-tips
        Link Parent
        Yeah, my own experience with treatment for depression is that the first general practitioner I went to laughed at me. The next GP was much more understanding, but they're still overworked and...

        I don't know, you would be surprised at how many doctors understand the holistic approach but would just rather prescribe something and the patient go away.

        Yeah, my own experience with treatment for depression is that the first general practitioner I went to laughed at me. The next GP was much more understanding, but they're still overworked and rushing from appointment to appointment in 20 minute intervals. Not much opportunity to do there other than write a prescription and maybe throw in an "exercise more and eat better".

      2. Archimedes
        Link Parent
        Wow! I'd think they could get in trouble for malpractice and lose their license for doing something like that.

        completely ignoring her currently prescribed medication of Naltrexone (a prescription usually prescribed for alcoholism and opiate addiction), and offers her a Vicodin script

        Wow! I'd think they could get in trouble for malpractice and lose their license for doing something like that.