by Bayla Maya

Created on: February 28, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

I remember back in the sixties and seventies the terminology of "Mother's Little Helpers" being used to express the need for the usage of pharmaceutical anxiety reducers. Many housewives thought they found a miracle cure to the mounds of anxiety which kept piling up high daily. They felt it was the key to fight off depression, and regain their simple lives of being the perfect mother and housewife once more. The usage of chemicals to fight off depression still prevails as the easy way out with drugs like Zoloft taking over as the "New Mother's Little Helpers."

There are those who view drugs like Zoloft as the new miracle cure. When in actuality it may be a false facade. Drugs such as Zoloft do not work instantly to ward off the ills of depression. It takes a couple of weeks for the drug to build up in ones system before it can be effective. Another downfall of the drug is when a person discontinues usage they have a greater chance of recurrence. This supports the idea of the need for multiple means of treatment.

When Zoloft or other drugs are used along with psycho-dynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies the patient has a better chance of fighting off depression. Combining different therapies to fight depression also increases the odds of lessening the chance or recurrence. If the depression is caused by a chemical imbalance then a drug like Zoloft may be practical. However, one must keep in mind the drug will need to be used throughout a lifetime to be optimally effective. If this is the case one must consider what the long term effects may do to the person's physical well being. Will it open the door to other medical ills?

I believe the Zoloft ad is one sided and does not fully inform the public. This increases the expectations of this pill as being a miracle cure for depression. The commercial plays on the notion of depression being caused strictly by a chemical imbalance. When in actuality there can be many factors at play causing the depression. Whether the patient uses drugs or psychotherapy to treat depression neither can be claimed as a miracle cure. Yet, many people will remain disillusioned and opt for the easy way out by taking a pill the rest of their life.

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