Posted on 05/14/2007 11:02:49 AM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
The number of prescriptions for anti-depressants has hit an all-time high, a mental health charity has said.
More than 31 million were written last year - up 6% on the year before, according to Mind.
Statistics show that within this figure, prescriptions for SSRIs (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) including Prozac have risen by 10% from 14.7 million to 16.2 million in England.
It comes as the charity released research showing that country walks can help reduce depression and raise self-esteem.
This has led to calls for "ecotherapy" to become a recognised treatment for people with mental health problems.
Ecotherapy: the green agenda for mental health, is the first study looking at how "green" exercise specifically affects those suffering from depression.
According to Mind, it produced "startling" results proving the need for ecotherapy to be considered a proper treatment option.
The study by the University of Essex compared the benefits of a 30-minute walk in a country park with a walk in an indoor shopping centre on a group of 20 members of local Mind associations.
After the country walk, 71% reported decreased levels of depression and said they felt less tense while 90% reported increased self-esteem.
This was in contrast to only 45% who experienced a decrease in depression after the shopping centre walk, after which 22% said they actually felt more depressed.
I wonder how much of the antidepressant use is from:
1.) the drug companies greed
2.) people are just worn out from the non-stop technology, stress from work, the ever increasing immoral culture we live in, etc.
I know there have been times I have called in sick to work just to sit at home in absolute quiet to “gather my thoughts”. I have always felt much better afterward.
I’m ignorant in this area. What percentage of those on anti-depression medicine are using for short periods to get over a rough patch, versus people perpetually on some version or another?
The limited second hand exsposure that I’ve witnessed seems to ultimately end with the patient getting off them, claiming that intially they seemed to help, only to make matters worse in the long run.
Kick out all the Muslims and see how fast happiness will return to GB. Meanwhile, we here in the States had better stock up on anti-depressants.
“This article is so depressing. Now I need to take one of my little pills to compensate. Hmmm... Maybe two pills.”
I wonder how much of the depression is from seeing their culture and their country fading and failing.
I have my grandfather’s letters written from wartime London, telling of the fortitude and cheerfulness of the Londoners.
Back then, their enemy wasn’t within their gates, and they could shoot at him, and the Tube was a safe and convivial refuge.
Mrs VS
I suspect a lot of the depression in Great Britain is the cold foggy weather, and looking at all those ugly people.
Don't you remember all those asylums the Russians used to put their people in?
The Soviet Union had an over 60% alcoholism rate back then. I wonder what it is now.
If I lived in the socialist hellhole the UK has become, I’d be depressed too.
TC
I wonder how much of the depression is a byproduct of envy. The socialist politicians, journalists, academicians constantly fan the evil flames of envy for political gain. It is their most powerful manipulation tool.
The maker of Prozac, Eli Lilly, is a publicly traded company. Their stock hasn't gone anywhere during the last 10 years. If they are driven by greed they have done badly.
I suspect most of it is. My prescription would be to get rid the multicult mindset that the ruling classes have used to destroy England, and start weeding out the islamofacists. End further "diversity" immigration, too.
In other words, a good strong dose of "veritas."
You're full of it. My wife (born and bred in England) and I took a trip to Britain last September. The women looked great and the people are thinner than Americans. Post your pic, and let's see what you look like.
It was a joke. Sorry I didn’t make it 100% clear with a /sarcasm tag. Okay?
Yes, I agree. It must be sad indeed.
Have you seen this? Government is 'criminalising middle England'
It surely wouldn't help...
‘I suspect a lot of the depression in Great Britain is the cold foggy weather, and looking at all those ugly people.’
Whereas in America it’s caused by all the gun murders and looking at all those clinically obese people.
There’s nothing like a bit ignorant stereo-typing to set the tone for a thread, is there?
Geet a grip. I answered it in #14.
Later pingout.
Taking pills is not the answer. If anything, people who smoke marijuana and drink alcohol are self medicating. What's the difference between that and popping a doctor prescribed psyochoactive pill?
Better to cure the illness at the root, rather than numb the pain. And I say this as a former alcoholic, drug user, and sufferer from uncontrollable anger and depression.
Note FORMER.
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Hi, I’m asking this sincerely, not sarcastically! (There are so many wittily sarcastic folks on FR I feel I need to clarify that so I’m not misinterpreted.) I think you are brave to share that you had “former” problems with anger and depression. Would you mind answering this? Was a 12-step group, or other ‘support’ type of group, part of your getting better?
When someone is carrying a heavy load, it's a kindness to lend them a cart to carry it in.
I have found that nothing works better for me than a quiet day at home with no phones, tv, radio or anything else to do with technology, or when things get tougher, a full day of stomping (yes, actual stomping), around the pasture and screaming/crying out to God about it all. Those things do me more good than anything else and, nobody (actual human) has to put up with my temper tantrums in the process. Though the cows and goats look a little worried sometimes ;-)
Now, having said that, I too have dealt with depression over the years and sometimes when life gets too much (all the things I mentioned in my earlier post), I do go go my doctor for some help over the slump. It’s not very often, but I know my limits and when to seek help.
This is not the case with most people who take psychoactive pharmaceuticals. It’s not a temporary alleviation of stress. For those who take such medications for a short while, that’s one thing. But many people take them like diabetics take insulin. A life long thing.
There are many other methods that will help the symptoms or even enact healing. Methods that do not cost big bucks (those medications are not free) and have no dangerous side effects. Doctors do not touch any of these methods, many of which fall under the therapeutic umbrella. Or could fall under it. Since many doctors are now basically prescription writers, people have to do their own research.
I have a small clientele of people I help with a wide array of problems, and there are dietary changes, other life changes and herbs that people have taken that help alleviate unwanted anger, depression and anxiety. I’ve seen this happen with people I know. It takes more time and energy than just popping a pill, but it’s real healing, not just mental novocain.
Note my comment above - and here is a short explanation.
Changed diet.
Changed lifestyle (no more drugs, booze, promiscuity).
Started a spiritual practice which involved assocating more with those who believed in God and not with those engaging in the stuff I wanted to avoid.
Gave up smoking cigarettes (as well as weed).
Started exercising and eating natural wholesome food.
Stopped watching TV and listening to crap on the radio.
Also started investigating many methods of natural healing, eventually delving pretty deep into the subject and I now counsel others in such methods and make my own herbal formulas which I provide to my clients at a little above wholesale cost. Many herbs can do amazing things.
I found that what we do with our bodies definitely affects the mind and emotions - what we eat, read, hear and listen to,what we smell, look at, surround ourselves with - can actually accentuate negative emotions or even create them. Or the reverse.
And developing the consciousness of acceptance of that which you can’t change (especiallly in others!), tolerating the vicissitudes of life, and finding happiness deep within yourself that is not dependent on the outside circumstances of your life. With this type of consciousness, it’s much easier to deal with real hardship when it comes, and much MUCH easier to deal with the small stuff.
And lastly, mental and emotional attitudes greatly affect physical health as well. They’re both very interconnected.
It’s not an over night thing, for sure. Taken me a long while, but then, I started off in a deep, deep hole.
Your post is much appreciated. (like your tagline, btw)
Sikhs have a very admirable saying: "Conquer your mind, conquer the world."
I don't see a place for Effexor in this.
Good to see you, ARR!
Actually, covering the pain with drugs is counter-productive in the long run. Maybe short run, too.
Example: If my foot is run over by a truck, with bones broken and skin and flesh lacerated, is it better to clean it out, set it, apply healing anti-bacertial stuff? Or just take a lot of pain killers, while the actual cause of the pain just festers away and gets worse?
Pain has a reason, generally speaking; either physical or mental/emotional. It means something needs attention.
Happiness is not found in the world, it is indeed found deep within. No money or anything money can buy can fulfill the heart. Not even close relationships - we need something deeper than even other humans. Of course, good relationships with others a great help! But more important than finding a “perfect” person is BEING the right person we’re meant to be.
I don’t believe mental/emotional pain can be successfully treated with psych drugs. This pain comes from neglecting the soul. It taps one gently at first, and then turns into a full fledged hammer beating until either exhaustion sets in or one develops a chronic disease and dies. (jmo)
Almost everyone I encounter is hurting. One way or another, they are hurting.
I agree with your comments. Pain is there for a reason, it is a teacher.
Often we will be helped immeasurably if we ask - “what is the lesson here? Please let me know it.”
I have learned much that way.
Here is a maha vakya from the Vedas (meaning “great statement”)
Asato Ma Sad Gama
Tamasi Ma Jyotir Gama
“Don’t stay in asat - untruth or illusion - come to sat - eternal truth.
Don’t stay in the darkness, come to the light.”
Basic instructions for all of humanity.
"And yet there is one, who holds all this falling with infinite gentleness in his hands." (Rilke)
Comfort.
Have a great evening lj, and thanks.
Thank you - I must read some Rilke soon. I inherited a few books last year, and particularly requested poetry. A good sit down with my glasses and a reading light is in order.
Good evening to you as well!
I am glad there are people like you to help the millions of sufferers.
Of course they are on antidepressants. What other choice do the poor Brits have? They can’t own guns to defend themselves, while the Scots have banned smoking in all public buildings, and the English are set to do so in June.
Thanks - I wish there were more! I have helped a woman with obsessive suicidal thoughts, couldn’t sleep, had lost weight due to no appetite from depression. Helped a woman with uncontrollable anger and depression - both had been on doctor prescribed medication but it didn’t really help and they couldn’t stand the side effects.
Helped another woman with depression and the kind of intolerance where everything bothered her. Also several women with severe PMS and some menopause problems, all of whom had emotional problems. And several more that I won’t bother to enumerate, this in the last three or so years. Oh, and one with crippling depression and deep anger that almost prevented her from functioning. She’s coming along especially well; I wasn’t sure about her outcome since she was particularly difficult and had always suffered like this from a child.
My consultations are very indepth and take a while. I have to get to know the person, and often there are long phone calls, since most of my clients don’t live near at hand.
I’m glad you’re there to help people.
BTW, I don’t charge for my consultations! I have no degree or anything “official”. Just lots of study, experience, and did a lot of “experimentation” of what I learned on myself... Plenty of material to work with.
God bless you and your work, little jeremiah.
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