Don't blame yourself! Keep fighting the stigma.

[ziggypiggy]

With the recent study just released suggesting that serotonin levels may not be the cause of some depressions be prepared for the wave of articles already on the way that imply that mental health is "all in your head" or within "your control ". Don't buy into it.

Nearly half of us already know that we don't respond to antidepressants that target serotonin. Your depression is not a character flaw! Your depression is not a moral failing. Your depression is very real and for many of us has failed all available treatments.

Several of the articles I've read in the past two days already suggest that psychotherapy is the answer. Yes, therapy is helpful to some extent, but it is not the holy grail cure some believe it to be. And when a patient doesn't respond to psycotherapy guess who is to bear the blame. The patient always. This is unacceptable. Psychotherapy should come with a warning label like any other treatment.

The fight against the stigma of mental health has been a slow slugfest over the past couple of decades. Let's not suffer a setback by letting those in the media who have no idea what we go through grab onto this new narrative as they try to minimize and diminish our struggles.

[ziggypiggy]

Here's an article referencing the study

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

[fauxartist]

I think some depression is a genetic predisposition, like other genetic disorders that follow the family line. Depression can be exacerbated by mental injury that add to an already existing condition. There will always be a variety of opinion, scientific or not, that want to explain the cause of depression. Therapy is only a tool to understand why you feel the way you do. You don't need a reason to be depressed... you just are... and there is no cure.

It's only a management of symptoms and understanding of the other issues like trauma, CPTSD, abandonment, etc. that add to the feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair you can feel at the low points of this thing call depression. But I don't always feel depressed, I have cycles... ups and downs... some days I feel good and happisher, then chemistry kicks in... and I can go down the rabbit hole again. But I always know it will pass. Everyone is different I'm sure... but I still believe it's chemical... like postpartum is, hormones, that's a chemical imbalance.

[designguy]

I agree, good commentary. I read recently where they are now questioning the issue of alzheimer's and plaque buildup being a major contributor of it. All of this is a work in process but the fight about mental health stigma is real and continues.