“Depression is a chemical imbalance”
yes, but many times its caused by the person and their actions or thoughts.
Just supplementing drugs to try to balance is no real (long term) help or strategy for success. Just as supplementing by taking my thyroid Rx daily does nothing to help my thyroid gland - it just boosts/balances the amount of hormone in my system and makes my blood test result acceptable and many days I feel ok. It’s not help, its a bandaid for a bigger issue (thyroid not functioning properly because of a number of factors) just as depression meds are a bandaid for bigger issue of thought and nutrition, lifestyle, sleep etc number of factors. The person is hugely responsible for making improvements in their life - the depression drugs or any other are used as crutch and many people never face the real changes that would actually help them be well.
Coming off the meds is a nightmare - because they don’t belong in the body in the first place and coming off any drug/mind altering substance is gonna effect the mind and body hugely because the person faked a “balance” by using it to begin with.
Situational depression is closer to what you describe. Clinical depression, that which has been around since I can remember is a friggin anchor that you drag around (and it occasionally drags you).
There was nothing in a ten year olds behavior that has them walking around in a cloud.. That kid was a straight A student, eventually an Eagle Scout, a college grad, and youngest Senior VP in his company’s history. Married 32 years, and two well adjusted, self sustaining children.
Trust me...I’ve been tested every which way to Sunday. I wish it was something I did.