Minorities Prefer Counseling to Medication
To conduct the study, Jane Givens, M.D., of Boston University Medical Center and colleagues used an anonymous Internet depression screening test offered on the InteliHealth Web site to collect data from 78,753 people.
What they found is that some ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are twice as likely as whites and Native Americans to choose counseling and prayer instead of medication. African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians who took the survey also tended to doubt that depression is a biologically based illness and feared becoming addicted to antidepressants.
The results of this study are important since it gives a clue as to why minorities may not receive the care they need for depression.
Source:
Givens JL, et al. "Ethnicity and preferences for depression treatment." General Hospital Psychiatry 29 (2007): 254-263.
Comments
I was not depressed the years I was with an alcoholic. However, after the relationship ended and I was alone and the traumas of being with an alcoholic, leaving him because of the drinking left me in severe depression. BUT, I refused to take medication. I observed many people in the hospitals when I went to visit the alcoholic. Side effects, then pills to combat side effects, Good God Almighty how bizarre! I was depressed for many years but I persevered : massages, acupuncture, herbs, walking, praying, counseling, learning deep breathing, pressure points that increased energy, etc. We are here to grow, and we need our own minds to grow. I liken it to climbing a mountain within ourselves. We must move to higher levels of our mind, many 12 step programs are wonderful for this. Depression is hope gone out the window. I came to learn how my inner thoughts were not good. I worked a garden, I grew flowers, I wrote my feelings down. I read many books on the antidepressants…….terrible reactions. Only if you are acting out horribly or fear suicide then they have their purpose. Sound eating habits help, the B Vitamins, most of all sharing your deep feelings with someone you feel comfortable with.
That is not easy. Found most therapists unloving, clinical, could not relate to. That is why it is important to talk with someone who has been there where you are. I do not believe in labeling various disorders and getting meds for each one. If you truly do not want to get better and are not willing to enter into your own healing process, nothing will work. Must work on 4 levels pulling out of depression, body, mind, spirit, emotions. One pill, a few herbs, is not going to do it. Depression is a long time coming, it takes time to move to wholeness again. The cosmos has an effect on us too, and our Saturn cyles occur about every 7years. Learn about them through a competent Astrologer. Sufferring should not be masked. It is a signal to grow and become a better, different person. We are called human beings…that means you are a human coming to be-ing!!! We leave our basic animal natures and move to human wholeness. Takes time, courage, faith, and the victory in overcoming is a reward and you will see how you improve with working with your problem. Everything in our culture is geared towards escapisim. The drug companies just love your escapism. We are too magnificently made to believe in a pill. There are exceptions as stated…Get out in Nature. Help an elderly person, open doors,give praise to someone….engage in the beauty of being human and being alive. Volunteer. I am 70. beenvthrough much….no pills, but all the above. Wouldn’t have it any other way and I was severely depressed.
Take the challenge! John Wayne said courage is being scared to death but jumping in the saddle anyway.” AMEN!
Blessings!
sorry but medication is not a good way to solve your emotional problems period. Support, prayer and family, are healthy and better ways to get through depression. Medication has damaged many innocent people,leaving them even more depressed than before.
I understand that everyone is entitled to their own point of view. But as a person who suffered from depression all my life and recently found an answer, I have to say that some people do need antidepressants, and by avoiding them you are delaying your cure or relief. It is important to get second opinions and watch closely how you feel because my doctors in the past told me I had only depression. They delayed the correct treatment I needed. By taking only antidepressants I had more manic episodes, could never keep a job for too long, was promiscuous when single, and when I was dating seriously I was always breaking up with the person for no reason. It was very sad. Finally, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder about 2 or 3 years ago. I took me a long time to find the right drugs, but when I did, now it is simple, just adjusting the dose as needed. Yes, some drugs have heavy side effects: sexual side effects, weight gain, tremors, yawning, heart palpitations…etc. But it is better than suicide, or better than shaving your head because you feel psicotic like your hair is physically bothering you, tickling your head, feeling like it doesn’t belong there, it is too light.
Before I tried the meds, I went soulsearching, did yoga, massage, acupunture, reiki, whatever I could find. Nothing helped me. Faith helps, friends help, support groups sometimes help some people, but the medication is what keeps me functional and stable. I have a child, a husband and a job. If I did not take my medication I probably would have already left my husband during one of my manic episodes. If I did not take my medication I would not have hair on my head. I would shave it every couple of months or whenever worries would arrive.
I am currently taking wellbutrin for depression (it is the best!) the only side effects that I noticed is that I’m thirstier than before (it is not really dry mouth). I had a very slight tremor but that was when I noticed that the dose was too high. The best thing about this drug is that it does not affect your sexual life. Thank God!
Depakote is like I’m not on anything except it keeps me in line.