I recently saw an argument unfold on one of my friend’s Facebook statuses. The post was a combination of two images: one of a forest with writing that said, “This is an antidepressant.” The second image was of several pill packages that implied prescribed antidepressants, with writing stating the vulgar equivalent of, “This is garbage.”
There was one person who was absolutely adamant about agreeing with the image, while several others were defending certain people’s needs for prescribed medical help in order to fight their depression.
I saw that a few of my friends had made comments in opposition to what the first person had said. They defended the use of medicine to help give some people the boost they need to feel better, and they offered their own experiences about why one option might not necessarily always be the better option for everyone.
As someone who has tried multiple options to fight my depression and anxiety — but ultimately needed a little extra, although temporary, help from medicine — it made me realize how much I could relate to their points. I also realized how hard it can be to live with a mental-health disorder in a place where one of the biggest trends is to oppose “Big Pharma” at all costs.
According to some individuals who may have had a negative experience with medicine, prescription medication is the devil incarnate, and it was created to ruin everyone’s lives and create new diseases along the way so that everyone will be hooked on their medicine and become mind slaves to the biggest names in pharmaceuticals. According to others, it’s the reason they’re still alive.
What should be noted for either side of the argument — whether you’re for or against any kind of medication — is that each case is different. Maybe you’re vitamin-B- or vitamin-D-deficient and just need to rebalance of those vitamins so you can get back to feeling like yourself. Maybe you need to take a day off of work to relax and recover from the stress that’s getting you down. Maybe some lavender essential oil or meditation will take the edge off your nerves.
I can’t express how many times I’ve been told I’d be less anxious and a lot happier if I exercised more or cut carbs and sugar from my diet or — my personal favorite — that it’s all in my head. Well, yeah. Of course it’s in my head. It’s not called a mental-health issue just for fun. Yes, exercise is great, and eating healthy does fantastic things for your body, but at the end of the day, some people just need a little more help than others. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about or ashamed of when it comes to needing a little extra help. It’s likely that no one will feel the exact same way as you and, in the end, you probably know what’s best for you.
I am by no means a doctor, but if I could offer a bit of advice, it would be to do what is best for you. If that means exercising, do that. If you think a change in diet will help you out, go eat some vegetables. If you need a day off to relax and reflect on what makes you happy, go right ahead. If you need to talk to a doctor about taking antidepressants, you do that too.
What eventually ended my friends’ argument on Facebook was a picture posted by a good friend of mine. It showed a similar image to the one in the initial post, but instead of a criticism on the bottom image, it read, “There is no shame in getting help. This is an antidepressant, too.” At the end of the day, the opinion of others is not important. You are who matters the most.
Alexa DeLoera is a UF political science senior. Her column appears on Fridays.
