There was never a “chemical imbalance” when talking mental health. Confused? Beginning back in the 1990’s, the pharmaceutical companies began marketing a bunch of new psychotropic drugs, including anti-depressant SSRI’s that get back into “balance” your “chemical imbalance” (serotonin) causing the depression. Even with no evidence of serotonin imbalances needing to be back in balance, the SSRI drugs seemed credible (they were on tv!), and the theory suggesting that chemicals were likely out of balance was simple and made perfect sense — even though it didn’t. The chemical imbalance theory also helped de-personalize individuals from having anything at all to do with their mood fluctuations — after all, how can you alone control an inherited biological chemical imbalance?? Fortunately, drug companies had the answer! Just go to your doctor and tell her you’re depressed, and before you can even suggest a chemical imbalance it’s likely the prescription for an antidepressant drug was already written. It all makes perfect sense until you learn that after years and years of important research we have actually learned the opposite —that the entire theory of “chemical imbalances” was simply a marketing tool to sell drugs.
You are not vulnerable to “chemical imbalances”
Due largely to the work of professors Joanna Moncrieff and Mark Horowitz we now know there is no clear evidence that serotonin levels or serotonin activity are responsible for depression. Think about that for a moment, it’s not that your brain suddenly went haywire and serotonin acted unpredictably to the point of being medicated to get back to “balance,” but instead far more likely that any depression you have ever experienced was likely brought on by life events and situations, coupled by the ways in which you coped with the accompanying stress. While it may feel better to think that depression is this thing that occurs randomly and that we have no control over (and therefore no personal responsibility for experiencing), the reality is that depression is a product of how we perceive situations, our coping skills, and our resilience. When we frame depression that way (accurately), it puts more of the depression on us and how we deal with life, rather than how the drug companies had us thinking that basically “you’re doomed, and only we can help.”
Depersonalizing mental health issues might help us cope in the short run, but introducing potentially dangerous psychotropic drugs can — and often does — create an entirely new and even more serious set of problems. Don’t believe me? Tune in closely to the next drug ad you see on tv and take note of the potential side effects that go on and on and on…..it’s actually hard to believe any of these drugs get approved when you take a close look at all the things that can go wrong. Rather than search for a theory without legs (i.e. the chemical imbalance theory), a much better way to go is to learn better coping, and using professional assistance when needed.
Turning attention toward yourself and how you may have gotten to a depressed mental status can be scary, but buying into theories with no credibility is even worse. In fact, by knowing that your brain is not damaged, nor that you are the unfortunate recipient of flawed genetics, allows you to quickly move from an “I’m doomed” mindset to a more empowered approach to self-improvement. No pills needed, but instead a recognition that a mood change has occurred, and that you have the ability to correct the situation through your own personal efforts and not an ongoing prescription of SSRI drugs.
It is important to note that improving mood state is not easy, regardless of what caused the depression. Working everyday to feel better is challenging work, and there are plenty of moments of hopelessness that often occur along the way. Depression is very serious, but it is also very important to get it right when assessing why depression occurs, and the best methods to improve mood state. When we erroneously accept that depression is created by uncontrollable, genetic “chemical imbalances” of serotonin, the first thing we do is immediately stop trying to improve our condition. After all, why would you try to get better if you are convinced depression is completely out of your control? We compound matters when we then use potentially dangerous SSRI drugs in exchange for other more authentic and efficacious approaches, including therapy, support groups, and exercise.
Final thoughts
While assuming depression is caused by uncontrollable, genetic chemical imbalances takes the onus of responsibility away from individuals, it’s also not backed up by science. What this means is that we are responsible for our well-being, and that we have a lot more control than some would think when it comes to our mental health. While the drug companies would like for you to think improved mental health is beyond your personal control and can only be experienced through their drugs, scientific research says the exact opposite, and shows that our human perception and means for coping with stress are what actually mediates our wellness. Marketing is one thing, science is another, and with drug companies sometimes blurring the lines it is more important than ever that we become vigilant, critical consumers when it comes to our mental health.
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