Medications alone do not help everyone overcome, recover from depression because they do not tackle the underlying root issues . They are merely prescribed to treat the symptoms . Its up to individual whther they take medication or not or what type whther pharmaceutical or alternative, natural. It doesn't make sense to me why people take medication for a mental psychological stress related problem. Having a mental illness doesn't mean its gonna be around for life either. I don't rly like the term mental illness. Medications are meant to be for people to manage symtpoms of physical health issues. People may think that depression is just related to chemical imbalance or genetic but that is just a belief not a fact, it is something they've learnt /been taught and followed it. Others have learnt/been taught that depression is related to negative thoughts and unhelpful patterns of behaviour that need addressing/changing. Positive thinking is said to lead to positive feelings and actions while negative pessimistic thinking is more likely to lead to stress and suffering. People have a lot of different views/ideas and experiences of depression. My depressive episodes have def been related to stressful traumatic experiences, disappointments, loss, things I've not dealt with well that I've been through and passivity and self limiting and destructive habits that need tackling. There is a lot of pain, hurt and anger attached to it. I can't depend on others too much. I've had numerous negative experiences with people including professionals. So I've had to find own ways of carrying on and helping self but I still know there's a lot affecting me that I need to do something about and change. I can only do that with positive optimistic thinking, visualisation and practical constructive efforts. I won't get better by believing there's no hope, that things won't improve for me and that I'm powerless. I have to believe in self in own abilities and strengths and do my best to create life I want and need.