that 'chemical imbalance' myth

[Alameda]

so nice to see this notion that has been used to oppress and repress women for decades finally discussed as a dangerous myth - chemical imbalances and other black unicorns

although I despair at how sort of prevalent it is, how regressive and how effective it is at distracting women from the cultural determinants of their unhappiness

I believe that a chemical imbalance can cause some instances of depression.

Otherwise, antidepressants would have no effect, surely.

The key is not to assume that is the cause - or the solution - to all instances of depression.

In other words, it's not a myth - but it is a dangerous over-generalisation.

I did read a couple of Dorothy Rowe books years ago. Is she the one who wrote self help for your nerves. I don't suffer from depression as such but sometimes have periods when my mood is very low for no good reason.

I should have said that I'm not saying antidepressants are the only answer nor that they should be the be-all amd emd-all of treatment.

In my case, antidepressants got me out of the dark pit and back on an even keel - but I was still low amd not functioning at all well, so my dr also sent me to our local specialist depression service, who referred me to group therapy, where I have spent 2.5 years delving into the roots of my depression.

I have to say, though, that the comment about not being able to discuss this issue without someone saying 'how DARE you, it saved my life', did make me feel my views were not welcome, and that Alameda doesn't take what I said seriously.

Grr - be-all and end-all.

There is a big difference between depression and what used to be called manic depression and is now more usually called bipolar. Manic depression usually lasts a lifetime is incurable. Those with it usually take a mood stabiliser drug for the rest of their life. And for many, it is the manic phases which are much more of a problem than the depressive stages.

Just thought its not helpful to talk about depression and manic depression as if it is the same thing.

It's a bit cyclical. It may be circumstance / low mood that causes the imbalance, or imbalance causing the depression. It is almost irrelevant. But, ignoring the circumstantial triggers and just medicating will work only temporarily.

I think drugs should never be prescribed without proper follow up by a mh professional.

I look on antidepressants as being like the cast/crutches to a broken leg.

If 1/4 of the population had broken legs we would need to fix the problems in society that cause people to break their legs, physiotherapy to aid recovery and for those individuals who had a chronic problem with broken legs, we should offer additional treatment/advice to help them avoid it in the future.

Treating MH problems likewise, antidepressants allow someone the breathing room to make changes to their life, get through bad situations etc. They are not in themselves the problem. We still need to look at why people get depression, how best to help longterm and how to change society to avoid depression, but not offering people antidepressants whilst they are struggling won't help.

Also depression is about as common in men as women, so its not exactly the patriarchy suppressing women, more the top of society attacking the rest of us.

All antidepressants have been tested against placebo and found to be effective. So that has been looked at.

Something else that springs to mind, talking about a chemical imbalance has been an attempt to make people understand that depression is a real illness. This is an improvement on the whole idea of 'pulling yourself together' which has benefitted men as well as women.

Just catching Up

I'm on SSRIs, they are great
I didn't get from the OP at all that people shouldn't take them or anything

In my case though I think it's "mother's little helper" in the way that in past generations valium, booze, opium and so on have been used.
I do wonder whether there are really more people with MH issues, or whetehr in the past people just self medicated / struggled on more.

For me as well the idea that it was a hormonal imbalance caused by pregnancy which then became embedded and caused longer term problems was comforting - mainly for DH and my friends and people like that.

The real reason (IMO anyway) - that I am temperamentally unsuited to looking after babies & small children and that having that as my full time job effectively plus lack of sleep is what caused the problems - is not comfortable for anyone to acknowledge really. It is not how women are supposed to be, and there is no reasonable way of changing the situation. Saying it's an imbalance and giving me happy pills is an easy way of treating it until life changes (children get bigger / I get a job etc) and hopefully I feel better of my own accord

I look on antidepressants as being like the cast/crutches to a broken leg. If 1/4 of the population had broken legs we would need to fix the problems in society that cause people to break their legs

Yes, this. Depictions of the "chemical imbalance" as a myth strike horror into my heart. I've had severe clinical depression for 12 years. It was triggered by life events, but exists in its own right - like a broken leg.

I have no doubt at all that I owe my life to contemporary antidepressants. I'm still taking them. They are not a sop.

Oh this "Otherwise, antidepressants would have no effect, surely. "

Minipie they have the same effect as if you took a low dose of Ecstacy, all the time! ie more seratonin in the brain. It's not surprising people feel better!

Also depression is about as common in men as women

This is incorrect.

Depression is more common in women than men. 1 in 4 women will require treatment for depression at some time, compared to 1 in 10 men. The reasons for this are unclear, but are thought to be due to both social and biological factors. It has also been suggested that depression in men may have been under diagnosed because they present to their GP with different symptoms. (National Institute For Clinical Excellence, 2003)

(from here)

The thing I find interesting on the MH boards on here is the sheer number of women suffering with anxiety.

My main problem was anxiety, depression was a secondary issue.

Is anxiety something that women suffer more? Is it something that new mothers suffer more? What about new fathers? Those sorts of questions - are they being answered, are they being looked at in a serious way?

Sorry, haven't read the whole thread: got to Wickety's post, and just wanted to comment. My dad had Bipolar, too- and always used to attribute it to a chemical imbalance. I assume this is what he had been told by someone professional, and he found it easier to deal with than anything more 'personal', if you know what I mean. I had never associated it with a uniquely 'female' sort of depression or anything, and have never had anyone attribute my own depression to it either...

SQ, yes the same site says women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety. It's complicated though, men are much more likely to have drug or alcohol problems so it could be that they are self medicating more for the same issues, rather than seeing a Dr.

Sardine I have no doubt they are a very blunt instrument. But if they do help - even if it is in a very inaccurate and incomplete way - that means they shouldn't be completely discounted as a treatment method. Albeit one of a range of treatment methods rather than a complete solution.

Saying it's an imbalance and giving me happy pills is an easy way of treating it until life changes (children get bigger / I get a job etc) and hopefully I feel better of my own accord. Well yes. But if you have no immediate way of getting out of that situation, and the happy pills have an effect, isn't that temporary assistance from the happy pills better than nothing?

pubegardens yes I was wondering about men self medicating more with alcohol etc

but I wouldn't like to say TBH both sexes drinking an awful lot these days

minipie I don't understand why you think anyone is discounting them as a treatment?

I'm certainly not - I'm on them and they have helped a lot.

Trouble is they often aren't a temporary assistance. People end up taking them for years and years, largely because they can be such a nightmare to come off.

Hmm. I see what people are saying. But I have bipolar and find some security in the idea that it is in some way biological, the way I was born. Otherwise is it my fault, my inability to cope?

I take lithium (not at moment as I am pregnant) and it keeps me well. I will take it for the rest of my life if necessary. I have had therapies as well, but it doesn't work as well as meds.

I see my bipolar like any other medical condition, eg diabetes that requires medication to treat.

That is an interesting article leonie. I remember all the stuff about contraceptive hormones in the water potentially causing probs years ago.

I wonder if this stuff is filtered out in the UK or not though. I have no idea.

I think that people are mainly talking about anxiety / depression - of the type that means that apparently 1/4 of the UK population are on SSRIs.

Rather than more severe conditions - I am anyway.