In the United States millions of people are diagnosed with depression. Not all of them are able to handle the pressure that comes along. Doctors have found different way to help, and company’s found a way to make a profit. Patients have used talking therapy but some opt for medications, but who should be allowed to take this medications and who can prescribe them. With so many different Anti-depressant drugs Ad’s people are now diagnosing themselves with the treatment and the cure. Not knowing the after effects people can potently put themselves at risk.
“A mental state of depressed mood characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and discouragement. Depression ranges from normal feelings of “the blues” through dysthymic disorder to major depressive disorder. It in many ways resembles the grief and mourning that follow bereavement; there are often feelings of low self-esteem, guilt, and self-reproach, withdrawal from interpersonal contact, and somatic symptoms such as eating and sleep disturbances.” (CREDO REFERENCE) . Depression is something that can start at any age and carry out through years, it doesn't choose a specific gender or age. One way you can help treat depression is by going to a therapist. Here you will be able to talk our problems and see if you can start and look life in a different perspective. But another way to help people with depression is by taking anti depression which are given out by psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a person who specializes in the diagnose, prevention and treatment of mental and emotional disorder with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other situations. When dealing with depressed patients psychiatrist used an anti--depressant called Fluoxetine also known as Prozac and Sarafem. In the article “Oh How Happy We Will be” Greg Crister mentions two books. One being “ Listing to Prozac” by Peter Kramer which leans toward the use of anti depressants such as prozac, and the other book is called “Talking Back to Prozac” by Peter Breggin which argues that “the drug’s effectiveness are based on shallow research. We, ourselves are contributing to the multi billion dollar business that these companies are making. We are not the only ones to blame but our doctors, therapist and pharmacies as well. Now in days its more common to hear someone is on prozac or on any anti depressant due to economic times, but its moments like this that people take advantage.
Anti-depression are drugs given to patients when they feel that they’ve lost a sense of self content, for example when they no longer want to do things they use to enjoy. These drugs are legal if prescribed the correct way and controlled by your doctors. When doctors lose control of their patients dosage things can get out of hand, misuse of the drugs start to occur. This is a discussion that has been going on for years. Some doctors believe that Prozac and Sarafem in the wrong hands can cause dangerous scenarios. They feel the power of this pill and start to feel like without it they wont be able to go on. Drug users are rarely concerned about drug activity at the cellular or physiological level. As mention by Michael Montagne they instead focus on drug effects exhibited at physical and behavioral, or everyday life functioning, levels(1262). Abusing this drug can be potentially dangerous to people who don’t know the side effects. Common side effects of prozac can include insomnia, weakness, weigh loss, drowsiness and even shakiness.
Public ad’s are playing a big role in society, there are the way people see things the way they think they should. Michael Montagne states in page 1246 that past surveys of patient-information seeking have indicated that media sources, especially print media, television, and drug advertising, are more important than health professionals in learning about new drugs and their effects Before you wouldn’t see an ad on an anti depressant site. Teenager now more then ever are influenced by the media from what they eat to how they dress and drugs aren’t out of the question. Having the internet and a t.v. disposable at anytime to kids and teenagers influences them in many ways. You hear a lot of famous people who miss use pharmaceutical drugs to relieve there pain or depression. A common commercial gives you a basic check list and if you think you fall into those categories, then you are depressed. Thats not the end of the commercial, then it informs you to use to take there medicine and go to your doctor and see if it is right for you. We no longer are being lead by doctors who have PHD’s or Masters in medicine but by a checklist. We are being self diagnosed without fulling understanding the long term matter. When self diagnosing we don’t see that our bodies are made up of different chemicals and these drugs can interfere with them. In some cases when people feel a little down they immediately turn to anti depressants for the answer.
Not only are we affecting ourselves but also affecting people who really need it. Prozac and Sarafem have helped people with depression battle through it and give them the enough boost they need in their life. Many cases have shown that anti depression pills have helped gain some sanity back, but by taking them the right way. Prozac can give you a chemical balance in your brain that lets you live a more stable life. A family friend lived through a bad experience as a child and was proscribed anti depressants. He feels that this has helped him through he’s life and now is living a normal life. There has been logical proof that prozac does work with a doctor and therapist who is really there for the patient and not agreeing to what they say because they think there depressed.
Pharmaceuticals are being taken advantage by the wrong people and even have started to become substance abuse. Pharmacies, doctors and therapist are using mass media to help promote there product to the wrong patient. With all these talks of depression we are not noticing that we are originally turning healthy people on anti depressants and having teens and kids. We are not noticing that we are affecting the people who indeed need them.