Good Mood: The New Psychology
of Overcoming Depression
7) There can be damaging psychological side-effects of drug
treatment. According to a physician, the anti-depressant drug may become
"a nagging reminder that something within is not working as it
should...[and] has the potential for decreasing one's sense of
self-worth"15...."It is not uncommon for patients to go off the
medications a number of times, testing their limitations. This often (but not
always) results in further episodes....This returns the patient to square one
and further disturbs his sense of self-worth".16
"Some patients are very upset by the idea that it is not their own
will but a medication that is responsible for preserving control over their
behavior, mood, or judgment...as a weakness. These feelings can lead to a
rather negative attitude...."15
8) Understanding depression as part of human psychology is of interest for
its own sake. Hence the existence of effective anti-depression drugs is not a
good reason to cease searching for psychological understanding of depression.
There are a variety of anti-depressant drugs and a variety of side-effects.
A convenient up-to-date summary of them is in Chapter 5 of the book by Papalos
and Papalos referred to in the bibliography..
Present Conditions (Conditions (Interpretation of these) Childhood Recent
history (General or (History weighted Traumatic) by recency) Anti-Depression
Drugs or (Comparison) - Habitual States Goals Self demands
hopes FIGURE 4-1 3 Low self-esteem Negative self-comparisons Sadness Sense of helplessness Figure - 5
top | next
home |
about simon | table of contents | ways to overcome depression
conquering depression |
download book |
buy complete book
|
