The Chemical Imbalance MythApril 3rd, 2008
How drug companies and the media promote the myth that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance.
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| The popular anti-depressant Paxil has earned GlaxoSmithKlien $5 billion dollars. |
Mental illness has had a direct impact on many of my friends and relatives living in Utah. After learning of the incredible profits pharmaceutical companies earn with every new successful drug, I've been hesitant to believe that these mental illness pills are actually doing more good than harm to the majority of patients who use them.
GlaxoSmithKline produces the anti depressant known as Paxil. GlaxoSmithKlien's profits from Paxil are reported to be $5 billion. Thanks in large part to the addictive properties of the chemical compound. Thousands of users are now reliant on Paxil to function normally on a daily basis. The chemical dependency Paxil produces is extremely powerful, patients trying to get off the drug have reported withdrawal reactions. In addition, in rare instances Paxil users have become aggressive or suicidal.
Without doubt, anti-depressants and other psychotropic drugs are useful to patients who are in dire need. However, when they are used as a form of treatment, for what doctors label as a "chemical imbalance" there are some obvious flaws in this logic.
The human brain is a chemical factory, producing hundreds of chemicals that control our moods, perceptions and general well being. Our thoughts actually have the power to affect our moods and perceptions. However, thoughts need not be the rulers of our moods and minds. Many of the most genuine happy people I've come across, are those who have overcome incredible hardship, without the use of anti-depressants. When we decide to introduce a new chemical in the brain, we deaden our body's ability to deal with trauma or unhappiness naturally.
If a patient introduces a new fat-soluble chemical (meaning that the chemical will affect not only the blood nutrients but will also be absorbed through cell membranes affecting the brain chemistry) their body in-turn slowly adapts to this chemical, until it depends on it. Subsequently, the brain becomes less adept in producing the other chemical compounds that were made naturally. Paxil, especially is known to produce this effect. With this knowledge readily available it's alarming that anti-depressants and mood-stabilizers are still routinely prescribed to to children. Their minds are not yet even fully developed, still we deem it necessary to change the recipe of their brain chemistry.
The brain is an extremely powerful chemical powerhouse. Endorphins, produced in the pituitary gland produce the feelings of euphoria and excitement all people feel during strenuous exercise, excitement and orgasm.
The word "endorphin" is a combination of "endo" and "morphine" -- meaning endogenously produced morphine, or internally produced painkiller. Endorphins are the body's natural pain reliever.health central
Its been found possible through meditation and hypnosis to emulate powerful drugs such as cocaine and heroine merely by tapping into the receptors and glands that produce the highs drug users get by synthetic means.
When doctors use the term "chemical imbalance" patients can relate to this logic. The doctor claims there is an imbalance, this requires a chemical to regain that balance. However, as Dr. Wagner explains this "chemical imbalance" perception is a product in-and-of-itself, without this misinformation, or media campaign, pharmaceutical companies could never reap the enormous profits they are getting from their drugs. Chemical imbalance is an unproven theory, there is no scientific data to back-up the claim that patients suffering from depression have any imbalance in their chemistry.
As Dr. Wagner explains, the introduction of anti-depressant meds should be a last resort and only reserved for those patients in dire need. Environmental factors such as diet, exercise and stress related issues should always be examined first. Therapy and counseling must always be the first step in overcoming depression or other mood disorders.
Coming soon a video interview with Dr. Lili Wagner. Check out more Mormon Culture stories here
