[First Amendment]

The problem with "chemical imbalance" is that it is based on the premise that consciousness is merely a chemical by-product. Kind of like radio waves or something; if there's static, it's just a technical problem. Wrong balance of chemicals. Like making a recipe with too much baking powder. But no scientist has ever been able to find the "seat" of consciousness. There have even been functioning people who had no actual brain. Undoubtedly people have different chemical balances (or imbalances) and these may be related to moods or other mental states. But perhaps the mood creates the chemicals, and not the other way around? For instance, when you feel fear, the whole body goes through all kinds of chemical changes. But the chemicals are created by the fear, not the other way around.

Another point is that the brain is really like a type of computer - and does a regular computer run itself? The actual person (soul, atma, self, whatever you word you want to use) is the operator of the brain. A person does not have to be the slave of their moods. A person still has free will and choice.

An example - I used to suffer from severe depression, I tried suicide (seriously) when I was 13, and was even hospitalized when I was 15. I suffered from it for years. Now I suffer no more from it (occasionally get in a bad mood like anyone else for a morning or something). I did not get cured by the use of chemicals. I decided to change, and the story of my cure I will leave for another thread.
The person is more than chemicals.

[jlogajan]

The problem with "chemical imbalance" is that it is based on the premise that consciousness is merely a chemical by-product.

The problem with divorcing consciousness from the structures and properties of the physical brain is that it ends up having to deny such physical influences.

We know, for example, that there are drugs that are hallucinogenic. Under such chemical influence, the person loses contact with reality, and behaviors can be quite severe. Take away the chemical and the person returns to their normal behaviors.

The idea that depression cannot cross this boundary is just something you assert on rather flimsy faith -- especially when there are ample cases to the contrary.