Antidepressants Pros And Cons

Antidepressants: Harm or Help
When deciding how to go about treating depression there are many options that must be considered. Many people feel that antidepressants are risky and have unknown factors but if used correctly and with the right combination of treatments, reaching remission is possible. The idea of antidepressants being a safe haven is false in the sense that medications can not fix everything. People have to work on themselves whether it be seeing a psychiatrist or finding a daily habit that helps them find a reason to look for happiness. The controversy over whether antidepressants are helpful is a never ending question that is considered when determining whether that is the treatment route they are willing to take. Depression
Evidence shows “reduction in suicide is more prominent when combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, rather than either therapy alone” (Okpaku 367). In result of antidepressant medications not being the miracle drug that can cure everything, psychotherapy is the next step in overcoming depression. Psychotherapy is a great method to openly express what is going on in the minds of the victim of depression. There is also “recent data showing possible increased risk for suicidal behavior among children and adolescents treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) antidepressants have created significant concern among patients, families, and providers, including concerns about the risk of individual antidepressants” (Cooper). Along with unknown effects of antidepressants there is also a minor chance of risk of suicide that comes with taking antidepressants and therefore should only be used as a last resort. Different types of natural remedies have shown to have a positive effect on depression symptoms whether it is a short term remedy or a habit that can be picked up and continue to raise serotonin levels. “For instance, Jasper Smits a psychologist with a clinic in Dallas has long recommended that therapists use exercise therapy for people who are not responding to other forms of treatments. In 2012, a clinical trial of heart failure patients found that regular exercise help alleviate depressive symptoms. It's believed that exercise increases hormones like serotonin and dopamine in the brain, subsequently making people feel better”