by Marea E. Johnson

Created on: December 16, 2008   Last Updated: April 12, 2011

The need for anti-depressant medications to treat mental depression and/or anxiety disorders, is often, but not always, necessary. The decision to make medications a part of the treatment plan for the patient will depend on many variables, including the type of depression, its possible causes, frequency, "triggers", duration, and many other factors unique to that patient.

Symptoms of depression can be brought about for many reasons; some of them not even related to a mental condition, such as chronic pain syndromes. The pain associated with disorders such as lupus, arthritis, cancer, old injuries, etc., are often alleviated with anti-depressants.

Sometimes what seems like depression to some, will really just be a normal response to some sort of setback or loss in life. This differentiation should be made by a qualified psychologist, and when it is, they will typically prescribe counseling or "talk therapy" for the patient, as time is usually all that is needed in these situations.

Medication will usually be considered in situations where the patient's life is being disrupted in significant ways, such as when the patient has problems with sleep, appetitite, motivation, fears or phobias, feelings of hopelessness and despair, and/or suicidal feelings; an indication that the psychic pain has become unbearable. In these situations, the patient will usually be referred to a psychiatrist, who can prescribe the medications that psychologists cannot.

Often, the psychiarist will start the patient on anti-depressant/anxiety medications to stabilize their condition, allowing them to get much needed sleep, nutrition, and clearer patterns of thinking while they undergo counseling with either the psychologist, or the psychiatrist himself.

Most anti-anxiety medications will begin to work immediately, and depending on the anti-depressant, improvement can often be seen in as little as 7 to 10 days. Over time, while partaking in both the medication and the counseling, it will become apparent which mode of therapy is yielding the best results. Sometimes this can be one or the other; often, it's both. Sometimes it will be for a short period of time, as in weeks to months. Other times, it may last a lifetime.

It is estimated that approximately 40% of patients will suffer from a chemical deficiency of certain chemicals in the brain responsible for the feelings of well-being. such as serotonin and dopamine, necessitating the use of these drugs for the remainder of their lives, much like a diabetic requiring insulin.

It is both false and ignorant to believe that people suffering from mental health disorders are being over-medicated; in fact, the opposite is actually the truth. This is a portion of the population who is underserviced, and whose suffering is greatly aggravated by the stigma still attached to the deployment of medications for conditions for which they have no control.

The only difference between taking medications for the brain, and those for another part of the body is just that; the part. The brain is just another organ in the body, like the heart or the lung and just as susceptible to malfunction or disease. We don't judge the character of the patient with angina for taking his nitroglycerin, nor do we view it as a weakness for the asthmatic to use her inhaler. To think otherwise is just pure ignorance.

So while medications are not ALWAYS needed to treat mental health disorders, they are certainly SOMETIMES needed. What is, however, NEVER needed is the ignorance and stigma still attached to this literally life-saving form of treatment in this, the 21st century.

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