John D. Hawkins Jr., M.S., C.A.P., Registered Mental Health Intern

“I’m depressed.” Depression is one of the most common reasons individuals seek mental health treatment. However, saying I’m depressed is akin to saying, “I have a chest pain”; there can be numerous causes to that chest pain or to one’s depression.

More times than I can count I sit down with a client for the first time, and they inform me they are currently taking tow to three different antidepressants, an antianxiety medication, and a sleeping pill as well. Furthermore, that they have been on this medication regimen for the last 5 – 10 years. As I start to conduct a more detailed assessment of their history of depression, it becomes apparent that the origin of their depressive symptoms stems from causes, such as dysfunctional relationships, dissatisfaction with life, unresolved grief, or unaddressed trauma that occurred during their developmental period. Clients will then inform me they have been to numerous psychiatrists or medical doctors and no one has ever asked them these questions.

All one needs to do is turn on their television today and within fifteen minutes you will see an add for a medication to manage your depression or sleep. Take the cute little butterfly add for Lunestra or the happy little circle head of Zoloft. Better yet, if you’re a little down why not try Seroquel or Zypreza. Nevermind that these last two medications are classified as antipsychotic medications that were designed to treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder and have the potential to induce severe side effects, which in some case are permanent.

In some instances, medication is the appropriate intervention. However, in my experience for the vast majority of clients I see in psychotherapy it is not. A medication will not address issues such as dysfunctional family dynamics or a dissatisfying or abusive relationship. Depressive symptoms are just that. They are not the cause but the effect of something else. Like so much of today’s medical model the underlying cause is not addressed but, rather, treatment is designed to mange the symptoms. As mentioned before, the factors contributing to the depression could be relational, social, environmental, or biological. But so much of treatment is centered on a biological intervention. The reason being billions of dollars generated by antidepressants and Americans pension for a quick fix. Actually, research has shown exercise to be more effective for treating depression than antidepressants.

Depression can be a serious illness. I would never advise anyone under any circumstances to stop taking their antidepressant medication. One can experience what is known as SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome inducing physical and psychological symptoms that can last anywhere from 2 – 7 weeks, or in some cases a severe exacerbation of depressive symptoms. If you desire to discontinue your antidepressant medication, this should be addressed with your physician.

There are alternatives to psychotropic medications. In the last several years, there has been a considerable amount of research validating the use of pharmaceutical grade supplements as treatment for neurotransmitter imbalances. This research was initiated in the addiction field where individuals who were addicted to substances were often found to have major neurotransmitter imbalances. All major treatment centers in the United States now test their clients at intake to assess their neurotransmitter levels and begin a regimen of amino acids, which are the precursors to your neurotransmitters, to balance these levels. I myself have had this done and take a daily supplements to manage my anxiety and depressive symptoms, rather than using substances any longer to do so. I can testify to their effectiveness, and I do not have to deal with managing the side effects of medication.

The encouraging news is depression is a very treatable illness if one identifies the true underlying cause of the depression, which will result in the development of an individualized treatment plan to address the factors contributing to the depression. Moreover, for those aversive to taking these powerful medications, or women who desire to get pregnant, there are alternatives available. If you have been suffering from depression for an extended period, or would like to discuss in more detail alternative options to medication, please contact our center or another qualified professional to assist you today.