Mind For Therapy

I am usually a great fan of commercials. While I am never compelled to go out and buy anything, I enjoy the creative and humorous nature of most of them. However, my least favorite commercial is one for a “supplemental” anti-depressant. It magnifies our cultures dependency on medication for everything. It starts out with a very interesting fact, “2 out of every 3 people taking an anti-depressant still experience depression symptoms.” This is enough information to make me stop and think for a moment, but it is the next phrase that really puts me in to a twist. “[Add-on medication] may be right for you.” Are you kidding me? You just gave me the stats that say, 2/3 of people taking anti-depressants are not helped by them, and you have the nerve to try and sell me more medication. Isn’t that one definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over expecting different results)? After I have my initial furious reaction, I typically slip into a mild state of depression myself. Is this what our society has come to? We are so blinded by the propaganda of huge drug companies that we are willing to swallow this. Even the commercials have negative side effects.