Anti-Depressants: For or Against?

I think when used correctly anti-depressants are very good and helpful. Unfortunately, they are often abused. People jump to a "depressed" diagnosis when they are sad or upset and they want a quick fix. Sad and upset are normal, healthy human feelings. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It drives me crazy when I see people say "oh i'm depressed because of school" when really they are just frustrated or people who go on antidepressants because they are sad for a few days. Antidepressants should be used for people with real depression and they should be used correctly and under the proper care and supervision of a doctor. They are not a "quick fix" to problems and emotions and the people who actually need them to function at a normal healthy level understand that.

I am not so sure people should rush to use them for episodal depression. But for those who have a permanent brain chemistry imbalance, then they are necessary to live a relatively happy life. I know, because I and my daughter both have a chemical imbalance. Mine presents itself in mild to severe depression, but my daughters presents itself as bi-polar disorder. If she does not take her meds, which is most often, she cannot function very well. I know becaue I am raising her son because of it. When I do not take mine, my personality is very different, for the worse. On my meds, I am happy, well-adjusted, and very nice. Without it, my temper gets the better of me and I cannot control it.