depression – Page 5 – Inside The Mind of a Psychiatrist

With new technology a person can enter a scanner, like one in an airport, and emerge with a number of definitive recommendations for which clothes will help them steal Brad from Angelina. Keep in mind, the winner gets to watch all the kids every other weekend.

So we have a plan to buy the perfect jeans, but we’re still somewhere in the sixties when we search for the perfect treatment for depression. Not a paltry challenge when you consider that almost 10% of the population suffers from sadness extreme enough to cause them insomnia, decreased concentration, inability to function or even suicidal thoughts. 21 million people in the US alone complain of being depressed.

So can buying the perfectly sized jeans reduce depression? Sometimes. Sometimes just looking better not only reduces depression, but can improve self-esteem and that can improve our personality which can make us more interesting which can then cause people to be more attracted to us which can then lead to more happiness… Ok, you get it.

BUT, what if the new perfectly molded jeans, that make your not so perfectly molded butt look terrific, just don’t reduce your depression?

That’s where all the self-help books that recommend searching within, going for it, and Even Good People Suffer, kick in. If they don’t work, don’t be afraid of seeing a therapist. Most of us are trained to help you figure out what’s really going on.

Gotta stop now, I’m off to the scanner to find the perfect see-through T to show off my six-pack, just like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have. OMG, I forgot! I don’t have a six-pack.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist. Do it before Brad and Angelina. It’ll make you feel better.

Are psychiatrists simply highly educated bartenders or hairdressers, where for insurance subsidized fees people can safely pour out their hearts and get sympathetic nods and sage words of advice?

Hang in their Buddy, life’s tough, but you’ll make it.

Yeah, your husband’s a real jerk; you deserve better.

Plus, as an added bonus, the shrink will toss in a dozen tranquilizers or sleeping pills…

The answer is not complicated. It’s NO!

Most people who use the “paid friend” analogy are either ignorant of what psychiatrists do or are very defensive and fearful of what issues are lurking within themselves.

The symptoms of depression, such as sadness, loss of energy, negativity, and sleep disturbances, just to name a few, can be transient, chronic, mild or severe. There are numerous types of depression — Dysthymia, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorders, postpartum depression, cyclothymic disorder, psychotic and non-psychotic types, suicidal, non-suicidal, substance abuse induced depression, depression associated with medical disorders etc. etc. Each type and each individual requires a different form of treatment.

It’s true that Louie the bartender can try and cheer you up with a free drink (although alcohol makes depression worse). Jacques the hairdresser can flatter you with a new look and distract you from the negative feelings that are so haunting that sometimes life feels unbearable. But, it’s often only a psychiatrist or other mental health professional that can make a clear diagnosis and recommend a form of treatment that will address the underlying problem and personalize the treatment depending on each person’s needs.

Imagine the relief of finally knowing what you’re suffering from and getting the appropriate help.

On second thought, I think I’m being a little too rigid. Getting a new haircut is definitely not off the table… Maybe after treatment is successful, you’ll look in the mirror and decide you need to look more positive, or wild, or unique and give Jacques a call. Fine! See Jacques whenever you want. He is very charming, and it feels especially good to get your hair washed and your scalp massaged…