you can download some for free from the internet as well lol.....

And I work on the front line at an inpatient hospital for psychiatric care. I work with both axes I and II diagnoses. Most people dealing with depression don’t need to be told “go for a run” or “get some sleep” because they already know that. That’s one of the horrible things about this mental illness. You know you have no reason to be upset. No one else needs to tell you because you’re already beating yourself up with it. Depression isn’t just sadness that you can snap out of despite the way people present it. Depression is clinical long term episodes with major impacts on quality of life.

There are TON’s of research articles out there. I work with doctors who are writing some of them. I’ve worked with doctors who refused to hand out medication like candy and expect their clients to do the work. The thing is depression is a different beast. Medication isn’t going to solve it alone but medication makes its impact less. No medication is a cure all but you wouldn’t tell someone with a broken leg to go without a cast. Medication to me is like a cast. You can use it and allow yourself to head or you can slam your arm against concrete and complain when the vibrations hurt. Medication must be used correct.

Yes knowing the cause helps because with medication on board you can then treat the cause. No not everyone needs medication but then again this idea that people who are depressed are just spoiled adults who were spoiled children doesn’t improve the likelihood of getting better. Why try when people don’t support and just think you’re worthless anyways. Why take medication when people stigmatize it so much that people fear losing their jobs if their employers find out.

Yes exercise and sleep are important factors but I work with people who are in “prefect” health because they’ve fought for it. The face that monster every single day and they’ve won. I’ve lost those people too because when they went home their family told them they were less because of the medication they were on. I’ve seen a man who was twice my size cower in a corner because his depression told him he was worthless and the damage he had done to himself was shocking.

Chemical imbalances do exist. Maybe part of the issue now is we have people putting on these “I’ve adulted” stickers going to doctors expecting a magic fix that’s going to make it all easy. Maybe the issue is that as a society we have little to no understanding of what actually depression is. How many times to people say they are depressed over minor things or when they feel sad for a few moments? Life isn’t easy. It’s not magic rainbows and unicorns like parents are raising children to believe but that doesn’t down play true depression.