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Manufacturing Depression

Gary Greenberg: "Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease"

Is depression manufactured? Two decades after the introduction of antidepressants, it's become commonplace to assume that our sadness can be explained in terms of a disease called depression. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 14 million Americans suffer from major depression every year and more than three million suffer from minor depression. Some 30 million Americans take antidepressants at a cost of over $10 billion a year. Gary Greenberg argues that while depression can be debilitating, it has also been largely manufactured by doctors and drug companies as a medical condition with a biological cause that can be treated with prescription medication. Ref. Source 3

Depression Manufacturing

Well I think in some cases it IS something that can be treated with medication just like it was diabetes or other physical ailment - one which may have to have lifetime maintenance, not something you just "get over" or "snap out of". But overdiagnosed? Probably, or maybe not overdiagnosed, but as noted, over-medicated. Which is strange because all the people I've seen are all the cognitive-behavioral school of counseling, which generally doesn't go the meds route if it isn't immediately obviously needed - but maybe mine just is that, but I haven't had anyone say "Nah, just come in for counseling". I don't know if that means they're jumping the gun, or I'm that "bad off".

I think this is the fear for a lot of people, that any doubt, or chance that a case which could have been treated with meds but wasn't, dies from related features, such as suicidal ideation, etc. So "better safe than sorry" maybe, is the approach, but one that may be having negative side effects?

Manufacturing Depression Health & Special Psychology

I for one have been diagnosed with depression. Lexapro seems to have helped me. It is also for anxiety, and helps a bit with compulsive disorders. I was pretty sceptical about it at first But I am no longer drinking myself to death.

Depression Manufacturing

That's great to hear. How long have you been suffering of depression?

I was very depressed as a child because of my weight and grew up having eating disorders because of it and now I am no longer overweight but I feel depressed at times when I think about the things I went through when I was a child.

Depression Manufacturing

I was depressed for about two years. Of course drinking didn't help the matter any. Even though you think you feel better it really makes you more stressed and depressed. Talk to your doctor. They have tests for depression and seem eager to prescribe something for it. That was one of the things that made me cynical at first.

Manufacturing Depression

The key to depression is not the symptoms but the cause. That is where most sufferers lose focus when in a search for a cure. Usually the cause has nothing to do with the symptoms. Its best to just talk with someone who has your best interest at heart if the case is mild. If it is a chemical imbalance then that is a whole other story. I sometimes wonder if all the artificial ingredients we take in our bodies now don't add to the whole problem as a depressed society.

Manufacturing Depression

I have to agree with you on this. I had seen a many (including myself) that realize the level of depression we're suffering; however, not many notice that the cause and effect of this is extremely important.

Depression comes from various sources and at times, certain health issues added into one's surrounding would be lead to a whole different outcome.

If we are to really deal with depression and to ensure the issues are suppressed entirely, we'll have to deal with the cause and not just the effect of depression. Only with that, and a whole lot of motivation, we're able to counter the depression as a whole.

Manufacturing Depression Psychology Special & Health

The world is more demanding that it ever was in times past. Long ago you could pass off just being a farmer or leather worker or blacksmith. Now you are nothing unless you have a six figure salary and talking to the Jones. Add to that the well marketed Hollywood rants about looking beautiful / handsome and slim and you have everything needed to make you depressed, IF you take it to heart.