Caught in an Antidepressant Hoax

Don't you think we live in a culture of extremes, where it’s very difficult to see the gray or even FIND the MIDDLE ground?

Its easy to look after our PHYSICAL health or AT LEAST TRY to when you go to the gym; but when it comes to our mental health its not quite the same; is it?

Many things are often taken for granted and overlooked. Our mental health is a combination of our psychological, emotional and social well being, and not to forgot diet!

Most often we are exposed to one of the two treatments: traditional medicine or alternative medicine. However, psychiatric medicine have only surged despite the potentially life altering side effects. It is an extremely important component of our health at each and every stage of our lives, right from childhood to adolescence and to adulthood.

It impacts how we feel, think and behave (act). It is important to be emotionally healthy too so that you can be in control of feelings, thoughts and behaviours. Therefore you will be in a better position to cope with any of life’s challenges.

The most common combination of environmental, genetic and psychological factors which lead to high amounts of hopelessness, sadness, pessimism, fatigue and irritability. However, in today’s fast paced times no one really bothers about taking the time out to look after themselves and just go for the easy way out – POP THE PILL and deal with all of the consequences.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS – MEDICATIONS, which are used to treat many different brain chemicals known as brain transmitters.  One may even tempted to take antidepressant for a month or so, with the hope that it may alleviate one’s pain, but the stark reality is that it leads to a whole bunch of negative side-effects and is NOT AT ALL the normal, desirable way to deal with stressful situations.

Why run to medications that leave behind ‘ZOMBIE’ effects – ‘effects’ that make YOU dissociated with, drowsy and sluggish! The precise ‘depression’ feelings’ do not get targeted but assault every conceivable emotion – HIGH and LOW!

Each and every one of these medications has to some effect their OWN SIDE-EFFECT (OF COURSE NEGATIVE!) which may be a headache, sleepiness, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, agitation, changes in appetite, dry mouth, increased blood pressure, excessive sweating, etc.

Anxiety is one of the most common worries amongst all young     adults and this is one of the main concerns is youthful ennui and adolescence angst is highly worrying. Anxiety causes so many mental health problems such as generalised anxiety and panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are used for the treatment of anxiety and panic; and have been found to be effective in the treatment of seizures (convulsions), trouble sleeping and insomnia). They are also used for depression, nausea and vomiting and muscle relation. There are many different types of benzodiazepines that treat anxiety.

Clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), quazepam and flurazepam (Dalmane) are known as long-acting agents that have durations that can last up to 1-3 days.

Mental health diagnosis, in recent years is more circumstantial than pathological and is even driven by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) framework.

How can children and young adults feel that they are in control of their thoughts and emotions when doctors are TELLING them that medications (drugs) will be able to solve the chemical imbalance?

However, another popular form of treatment is available that requires patients to take antidepressant drugs known as SSRI’s (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors). It can take, however up to four to eight weeks to fully feel the effects of the SSRI’s.

It is used as antidepressants for the treatment of anxiety disorders and for major depressive disorder.

Medication may be suitable for you, if your anxiety and depression is interfering in your ability to function in normal life.

However, many people make the MISTAKE of continuing to take medication despite having therapy, self-help strategies could work for better, exercise.

Antidepressants, by nature are designed to help you return to your former demeanor. There are many medications such as Lonazep (Clonazepam 1 MG), Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, bupropion and even Celexa.

Of course, Anxiety and depression can both be treated WITHOUT medication as well! However, for this, several mind-body techniques are required and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can be used to treat anxiety.

There are plenty of ‘benzodiazepines’ such as:

1.  Alprazolam (Xanax); that can be used for the treatment of generalised anxiety, PTSD and panic disorders.

2.  Lorazepam (Ativan) is used to treat generalised anxiety, phobias and anxiety.

3. Clonazepam (Klonopin) is used for the treatment of social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic and phobias.

4. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) is used to treat phobias and generelasiled anxiety.

5. Oxazepam (Serax) is used for the treatment of phobias and generalised anxiety.

Diazepam (Valium) is used for the treatment of phobias and generalised anxiety.

Beta-Blockers: Also known as Beta-adrenergic blocking agents, these are drugs that are known to block norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) from binding to the beta receptors of the nerves. Some of them include propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin) which can be used for the treatment of social anxiety.

They are known to be effective in the treatment of social phobias, treatment of anxiety, panic disorder, treatment of hyperthyroidism, aggressive behaviour and  akathisia (restlessness or inability to sit still). They are especially useful in controlling the rapid heartbeats, trembling, shaking and even blushing in anxious situations that may take place for several hours.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Physicians many prescribe these for the treatment of depression that occurs with anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic disorder and PTSD. They are most often taken in capsule or tablet form. People who have a history of epilepsy (seizures) difficulty urinating (urinary retention), glaucoma (an eye disease) and/or a heart condition may observe that these tricyclic antidepressants may worsen the symptoms.    

Other Medications: Trazodone (Desyrel)- This antidepressant boosts the serotonin activity in the brain; thereby treating anxiety,depression, pain and sleep (insomnia). So, this medication will help improve your moods, appetite and allso improve your energy levels. You willl therefore have decreased amounts of anxiety and insomnia related to depression. This drug works by helping to restore and maintain a balance of a certain natural serotonin (chemical) in the brain.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs, MAOI): MAOIs were the first class of antidepressants that were developed; but they fell out of favour because of various concerns about their interaction with different drugs and foods. It is also used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. While they were known to elevate the serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels by inhibiting an enzyme that was known as monoamineoxidase. This enzyme breaks down the serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

SSRIs (Aka- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): One of the most commonly known antidepressants are knownn as SSRIs - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These medications ease depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (i.e. neuro-transmitters) which carry signals between brain cells.

These SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin in the brain, thereby making the serotonin more available. There are many different SSRIs that can be used for the treatment of anxiety, depression, poor mood, sexual dysfunction, stress and OCD. Some of the generic names of the drugs include  fluoxetine (Prozac and Sarafem) and escitalopram (Lexapro).

SNRIs Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): As they affect two very important brain chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine; SNRIs are a class of antidepressants that were introduced in the mid 1990s. They are also known as dual reuptake inhibitors or dual acting antidepressants and are mainly used to treat depression.     

As psychiatrists and other physicians prescribe such medications, it becomes more than obvious that medication is not a panacae. The number of people using psychiatric drugs and antidepressants is alarming and continues.

There are not many areas of science such as psychopharmacology and psyciatry that have been locked in such a bitter controversy such as how drugs affects the brain and mind.