Are antidepressants a cure to depression? Many people would assume yes, given its title as an “anti” depressant, but is this really the case? From a literal stand point, yes, the main purpose of this drug is to alleviate depression. If antidepressants are an actual cure for depression, then why is it that depression is one of the most common mental disorders in America that is still on the rise today? So why wouldn’t this “happy pill” be the answer to combatting depression? There are many reasons why this drug is not a cure, and could make depression worse in the long run. With every drug, comes negative side effects, and whether the positive side effects of this drug outweigh the negatives is widely up for debate. However, after watching my mother suffer from depression and become so dependent antidepressants, I believe the use of antidepressants is more harmful to a person’s mental health than beneficial because it suppresses the natural reuptake of certain chemical hormones in the brain, it causes the body to develop a dependency on the drug, and increases the chance of the individual abusing the drug as their body gains resistance to its effects. Suppressing the natural reuptake of certain chemical hormones such as, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin can cause major hormonal imbalances. Your brain sends out the needed …show more content…
As your body becomes accustomed to this un-natural increase in serotonin levels, it eventually will start losing its ability to do so naturally. Therefore, continued use of antidepressants will become mandatory to maintain a happier mood. “When the user discontinues the drug, the brain “overcorrects” triggering new depression” (Freeman, par. 6), essentially causing one to relapse. Ultimately causing a physical/mental