Medications, Depression, Exercise, and People
Some statistics from The National Council on Patient Information and Education (2006):
And then there are antidepressants. Antidepressants "work" for a large percentage of patients that take them in attempt to resolve depression. But it turns out that exercise works too, and without any adverse side effects (and with added benefits). Exercise activates dopamine and endorphine systems (neurotransmitters that are attributed to inducing sense of well-being).
We are then inclined to ask... why? The obvious answer is that people are just too lazy. Or depression destroys motivation for something like exercise but not taking medications. Let's talk about the cases where people are not so severely depressed that they are entirely dysfunctional (which is rare).
If the obvious answer is correct, then people are simply too lazy to improve their own health and lives. They lack the motivation to improve; to feel better. Where did things go wrong?
Sources:
American Heart Association statistics
LocateADoc Natural Depression Busters
Trans-Health Exercise and Depression
- Almost two-thirds of Americans currently use medicines: 49 percent use prescription drugs, and 30 percent use nonprescription medications.
- 32 million Americans are taking three or more medications daily. (Many medication combinations have not been researched at all, especially in the context of unique individuals)
- 10 percent of all hospital admissions are the result of patients failing to take prescription medications correctly. (These patients stay an average of 4.2 days in the hospital)
- Adverse drug reactions may be the 4th-to-6th leading cause of death.
And then there are antidepressants. Antidepressants "work" for a large percentage of patients that take them in attempt to resolve depression. But it turns out that exercise works too, and without any adverse side effects (and with added benefits). Exercise activates dopamine and endorphine systems (neurotransmitters that are attributed to inducing sense of well-being).
We are then inclined to ask... why? The obvious answer is that people are just too lazy. Or depression destroys motivation for something like exercise but not taking medications. Let's talk about the cases where people are not so severely depressed that they are entirely dysfunctional (which is rare).
If the obvious answer is correct, then people are simply too lazy to improve their own health and lives. They lack the motivation to improve; to feel better. Where did things go wrong?
Sources:
American Heart Association statistics
LocateADoc Natural Depression Busters
Trans-Health Exercise and Depression
posted by Ted Miin at 11/19/2006 08:48:00 PM
15 Comments:
it seems like this has to say something about peoples' condition in the world in general; hopeless, empty, alienated...
Care to say more?
I don't think that depressed people are too "lazy" to improve their condition. I think a big part of the reluctance to seek treatment is the stigma that even bright people such as you only perpetuate by saying that exercise is as an effective means of treatment, compared to psycho and pharmacological therapies.
I know there are data saying that exercise increases well being but I haven't heard of any study that claimed that exercise is an as effective form of treatment for people who suffer from major depression. There are studies that have shown that exercise when combined with psycho and/or pharmacological therapies is more beneficial than any of these treatments on their own. But we can't just tell people to exercise without actually addressing the underlying problems. People who are depressed are not capable of simply sweating their problems away, as if depression were an illness of character. In fact this idea only keeps many people who are in serious need of help from seeking the best treatments.
Unfortunately people who have never studied in depth or suffered from depression like to ease the burden that comes from the powerlessness they feel when they hear about someone's suffering. This is done by blaming the victim and saying that their illness is a result of not walking enough, eating too many sweets (acne, diabetes), not exercising (depression, morbid obesity), or being immoral (HIV).
Major depression is not just general sadness. In fact Professor Patricia Deldin says that depression and sadness are not even on the same spectrum. A big component of depression is anhedonia, which means that it is not uncommon for a clinically depressed person to claim of being too numb to even cry. Major depression can also manifest itself as physical ailments, these symptoms are more common in cultures where depression is incredibly taboo.
You are not the only psychology major I have encountered who, when it comes down to it, doesn't believe in depression. This is unfortunate. Given the number of applicants for graduate programs in clinical psychology it makes me wonder how many future therapists actually don't believe in their clients' suffering. Which is why during my interview I fully disclosed that I continue to both see a therapist twice weekly and take medication, which I hope would be seen as a sign of taking responsibility for my own well-being.
Hi Adam, thanks for your comments. If you were writing in direct response to my post (as opposed to simply speaking your mind on the general topic, which would be greatly appreciated) I don't think you understood the premise of my discussion.
I noted that the subjects in question were the "cases where people are not so severely depressed that they are entirely dysfunctional." Which would exclude subjects with major depression. My focus was the depression that we see frequently among our peers. People that are not pervasively dysfunctional, but exhibit depressive symptoms. People that are able to think about their illness, and have the ability to act upon it. My statements were a bit scattered starting with medication-use and ending with comments on depression, so I can see how it was unclear. My apologies.
Also, I was not trying to pass off the "laziness" clause as truth. I was speculating, hoping that other analyses would arise. I couldn't think of any, and without additional suggestions from others, I chose to consider the "laziness" clause further.
I apologize if my comments sounded particularly naive or false to you. I try to write in ways that allow any reader to engage and contribute. Given the lack of sufficient details (mentioned above), I can see why you were offended. However, your statements about me being a psych major and "not [believing] in depression" are obvious insults with no reasonable base. Certainly not from the statements that I specifically made. All psych majors study psychopathology, and specifically depression, in full depth. To say that I don't "believe" in depression is like saying an anthropologist or biologist doesn't "believe" in evolution. It's actually very interesting that you respond in this fashion, because just yesterday, I made a relevant blog entry:
http://tedmiin.blogspot.com/2007/03/why-do-some-people-in-negative-moods.html
Please let me know what you think.
Given your post, I also realized that I had not done enough research, but here's more information (sources below): About 5% of Americans suffer from depression in any given year, but about 7% of Americans take anti-depressants. Again, over-medication, and faith in the magic pill to solve the problem. It still points to laziness to me...
http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=7814&ss=1
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/healthcare/a/usmedicated.htm
(p.s. grooveadam, please don't advertise here.)
Hold on, I'll respond to your comments.
But first I wanted to put a link to my blog because for some reason the comment I left wouldn't direct me there.
i respectfully disagreed with your statements and apologize for any incorrect personal asumptions i made about you. i do not think, however that my comments were insulting. but if you took them that way then i apologize.
you are correct that the estimated prevalence for current major depression is 5%
however, the same source says that almost 20% of the US population will experience a clinically significant episode of depression at some point in their lives. the World Health Organization ranked depression as the single most burdensome disease in terms of total disability adjusted life years (Gotlib & Hammen, 2002 from the Handbook of Depression).
also, antidepressants are not only for depression. they treat other disorders, including anxiety, sexual, and attention defficit disorders. one antidepressant is also the drug given to smokers to help them quit.
i just thought i would respond because your entries are well-written and thought that my comments were relevant to the discourse. i consider myself a mental health advocate. so a link to my blog is also relevant to help you or anyone who wanted to see where i was coming from. no i did not read the negative moods entry, but i will as i continue procrastinating.
peace.
I have some issues with the statistics you've quoted, because you're taking a lot of rather unrelated concepts and stringing them together; I'll try to keep this coherent.
The increase in life expectancy is due to a lot of factors, many of which you've listed. However, the development of antibiotics has also dramatically increased life expectancy, as well as increased sterilization procedures (while not medication, still chemical).
Your rather flippant response implying that all people on antidepressants are lazy rather cleary indicates that this is not something with which you have had to battle. Depression saps motivation for a variety of tasks: cleaning, personal hygiene, social contact, and exercise. When you can't even remember what it feels like to be happy, it's pretty darn difficult to pull yourself off of the couch, change clothes, drive somewhere, and put yourself through physical pain for potential hope that you'll feel better afterward.
That said, there is a lot of overprescription in our country, but this is not to say that all people on antidepressants are lazy. There are some who need the neurochemical boost to even consider something else like exercise or social functions. When there is no light at the end of the tunnel, but a short-term dosage of an antidepressant helps you find your way through the tunnel, then it's a matter of giving hope through medical advances. A pill doesn't cure anything; therapy combined with exercise and medication can do wonders.
Also, the diagnosis for depression might not be keeping up with the cases that are out there. This might partly explain the 5%/7% stats you quoted. I also fully believe in the power of suggestion, so if you get a prescription that is supposed to "fix" things, then you might just start feeling better. A mandatory sugar pill substitute for a month after treatment starts (while still being monitored by a therapist) might be interesting to study.
Hi Jamie, thanks for the comments. You are right, I failed to mention antibiotics which were a large contributor to increase in life expectancy.
My initial post was unclear, and I can see how it was interpreted as flippant. I have clarified my points further in my following posts. I believe they address the comments in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of your post.
I agree that therapy combined with medication is very effective. In fact, I think both should be kept inseparable as much as possible. But the fact of the matter is that many people get the drugs, and fail to make any follow-up visits. Probably very few by choice; there are many restricting factors like costs, and availability of psychiatrists and family doctors. But for some anti-depressants, suicidal tendencies arise during initial usages.
People should only medicate themselves when they also apply appropriate complimentary therapy, or specifically recognize the purpose and effects of the medication, choosing it as a best option.
I am a strong believer in the mind&body's natural resilience and power. I simply think that too many people jump straight to medication when there are more natural, appropriate, and effective ways to heal.
Antidepressants like xanax are the most popular form of depression cure. However, as per recent observations and studies, probabilities are rife that the antidepressants are not that suitable to be administered to patients with low to medium depression. They work best only when they are prescribed to the patients with high depression symptoms.
I suffered from what is known as"severe clinical depression" for three years unmedicated. I tried everything-literally everything: exercise, diet changes, psychotherapy, light treatments, meditation, prayer, energy charts-the whole show. And nothing worked. I was finally admitted to a psychiatric ward for suicidal ideation and put on antidepressants. People who judge those who need medical help are monsters, nothing short of it. If I had cancer, would you call me lazy for undergoing chemotherapy? Depression is a medical condition and oftentimes meeds medication.
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Good post and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you seeking your information.
I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link
You have to express more your opinion to attract more readers, because just a video or plain text without any personal approach is not that valuable. But it is just form my point of view
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