Depression shows no bias from affecting the everyday person to people of notoriety, such as Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana who struggled with major depression that lead to his suicide. With depression, a number of physical and mental inclinations arise: difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, changes in appetite--overeating or loss of desire to eat--headaches, inexplicable pain, thoughts of failure, worthlessness, death, and suicide (Wade & Tavris, 2008). As with other ailments today, society markets easy, quick solutions to solve troublesome symptoms, by means of a capsule. However an article, "Antidepressants Can Increase Depression, Impulsivity and Suicide Risk by Decreasing Dopamine" interjects that antidepressants taken to alleviate symptoms of depression actually tend to worsen the condition that they aim to treat (2008). According to the article, it is within reason to assume that many side effects and withdrawal symptoms that accompany prescribed medications would have depressed patients chemically dependant on the antidepressant, which can easily worsen their condition. There are alternatives to alleviating depression symptoms by naturally altering brain chemistry with behavioral changes and a healthy diet (Robertson & Monte, 1997).
In studying different methods of treating depression, the most efficient approach to this issue would be to study treatment effects through a biological perspective; this psychological perspective focuses on how bodily events correlate to a person's feelings, thoughts, actions, and physical and mental well-being (Wade & Tavris, 2008). Through this perspective, one can infer that by studying bodily events, particularly in the brain, one can begin to understand the relationship between brain chemistry and mood. In order to abstract the effects of antidepressants versus natural approaches coinciding with depression, one must look to the effects of neurotransmitters, and the comparison of natural versus artificial means of altering these neurotransmitters.
Firstly, neurotransmitters play a vital role in mood, memory, and psychological well-being. The two main neurotransmitters that deal with mood and depression are serotonin and dopamine. According to authors of Natural Prozac, Robertson & Monte, serotonin is responsible for a number of positive feelings, including well-being, personal security, confidence, relaxation, and higher levels of self-esteem; dopamine hosts heightened states of alertness, aggression, mental and physical agility, and an increase in problem-solving skills (1994). By taking the biological perspective in account on depression, in can be deduced that symptoms of depression are aided by the chemical imbalances within the brain. Low levels of serotonin, the well-being neurotransmitter, and low levels of dopamine, which is responsible for alertness, can lead a person to depression symptoms such as lethargy and pessimism; conversely, low levels of serotonin plus high levels of the aggression neurotransmitter, dopamine, can result in depression masked under high anxiety (Robertson & Monte, 1994).
In order to counter these imbalances, antidepressants are prescribed to artificially alter brain chemistry. Prozac along with other similar, well-known antidepressants such as Zoloft and Paxil are all Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which block the reuptake of serotonin, making more of it available within the brain; however, SSRIs such as Prozac give rise to negative side effects such as drowsiness, decreased sexual interest, insomnia, nausea, and weight gain, and as with any medication, antidepressants have resulted in withdrawal symptoms ("Treating depression", 2004). It is evident to note that the ends of prescribed antidepressants do not necessarily justify the means of alleviating depression. On the contrary, the symptoms of depression are exacerbated by the added side effects and withdrawal symptoms due to antidepressants. Moreover, the increase of serotonin caused by SSRIs also result in lowering dopamine productions in the brain, causing many diagnosed depressed patients to become suicidal ("Antidepressants Increase Depression", 2008). The article, "Antidepressants Increase Depression" asserts that the conveniently quick and artificial method of increasing serotonin is linked to the fatal side effect of decreasing dopamine. This, in turn, puts a depressed patient from one chemical imbalance to another, therefore, causing the person to become impulsive and suicidal.
On a biological look on bodily events relating to psychological wellness, there are natural and safer means of aligning brain chemistry to alleviate depression. One way is to maintain a healthy diet. Protein-rich foods such as dairy, meat, fish, and poultry provide typtophan, an essential amino acid for the production of serotonin, and increase in dopamine (Wade & Tavris, 2008). Carbohydrates such as sweets, breads, pastas, and potatoes increase the absorption of typtophan to the brain, which results in the increase of serotonin (Robertson & Monte, 1994). With changes to a balanced diet a person can balance brain chemistry naturally, and avoid the negative side effects of antidepressants. Another way of changing brain chemistry is the type of environment people put themselves in. A walk in the park or listening to soothing, classical music increases levels of serotonin, allowing a person to become relaxed and at ease. Also, high-stimulating environments such as a theme park or carnival effectively stimulate the senses and nervous system with activity, then boosting dopamine to raise alertness and excitement (Robertson & Monte, 1994). Only by changing the environment we allow ourselves to become exposed to along with a healthy nutrition habits can make the difference to deter a person from becoming depressed, and live a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Robertson & Monte wrote in their book, "Without knowing it, many depressed people are actually maintaining their depressions by continuing to eat certain foods and by maintaining certain behaviors" (1994, p. 19). It is most likely because of dismal environments, such as a dead-end job, and an unhealthy diet that cause people to initially become depressed. However, it is not to say that medication does not work, because antidepressants do alter brain chemistry quickly and easily, though artificially, which can be beneficial for the short term. But through the biological perspective, it can be seen that with depression, prescription drugs would be effective to help initiate the coping and recovery of depression, but it is up to the depressed person to make behavioral changes in order to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
References
Antidepressants Can Increase Depression, Impulsivity and Suicide Risk by Decreasing Dopamine. (2008, Feb 9).
PR Newswire. Retrieved July 23, 2009, from Gale Virtual Reference Library via Gale: http://libris.mtsac.edu:2142/itx/start.do?prodId=PPPC
Prozac Zeroes in on Serotonin. (1994, Nov). Today's Science on File. Retrieved July 23, 2009, from Today's Science Database: http://www.2facts.com/
Robertson, J., & Monte, T. (1997). Natural Prozac: Learning to Release Your Body's Own Anti-Depressants. California: Harper Collins.
Treating depression: Update on antidepressants. (2004, June). Harvard Women's Health Watch.
Retrieved July 23, 2009, from Alt Health Watch Database: https://libris.mtsac.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=awh&AN=13190298&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2008). Invitation to Psychology (4th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson- Prentice Hall.
