Alright, a little something about depression... I’ve already mentioned I’m no doctor or anything, just someone who spends way too much time in the local library ($17 / years), surfing the web, and talking things through with my girlfriend. (Now that sounds like a line from Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, right?) She’s told me plenty of times that for her, depression doesn't have some external trigger—though that matters too—it's internal. But hey, even she isn't 100% sure. And man, how many times have I heard someone being called "depri" or whatever they call it these days? Millions. Or two. And honestly, I could tell them every single time that people don't *need* to be "depri," but they feel it as a real problem. No matter what it actually is. And the medical establishment? They aren't doing anything to stop all this chatter about "depri." If anything, they’re cranking it out! They pump out all these brochures on recognizing depression, complete with those little "Do you have depression?" quizzes, all wrapped up in stories about "real people" suffering. These folks accept they have a "disease" because psychiatrists tell them so. And since they're doctors—they're supposed to treat sick people for illnesses. So, they treat depression. It’s that simple. You’re feeling down, you hit up your GP, they write a referral to a psychiatrist who, bursting with expertise, deals with you in like, fifteen minutes. Then the "real person" continues: "It wasn't easy, I didn't get better overnight, don't get me wrong!" And there it is—the perfect excuse for antidepressants, and man, they have them coming out of their ears. You can basically pick your color preference at this point. Oh, and we can't forget therapy! That’s "healing," apparently. Then you have more stories from "real people" who are, poor souls, afraid to live. And they need help so they won't be afraid! But wait, "real people" think they can help themselves! Can you imagine? On their own! What about those of us who spent ten years sweating over textbooks? Do we just smell bad? No, we don't! Luckily, "real people" have "real friends" who say: "Hey, you're acting weird. You're definitely depressed, go see a shrink." The most important thing is realizing it's a "real disease" and nothing to joke about! Just pop a pill, then talk about your family, your childhood, whether your dad was creepy, if your mom breastfed you too long, if your brother used to crawl into your crib, or if your uncle showed you his "toolbox" with all those different tools... and presto, you're healthy! And some nice doctor or specialist will help you. For a long, long time. Even longer than you think you need. But hey, they know best, right? There are even these polished magazines promoting mental health filled with lovely little tests: "Am I sad most of the time? (yes/no)," "Do I lose interest in things I used to love? (yes/no)," "Is it hard to get out of bed? (yes/no)," "Do I lack a partner? (yes/no)," "Is my waistline too big? (yes/no)," "Does life feel meaningless? (yes/no)," "Do I think about death a lot? (yes/no)..." If you check a few boxes, hurry! Before things get messy! We won't even say *that* word—suicide. We don't say it! If it crosses your mind, go straight to the doctor! Otherwise, they might lock you up indefinitely. Look, depression isn't just some trivial thing. It’s about the brain, and that's a big deal. But there’s hope! We're here, the doctors! The guys in white coats. The cause? Brain changes. A messed-up family. Death in a messed-up family. Something unknown. So what does "cured" mean? Nothing. Who says anyone is cured? The psychiatrist. And what does he know? About depression. That it's a disease when someone is depressed and that there are changes in the brain. In a pamphlet titled 'Recognizing and Treating Depression and Anxiety Disorders' (published by a major US medical publisher back in the early 2000s), they even mention the economic component because it costs society so much. And that's not pretty. Depression is problem number one. Not pretty at all. I won't ramble too much about that pamphlet, I'll just quote its summary of the depression pattern: "In conclusion, we can say that it is most likely, just like in other diseases, a combined effect of numerous biopsychosocial factors which ultimately result in illness." (from a popular health site) Wow, incredibly convincing, right? They convinced me, did they convince you? And now, the lie that "medications can solve or at least alleviate the main problem." Meds act on the brain. But where is the root of depression? In the brain or outside of it? "The difficulties in perceiving depression as a brain disease arise from a misunderstanding of brain functions, the least understood of all organs. When we mention the brain, we first think of intelligence, logic, comprehension, learning, memory, spatial awareness, but it's less known that the brain is also the organ of emotions and moods, the most important factors for an individual's quality of life." (from a health website) Again, so convincing! Everyone repeats it: depression is a disease just like any other. Like high blood pressure or diabetes. After reading all that, I'd be pretty unprofessional if I said otherwise. The numbers are relentless, the percentages are huge, everyone is at risk, young and old. The economy, the family... Diagnosis is a hilarious concept in psychiatry because the same person might have one diagnosis with one psychiatrist and a completely different one with another. I know this will annoy some people, but it's just my opinion, formed while living with and talking to my girlfriend, who's been in the psychiatric "system" for almost twenty years. We both enjoy the fruits of what is called science—psychiatry...
