The Channels

Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Opinion

Humans these days are blessed by medical technology. Seldom must we endure the true pain of a sprained ankle; rarely do we have to let a migraine run its course. With the infinite array of medications at our disposal, we virtually have the power to silence many of our maladies.

Though progressive in many ways, it has seemingly left many of us to forget about pain's main function-to warn us of bigger, less palpable problems.

That said, emotional pain is not unlike physical. Thoughts and emotions guide us in making important decisions about what we need and want-issues that must be resolved just as any physical ailment must be nurtured.

However, while we can take antibiotics to help our immune systems shake a bug, there is no pill that can bring us true peace of mind. Still, in the same way we reach for the Advil to mask a pounding headache, an astounding number of us are turning to antidepressants to "cure" our emotional emptiness. However, merely tending to the symptoms while ignoring the cause is dangerous.

I don't mean to undermine the seriousness of depression, as there are definitely exceptions. For those plagued by chemical imbalances or suicidal thoughts, antidepressants are a great advancement for mankind. The potency of these drugs improve the quality of many lives, but it seems as if Americans are being a bit irresponsible with that power.

Unfortunately, the balance between power and responsibility has been thrown off. According to Channel NBC4 in Virginia, 37 percent of American women aged 18-44 have been prescribed antidepressants.

It's extremely difficult to imagine that this many people were at one time plagued by a depression so severe that therapy and lifestyle adjustment didn't stand a chance at alleviating it. It's also been revealed by studies that therapy is as effective as antidepressants.

And with the signature American way of little exercise, poor diet, too much television, and not enough vacation-among other depression-inducing cultural habits-why's everybody blame their dissatisfaction on depression?

It's a little disappointing that so many people seem to have more faith in a pill than they do in their own ability to overcome negative thoughts and behaviors. It's no surprise that Americans are encouraged to hop on the Prozac bandwagon.

Pharmaceutical advertisements bombard us, suggesting that if we aren't prancing in daisy fields we should talk to our doctors. Mental health professionals seem to be delving out prescriptions as if they are tickets to Disneyland.

But does anyone really want to rely on a pill every day just to feel content? A small change of perspective alone can vastly improve quality of life, without side effects such as anxiety, loss of libido, or trouble sleeping.

The side effects alone are enough to make a person depressed. Add drug dependence to the list and it's practically the criteria for depression. It would do us Americans some good to fulfill each area of our lives before filling our prescription containers.

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