The Astonishing Truth About Chemical Imbalances & Depression
If you're suffering from severe stress, or depression or anxiety, you may have consulted with a health professional to find relief. Unfortunately, most sufferers will be told a blatant lie about the cause of their suffering, that it is down to "chemical imbalances" within the brain, especially depleted levels of serotonin. There are serious flaws with this so let's look a little bit deeper to show why this is complete nonsense.
| Comments on article "The Astonishing Truth About Chemical Imbalances & Depression" |
| Name |
Views and Comments | Date |
| Depressed |
First I would like to point out that being "too happy" is an illness, its called Manic. Usually mania is associated with a Bipolar Disorder and is when someones feels so good that they feel little need to sleep, eat, and they cannot stop blabbering. I do agree that "chemical imbalances" is a load of crap because there is absolutely no evidence that they exist, its just an excuse to help Pharmaceutical Companies make billions of dollars off America. I have no clue what depression is but i am sure it is somehow related to external stimuli, what we consume, and the air we breathe. In my case I became depressed because of the Asthma medication I was taking. I have been toughing it out since without treatment. Remember there is no profit in a cure, but tons of profit in the treatment. That is the sad dilemma of a capitalistic society, no one wants to help you unless there is something in it for them. |
5/11/2009 |
| Amber S. |
First of all the whole eating food produces a chemical imbalance thing is true. But when you have a chemical imbalance which is causing your depression it is because, unlike "eating food", the chemical imbalance is non-stop. How do you explain those who have reported to be depressed without any environmental cause (such as loss of a loved one) and no family history of depression? |
5/4/2009 |
| Angie L. Guss |
I disagree wholeheartedly with Chris Green's comments about chemical imbalances and depression. First, I would like to note that Chris Green is not a medical doctor. Psychology is a mere hobby to him. Yes, he does have experience with depression but his experience is different from the next person's and he is by no means an expert on the subject.
Chris first describes the chicken and the egg flaw. Which comes first? I am by no means an expert, BUT I will say that I get depressed for no reason at all. A traumatic event did not have to occur in my life to cause depression nor does one have to happen for me to become depressed.
In addition, Chris states that "sad news triggers depression." There is a distinct difference between sadness and depression. Depression is a conglomerate of symptoms while sadness is one. There is also a distinct difference between situational depression and clinical/chronic depression. Situational depression occurs because of a specific event such as a rape. Chronic depression is either genetic or occurs over time and cycles.
Furthermore, Chris talk about happiness and depression. I will tell you this. Just because I am happy does not mean that I do not have depression. Alcoholics will always have the disease but just because they are not drinking any longer does not mean they do not have alcoholism. Manic Depressives has cycles of mania or highly "happy" moments. That does NOT mean they no longer have manic depression. Chris does not make a good argument there.
If I were not on my medications, my "chemical imbalance" would be out of whack. I am not the same person without it.
In addition, Chris continually talks about serotonin when he speaks of chemical imbalances. There are other neurotransmitters to speak of such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters should be included in his argument. If these are not firing correctly then there is a problem. Furthermore, there have been studies done comparing a depressed individual with someone who is not. There are distinct differeces with their brain imaging scans. Chris makes the applling statement that there is no evidence to support that the chemical imbalance theory is correct. Any lay person can go to google and see the evidence.
Chris also talks about taking medications. Yes, I will have to be on them the rest of my life to stay stable. A lot of tmies they are difficult for me take, but when I do take them...my cognitive processes are more than one hundred percent better. These medications are not strictly used for serotonin as Chris states. Like I said earlier, theire are hundreds of other nuerotransmitters involved.
The one thing I agree with on his article is hypnosis. Yes hypnosis does work, however, his version of the etiology of depression is complete and utter foolishness and it has no basis.
My advice to Chris is to go get your degree like I have already gotten and your article would change its tone. Oh I forgot you are here promoting your book to make money... |
3/24/2008 | |
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