Reasons to be Cheerful by Jurrian Kamp

I was having dinner with a friend when she told me she was taking antidepressants. That surprised me, because my friend had never seemed to be lacking in self-esteem or social support. In fact, she had always seemed rather cheerful and I was quite sure it wasn't the mediocre ravioli that lifted her out of existential crisis. My friend is among the millions of people around the world who take anti-depressants, a number that in the U.S. alone has doubled within the past 15 years and is expected to continue to rise.

In a recent contribution to The Huffington Post, physician Andrew Weil hinted at the correlation between the forces of capitalism and the "fact" that depression is now widespread. Among other factors, Weil blames the TV commercials which spread the message that "all sadness is depression, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, this pill will make you happy, your doctor will get it for you." Weil suggested that because of overdiagnosis many people who are occasionally -- and quite normally -- a bit sad or insecure are labeled as depressed and in need of a pill to quickly solve their problems.

When I told my friend about Weil's ideas to alleviate depression -- lifestyle changes including less caffeine, more excercise and a diet high in fruits and vegetables, supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids -- she didn't seem particularly convinced. In fact, she seemed almost depressed. Apparently, taking responsibility for your own health can be a tough pill to swallow. But I think the fact that we can do so much to improve our mental and physical health is a reason to be cheerful.

Ed. Note - clinical depression IS a chemical imbalance in the brain and medication can and often does bring much needed relief... HOWEVER - I personally do think that many people seek an easy answer to the ups and downs of life - something these drugs were not intended for - and needlessly put themselves at risk for side effects. Read more of Dr. Weil's ideas on depression here.