1 in 6 on antidepressants in some areas

[Thunderandlightningisfrightening]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13623233/One-SIX-people-England-antidepressants-data-shows-quarter-population-country-drug.html

Can't say I'm surprised. I know so many people on them. About 70 to 80 percent of my colleagues are on them.

Johan Hari’s book on this, Lost Connections, is very good. It discusses some very good, non-pharmaceutical solutions to depression.

Antidepressants don't make you happy and depression is a crippling illness that takes away your will to survive. When I was depressed if I'd felt neutral or meh I'd have been content with that, but I didn't. I lay there wanting to die and trying to think up ways to achieve that. I also didn't eat, wash or talk to anyone, even dh or the ds'. It was horrific.

I don't think humans are living naturally at all. I'm autistic and we're the canaries in the coalmine when it comes to living conditions. Life is too loud, complicated, bureaucratic, overcrowded, not enough greenery, water and animals, not enough personal freedom and space, not enough peace and quiet, no beauty, too much hostility and complex social situations, restrictive work life, judgement and constant observation from others, rules that don't make sense, lousy food, constant worries about bills, housing, education, health, the government etc.

It's only been like this for the past century really. The really claustrophobic stuff, for the past decade.

I don’t find that surprising at all. I actually thought it would have been even higher.

Surely to god something ( I don't know what ) needs to be done about the crisis of mental health.

Absolutely!
I don't think there is an increase in people who lack serotonin... it is the cost of living crisis, post covid stuff, just life in general being shite...
But GPs throw pills at it, when it is not the right fix.

I went to gynaecologist recently& she was astonished I, as a woman of a certain age, wasn't on antidepressants or anti anxiety meds.

Are you sure? she asked.

This is not true at all!

I started setraline and felt brilliant then started bleeding, post menopause. Checks were all fine.
Im now reluctant to try something else but im aware i need something. Hrt didnt suit me either.

I feel a bit hopeless withy mental health.

Life is hard. Life is also a total let down. Remember when you were a kid and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you're older? And you would dream of the day you were big and in control, only to one day become big and totally controlled by pay days, bills, adult expectations and the mundaneness of life, raising young kids and trying constantly to be "happy". All with the stiff upper lip of the British culture where you can't say how you really feel for fear of coming across like a moaner.
Add in social media, cost of living crisis, alcohol, stressful jobs, high mortgage rates - god is it any wonder it's not higher than 1 in 6!?

Um it is.

neurosciencenews.com/brain-development-child-trauma-22558/ neurosciencenews.com/brain-development-child-trauma-22558/]]]]

There are countless studies surrounding this issue.

And depression is well known for having a genetic component.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428430/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6428430/]]]]

www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/childhood-and-adolescence/2020/wired-for-danger-the-effects-of-childhood-trauma-on-the-brain-101920 www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/childhood-and-adolescence/2020/wired-for-danger-the-effects-of-childhood-trauma-on-the-brain-101920]]]]

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4985495/ www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4985495/]]]]

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-gently/202106/childhood-trauma-shows-in-brain-scans www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/open-gently/202106/childhood-trauma-shows-in-brain-scans]]]]

www.healthline.com/health/depression/genetic www.healthline.com/health/depression/genetic]]]]

med.stanford.edu/depressiongenetics/mddandgenes.html med.stanford.edu/depressiongenetics/mddandgenes.html]]]]

www.verywellmind.com/the-relationship-between-dopamine-and-adhd-5267960 www.verywellmind.com/the-relationship-between-dopamine-and-adhd-5267960]]]]

The last link regarding ADHD and dopamine.

@lawnseed I think the previous poster is alluding to the serotonin theory of depression falling out of favour in recent years. There are still those who hold firm to it, and there is some evidence in its favour, but it's nowhere near as strong as previously thought

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/causes/ www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/causes/]]]]

Imbalance in neurotransmitters causing bipolar, which can also be genetic.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2398212818799269 journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2398212818799269]]]]

Overview of findings so far.

Yes, I'm aware of this. Serotonin isn't the only neurotransmitter though and there are multifactorial reasons why these can affect the development of major depression.

Life has got harder for a lot of people and the future is uncertain.

I know of lots of folk who have taken or who are currently taking MH related medication - there's absolutely no shame in it but they're also not necessarily a quick fix or long term solution either.

Well the root cause of my anguish is extortionate rent and overall cost of living in general.

Yes, probably the case for lots of people on ADs. Yet, pills wont fix it, and are not the answer.

People don’t take it to ‘fix’ it; they take it to cope. You can’t cure depression.

If someone is in poverty, is a pill going to help them cope? Rather than actual practical help?
Pills are dished out too soon and too easily.

Do agree that they are handed out pretty readily by doctors. Rather than the patient being encouraged to explore other avenues to increase serotonin naturally. Nothing against them and know quite a few people who swear by them.