Antidepressants - to take or not to take?

I have been reading over the past few days about the rise in depression based on the evidence of increasing numbers of anti depressants being prescribed by GPs and conversely, the number of people who apparently do not go to their GP because they do not wish to be prescribed medication.

Not surprisingly it is women who are most likely to suffer from depression. But why? Do they have some predetermined weakness making them more likely to succumb to an 'illness', are they less concerned about depression being listed on their medical records, do they 'give in' more easily? Or is it just that they are more likely to recognise that they need help and are brave enough to go and do something about it?

This is not to say the many men who admit to and seek treatment for depression are any less brave, but when there is so much discussion about the rights and wrongs of medication perhaps we are actually judging unfairly those who go to their GP for help and encouraging the suffering of them, and possibly ourselves, and repressing individual choice.

In counselling I often hear about how talking therapies are more important than medication and that anti depressants are a short term fix. I believe, to some extent this is true. Talking therapies are, I believe, the answer. I have great faith in the process of talking and being heard with empathy and understanding and without judgement and advice. I also know how long this can take, and how long many people wait (myself included) before finally realising just how bad their symptoms are, and how they can no longer use their own self help strategies, before seeking medical and/or therapeutic help.

Medication can be taken in small doses indefinitely, they can be taken in larger doses for a limited time. They do all take a few weeks for that 'wrapped in cotton wool' feeling to kick in. But thought, consideration, reflection can come much more readily once the anxiety and the black clouds have gone. This is the time real therapy work can be of long term use.

There are long waiting lists for free counselling. This is one of the reasons why antidepressants are prescribed - to get people who are already a long way down and trapped in their individual pit just able to find a light and face the world. Many times before free counselling appointments become available the depression, thanks to the medication or otherwise, has in the main lifted and the sufferer (and believe me it can happen to anyone without warning or exception) is functioning again.

It does not make the causes go away though. The reasons for the depression will still be there. Not necessarily the obvious causes like death, illness, loss, divorce, house moves ......... and those reasons can be many and varied, but the ability to cope, the resilience, the black and white thinking, the self esteem, the problem solving, the support network, the lack of company or someone to talk to who will truly listen and hear what you have to say - those things cannot be given by medication. Those things can only come through counselling - and your mental health should be valued as much as your physical health, your social welfare and your general wellbeing.

If you do not have the energy to give light to yourself you cannot share your light with others.