More than 1 in 10 Americans on antidepressants

Werbung:
Why?

What, if anything does that statistic mean?

link

When one looks at the number of people in the US who feel the need to medicate themselves with mind-altering drugs in order to live and function, I think it becomes painfully clear that we have an insane culture; a self-destructive, self-predatory culture based on the irreconcilably contradictory mores of capitalism and Christianity. The teachings of Jesus are antithetical to the dictates of the capitalist market society.
 
When one looks at the number of people in the US who feel the need to medicate themselves with mind-altering drugs in order to live and function, I think it becomes painfully clear that we have an insane culture; a self-destructive, self-predatory culture based on the irreconcilably contradictory mores of capitalism and Christianity. The teachings of Jesus are antithetical to the dictates of the capitalist market society.

I saw the story on TV and it was not about self medication. Doctors were prescribing antidepressants to people for other problems than depression. As much as I would like to blame this problem on religion, religion has nothing to do with it.
 
I saw the story on TV and it was not about self medication. Doctors were prescribing antidepressants to people for other problems than depression. As much as I would like to blame this problem on religion, religion has nothing to do with it.

I hope that it didn't appear that I was blaming religion for the problem, because I'm certainly not. It's conflict between philosophies that is at the root of the problem, I think. One cannot serve God and Mammon, but that's what we try to do--and with disastrous consequences.
 
When one looks at the number of people in the US who feel the need to medicate themselves with mind-altering drugs in order to live and function, I think it becomes painfully clear that we have an insane culture; a self-destructive, self-predatory culture based on the irreconcilably contradictory mores of capitalism and Christianity. The teachings of Jesus are antithetical to the dictates of the capitalist market society.
I will agree in part with your comment. I do believe that our culture has gotten out of control with the "rich getting richer and the "poor getting poorer". The modern world has bought into the illusion that capitalism has benevolence built into it. (News flash: It doesn't). The problem is that human nature, as you pointed out, can be self-serving. If an executive receives yet another million dollar salary increase, what would compel him or her to say no? Nothing.

That being said, I believe capitalism is still the best economic option at this point in time. Human nature, as a whole, is not a point where we can realistically and logistically follow any other economic option. Despite all of its flaws, capitalism has led to the economic and social rise of many more people than any other economic philosophy. Capitalism, at its base, offers an opportunity, which options like communism and socialism do not. Even if one accepts the ideals of communism and socialism, the implementation of those ideals never reaches the light of day.

Early Christianity, from what I have read and studied, was an amazing point in history where economics were used as a tool to demonstrate God's Kingdom. This is what I think you were referring to when you mean "the teachings of Jesus". In those early days, disciples gave away half of their wealth (in addition to tithes and other offerings) and developed a system of administration that supported the poor. If the world were to truly embody that philosophy, we could end poverty today.

Unfortunately, that didn't last.

The key flaw in capitalism is human nature, which can only be changed (if you believe) by Jesus. Once that is changed, it won't matter what economy you are under, because you will be connected to the most abundant thing in this universe.
 
I saw the story on TV and it was not about self medication. Doctors were prescribing antidepressants to people for other problems than depression. As much as I would like to blame this problem on religion, religion has nothing to do with it.
I get both of your points. Mare Tranquility, however, is taking a different approach than you are. Mare Tranquility (from what I have read) believes that people are self-medicating to deal with the conditions of society, partly due to the economic and moral degradation of our society. Her solution: We need to go back to the teachings of Jesus.

Your response focuses on the "medication" aspect of the issue. You pointed out something very important when you mentioned that antidepressants were given for things beside depression. This is something that most people would miss would quoting this article. Medications are often used for conditions that are "off label". This isn't new. Medications often cause a lot of different reactions in the body and one medicine can treat many different conditions.

I think the point of the article is the rate of medicine use for conditions like depression. The issue, though is whether more people are realizing they have depression or are more people using antidepressants to self-medicate?
 
Is that just irony, or do you have facts to back it up?

I've been doing a lot of reading since Colorado decided to legalize it. My interest has to do with the effects on our youth.
 
I've been doing a lot of reading since Colorado decided to legalize it. My interest has to do with the effects on our youth.
There is some evidence that it could have a deleterious effect on the developing brain. I'm not sure the jury is in as yet, but the evidence is at least plausible. We already know that alcohol can cause problems at that stage.

So, the best thing would be to keep pot out of the hands of minors. I wonder just what effect the legalization in Colorado has had on youth using pot?
 
I wonder just what effect the legalization in Colorado has had on youth using pot?

It will take time to know. I think of it as the canary in the mine. That's of course, if there will be honest reporting about it. But what I have learned, is that there are increases in the mental behaviors, attendance, grades etc. Also increases in ER visits and rehab clinics. We've known for years that pot is a gateway drug. What I'm also curious to know are the increases in mental cases of depression, bi-polar disorders and schizophrenia as related to pot use.
 
It will take time to know. I think of it as the canary in the mine. That's of course, if there will be honest reporting about it. But what I have learned, is that there are increases in the mental behaviors, attendance, grades etc. Also increases in ER visits and rehab clinics. We've known for years that pot is a gateway drug. What I'm also curious to know are the increases in mental cases of depression, bi-polar disorders and schizophrenia as related to pot use.
Yes, it will take time to know, and it will take some weeding out of "studies" that have an agenda as well. I suspect it will be a long time before we really know whether legalization reduces or increases the number of juveniles who smoke pot and whether any of the mental illnesses you mention are caused by pot use.

Meanwhile, pot is a "gateway" drug if it must be purchased illegally from the same people that also sell cocaine, heroine, meth, etc.
 
One factor that strongly has an effect on our mental health is what we eat. Everything that we put into our bodies have a chemical reaction with our body chemistry, not just drugs. Food acts as drugs in the same way that drugs themselves do. For example, it has been found that children with autism (my daughter is one of them) who eat gluten and casein have the same affect as an opiate in the brain. My daughter who is now 19 has been gluten and dairy free since the age of four and still remembers how these foods actually made her see tracers as if she were on acid.

Anyway, just a thought. Her neurologist suggested putting her on Prozac when she was first diagnosed and I chose instead to do my own research and removed gluten and casein from her diet. It took all of five days to see the remarkable difference!
 
My personal opinion is that we have systematically become a nation of whiners and self-absorbed narcissists! Not everyone is like that of course, but it seems like most people are so concerned with all that they DON'T have, that they never stop and think about all that they DO have. I hear people complaining all the time about things such as the size of their houses, and the lack of money for this or that luxury. We have become so entitled! Every problem we have is a First World problem! We have left God out of every equation in our lives. No wonder we're depressed!
 
Werbung:
Why?

What, if anything does that statistic mean?

link

People need to get off that sort of medicine and start exercising. Doctors say that working out provides the same mental uplift as that medicine. In addition, that type of medication is known to have serious side effects. One of them is suicidal thoughts.
 
Back
Top