If depression really is just a chemical imbalance, why does counselling work as well as anti-d's in some cases?

[Enid]

I can never understand that one.

well that can't be true choosy otherwise I would never recover from anything

'I don't think counselling is always beneficial or relevant, because not all depression has a cause that is identifiable as something needing remediation. But if you mean empowering someone to take control of their own lives then that is different'

er. on what do you base that view?

i agree that for some forms of mental distress, psychotic states, schizophrenia for example, counselling alone is not often effective.

however, depression does always have an etiology, however buried it is. And good psychotherapy has been shown to be effective over and over for this condition.

oh I get so cross about this

that poor poor woman with so much on her plate

the problem isn't her! its the lack of support and understanding from friends and family

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

'some peoples brains just lend themselves to mental illness'

what UTTER bullshit zippi!!!

where on earth are you getting that from.

Some people's brains have been affected by their early caregiving or trauma of some kind which makes them susceptible to depression and other forms of psychological distress.

There a huge amount of eveidence now that treatment needs to address tha needs of the whole person and not just the physical needs. The biomedical model is still the dominant force in the West when it comes to treating any illness but there is a growing pressure to include psychological, emotional, cultural and social needs as part of any treatment.

sophable waht are the causes of depression?

(in her case) it's the expectation that we are all superwomen and can have it all and cope with it all

Enid, I'm right there with you about mothers with no support being prescribed anti-depressants when what they need is love and care and help!!! and sleep!

I don't think any one treatment for depression is going to be effective on its own. Research has shown positive effects of physical exercise, food, good support networks and, yes, laughter on people with depression, but possibly in addition to counselling and Ads. An holistic approach if you like.

Sophable I can see why you would react like that to zippis comment but there is growing evidence of a genetic link in depression. Thats not to suggest for a moment that experince isn't the most important fatcor but simply that as with most things it is the complex gene-gene and gene-environment interaction that can make the difference between one person becoming ill and another staying well.

I think there are people who are genetically predisposed to depressive illness

in fact there is almost identification of a gene for it now

i foudn in my case that the depression was affecting my sleep. I would be up half the night when DS was asleep!
Once i was on the ADs i foudn sleeping much easier and better.

innumerable zippi.

do some reading please!

but just for starters:

depression is sometimes present in women especially that have been brought up in environments where negative emotions are forbidden: no anger especially.

depression can be brought on be trauma

depression can be brought on by relationship difficulties which echo and bring up stuff about early childhood.

are you suggesting it comes out of nowhere to people 'who's brains lend themselves to mental illness'???

give me strength!

BOLLOCKS ZIPPI.

they have certainly not identified a gene for depression.

christ almighty.

no sophable I'm not

but I am saying there are people who are predisposed to depression and it is not to do with childhood, pregnancy, bereavement or trauma etc etc

amy absolutely, but if you look at the evidence of a lot of the neuroscientific overlap with psychotherapeutic research, what is being identified is patterns of dysfunctional behaviour that actually alters brain development over generations and generations.

even if a gene is identified, the implications are MILES away from zippi's assertion and if she had done ANY research in this area she would know that.

"Some people's brains have been affected by their early caregiving or trauma of some kind which makes them susceptible to depression and other forms of psychological distress. "

Sophable their are other medical causes for depression though not everyone with depression has had a problem in their childhood or trauma.

they are doing studies into a genetic link for bipolar disorder

but I don't think they've found anything yet - I guess they are looking at whether it is the environment (they are brought up in) that causes children of depressives to get depression or whether there is a gene that means you are more likely to be predisposed

would you care to talk me through these 'medical' causes?

there are diseases such as Huntingtons and Parkinsons that affect brain function and can cause psychological symptoms.

other than that?

gosh this is an interesting discussion

I shall be hanging in with it

between trying to do so

trying to do some work

I have done lots and lots of research on this subject sophable

I think most people with depression have an old trauma or hurt or unresolved anger even if it is not apparent to them.

sophable, you are very wise and knowledgeable and obviously feel very strongly but go easy on zippi please?

could you find me that papers that claim that depression is due to 'some people's brains JUST (and it is the just in that sentence that is reprehensible) lend themselves to depression'.

please