This is something that has on my mind a lot lately. I don’t like labels and not does my t. The term mental health issues is thrown around a lot lately, clients come in and say they have been diagnosed with depression/ anxiety and when we talk about what is going on in their life, getting depressed or having anxiety is s perfectly normal reaction to their situation.
I was diagnosed with depression and was given anti depressants but my world was turned upside when my partner cheated and left. So it’s no wonder I reacted by becoming depressed.
Maybe this is too simplistic but how do others feel?

[SparkySmart]

I think that a depressive reaction to depressing circumstances is a reasonable and healthy response, and counseling can help to restore perspective. I believe it's the degree of depression that matters; for instance, if the breakup of a relationship results in catatonia and a complete break with reality...well, that would be a disproportionate reaction and would most certainly need intervention. On the other hand, discerning between a true psychiatric emergency and attention-seeking histrionics must be difficult for healthcare providers at times.

I've heard that the DSM-5 criteria are now so broad that 90% of Americans can potentially be diagnosed as mentally ill.

Yes, I have heard that too and you make an important distinction between the level of depression. Also is a hormonal/ chemical imbalance or is it a situational depression.
I also think if we were to really examine to DSM we would all go into some form of mental illness which is quite alarming.
I see so many teenagers that are on anti anxiety medication and anti depressants, it’s so alarming.

[healed84]

Doesn’t the dsm differentiate between long term chronic MDD and depression that is s result of a circumstance?

I think any any therapist who is good reserves dx for when they have established a long term pattern of symptoms. That in my opinion is when it’s labeled a mental illness.

However, I do believe that being on an anti-depressant for short term because of a situation can also be appropriate at times as well.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I think there is a difference between having something like depression or anxiety due to circumstances and having it even tough everything else is fine. I also think there are some issues that do not come from the environment, at least not directly (personality disorders, or schizophrenia for example.) Of course these can also be influenced by the circumstances, but often times the issues will happen regardless of the exact situation. And treatment should be tailored after the issue, medication can sometimes help and sometimes should not be given.

[SparkySmart]

I'm reading a book right now entitled Mania, A Short History of Bipolar Disorder, written by David Healy. On page 150, it says, "...Dr. Paul McHugh, emeritus professor of psychiatry and former chairman of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins said: 'Pretty soon, we'll have a syndrome for short, fat Irish guys with a Boston accent, and I'll be mentally ill.'"

[BudFox]

As someone said, depression (anxiety too) is just an abstract feeling, and a sign that something is wrong on some level. Could be physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental. It's not a disease and not a valid diagnosis, any more than "headache" is a valid diagnosis.

The possible physiological and environmental factors are many and therapists and psychiatrists are probably not gonna have a clue. GPs i would not trust either.

Depression could also be a condition produced by the body for some valid reason, eg to get the organism to slow down and rest more in response to some stress or trauma.

Also if one is depressed because of loss or betrayal or the insanity of the world, then that's not a medical condition, and there isn't necessarily anything to treat per se.

I think step one is to purge conventional paradigms from the mind, and reject any "diagnosis" that comes from the DSM.

[nottrustin]

Situational depression is a real thing. When it is a temporary reaction to something that happens in ones life...loss of a loved one, divorce, etc.

[nottrustin]

Originally Posted by healed84

Doesn’t the dsm differentiate between long term chronic MDD and depression that is s result of a circumstance?

I think any any therapist who is good reserves dx for when they have established a long term pattern of symptoms. That in my opinion is when it’s labeled a mental illness.

However, I do believe that being on an anti-depressant for short term because of a situation can also be appropriate at times as well.

There is major depression single episode with varying degrees of severity or there is major depression recurrent again with varying degrees of severity

[amicus_curiae]

Originally Posted by monalisasmile

This is something that has on my mind a lot lately. I don’t like labels and not does my t. The term mental health issues is thrown around a lot lately, clients come in and say they have been diagnosed with depression/ anxiety and when we talk about what is going on in their life, getting depressed or having anxiety is s perfectly normal reaction to their situation.

I was diagnosed with depression and was given anti depressants but my world was turned upside when my partner cheated and left. So it’s no wonder I reacted by becoming depressed.

Maybe this is too simplistic but how do others feel?

I use the word “disorder.” I don’t give a rat’s *** about what anyone calls me or not. You’re right — depression and anxiety are normal reactions to many situations, but the longevity and intensity of depression and anxiety may render one incapable of functioning.

I’m not sure what you’re asking? If the loss of your partner is causing you so much anguish that you can’t function, yes I can understand your depression and anxiety and why you might need medication and therapy. No need to feel shame about the label.

I was on my 4th overdose when the hospital psychiatrist asked me for my history.
Asked my first depressive episode, aged 14, asked my family's history, brother adopted with me had kept himself in a dark room for many yrs.
Major depression was dx. I can't argue with that. Even then he didn't prescribe meds. Maybe if he had my 5th overdose might not have hapoened. This one took me to deaths door and the local mental health hospital. There I sat like king Arthur around a table with many psychiatrists who finally prescribed me medication. Told me it was be for the long term.
Been on them ever since and no more suicide attempts.
T also asked me for my history when we begun..
So I'm not sure where these amateurs prefossionals I read about are. Major depression and situational depression are well documented.

Originally Posted by nottrustin

Situational depression is a real thing. When it is a temporary reaction to something that happens in ones life...loss of a loved one, divorce, etc.

I agree with this and have experienced it myself but was treated as major depression.

[stopdog]

depression is a usual response to many things. I don't think that's a problem. I remember laughing at the list of stupid questions they would ask my person at every oncology appointment about how she was feeling. She had metastasized cancer -how the **** did they think she was feeling. she finally just told them to stop asking her those questions and they did. They also kept offering her all sorts of drugs for depression. It, to me and to her, was ridiculous that they wanted to drug her out of her feelings.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by stopdog

It, to me and to her, was ridiculous that they wanted to drug her out of her feelings.

Maybe they wanted to drug her out of their feelings.

I completely believe in the biological/chemical causes of certain kinds of depression and am by no means anti-med, but very much agree that it is not universal. I think it can actually be straight harmful to treat situational depression with drugs in some cases as they tend to artificially numb the person and that can lead to not processing/dealing with the problem, sinking into avoidance even more etc. Depression is not like a bad tooth or high blood pressure where simply eliminating a simple cause or treating the symptoms can eradicate the problem stably.

I experienced what I am certain was massively chemical imbalance-based major depressive episode and others more tied to life conditions (including my own bad choices) and now thinking back at them, there were big differences in how these different episodes felt and resolved. Just like it is a bad idea to treat a severe major depressive episode simply with talking, the inverse is true for trying to "medicate away" a stressful situation. The latter is exactly what people do when they self-medicate with excessive use of drugs, alcohol and other escaping behaviors.

[velcro003]

do you think a situational depression can lead to long-term chronic depression? i think that is what happened to me.

[BudFox]

According to some, the abnormal brain function that results from the alterations caused by psych drugs has helped to make once episodic and self-limiting afflictions like depression into chronic ones.

Also, according to my research, feeling better on drugs is not evidence that the drugs are treating the cause of depression, since these drugs do not correct any known pathology. It's evidence that the symptoms are being suppressed.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by velcro003

do you think a situational depression can lead to long-term chronic depression? i think that is what happened to me.

Definitely. Pretty sure my depression/sadness about graduating high school (and leaving friends and teachers) and about graduating college (and leaving friends and moving away) led to a major depressive episode, lasting about 9 months in each case. And I've had numerous major depressive episodes throughout my life.

[velcro003]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Definitely. Pretty sure my depression/sadness about graduating high school (and leaving friends and teachers) and about graduating college (and leaving friends and moving away) led to a major depressive episode, lasting about 9 months in each case. And I've had numerous major depressive episodes throughout my life.

omg! i had the EXACT same reactions to graduating HS and college! I thought I was the only weirdo. I didn't have a major depressive episode after HS, just a tonnnn of anxiety.

But after college, it feels like my brain broke and i spent about 3 months or so completely depressed. Ever since then, i have never been really "happy," and definitely have flirted with major depressive episodes since then as well.

Huh.

[weaverbeaver]

I think circumstance and situations have a lot to do with mental health. I mean, imagine living in poverty or a war torn country, how could you not be depressed. It would be unnatural not to be depressed.

I also feel that some doctors and therapists don’t even explore the reasons behind the anxiety and the depression before they rush to hand out medication. It’s like they want to numb feelings and talk about them, just stop them.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by velcro003

omg! i had the EXACT same reactions to graduating HS and college! I thought I was the only weirdo. I didn't have a major depressive episode after HS, just a tonnnn of anxiety.

But after college, it feels like my brain broke and i spent about 3 months or so completely depressed. Ever since then, i have never been really "happy," and definitely have flirted with major depressive episodes since then as well.

Huh.

Wow, that's interesting! I think it's the case where it's a major life change. For me, going to college was going an hour away from home, away from my friends (and a teacher to whom I was attached) to live with different people.

Possible trigger:

I attempted suicide in my first semester.

And then when graduating college, most of my friends were headed elsewhere, as I was headed back home. It was compounded by the fact that my boyfriend was staying there, while I was going home an hour away. There was this night near the end the college where there was this celebration at the newspaper where we both worked--I was really sad and didn't want to go, while he felt (and said) I was ruining it for him. And then at the last party, kinda the same thing. (We broke up maybe 5 months after graduation, probably for the best!)

The major life changes like that can be so difficult. Starting in the "real world," often moving locations, separating from friends. Not surprising that many people end up depressed and/or with intense anxiety...

[weaverbeaver]

Originally Posted by LonesomeTonight

Wow, that's interesting! I think it's the case where it's a major life change. For me, going to college was going an hour away from home, away from my friends (and a teacher to whom I was attached) to live with different people.

Possible trigger:

I attempted suicide in my first semester.

And then when graduating college, most of my friends were headed elsewhere, as I was headed back home. It was compounded by the fact that my boyfriend was staying there, while I was going home an hour away. There was this night near the end the college where there was this celebration at the newspaper where we both worked--I was really sad and didn't want to go, while he felt (and said) I was ruining it for him. And then at the last party, kinda the same thing. (We broke up maybe 5 months after graduation, probably for the best!)

The major life changes like that can be so difficult. Starting in the "real world," often moving locations, separating from friends. Not surprising that many people end up depressed and/or with intense anxiety...

I read somewhere before that emerging adults 18+ often get misdiagnosed with a mental illness because of the stress they go through, college, bf, moving out, having to grow up sooner than they are ready. No wonder so many have breakdowns and attempt to take their own life!

[weaverbeaver]

Originally Posted by BudFox

According to some, the abnormal brain function that results from the alterations caused by psych drugs has helped to make once episodic and self-limiting afflictions like depression into chronic ones.


Also, according to my research, feeling better on drugs is not evidence that the drugs are treating the cause of depression, since these drugs do not correct any known pathology. It's evidence that the symptoms are being suppressed.

I have researched something similar and was quite shocked by the results. I know exactly where it is and will dig it out tomorrow but it said that anti- depressants were like a placebo and did not help at all. It also said that a lot of the time they make things worse and can make people extremely suicidal.

[BudFox]

Originally Posted by weaverbeaver

I have researched something similar and was quite shocked by the results. I know exactly where it is and will dig it out tomorrow but it said that anti- depressants were like a placebo and did not help at all. It also said that a lot of the time they make things worse and can make people extremely suicidal.

The usual scenario has all the makings of strong placebo... supreme authority figure (MD), little is known or shared about mechanism of action, possibly desperate patient, deeply rooted rituals.

[mcl6136]

In my case, w/out some diagnosis, there would have been no insurance coverage, so I was said to suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

actually, I'm not all that anxious, nor have I ever been. Just maladjusted and cranky.