Antidepressants—Lifesaver or Overprescribed Band-Aid?
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Antidepressants—Lifesaver or Overprescribed Band-Aid?
Antidepressants save lives — no question.
But are they also being handed out like paracetamol for problems that are deeper than brain chemistry?
In the UK alone, 8.6 million adults are now prescribed antidepressants — a 34% increase in the last six years.
And yet, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide haven’t improved in parallel.
So what’s going on?
Are antidepressants truly solving anything — or are we using them to mute symptoms without treating the cause?
💊 What Do Antidepressants Actually Do?
Most antidepressants are SSRIs or SNRIs — selective serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
They increase the availability of certain neurotransmitters believed to regulate mood.
But here's the catch:
Depression is not caused by a "serotonin deficiency." That theory was debunked by a major 2022 review in Molecular Psychiatry.
Instead, depression is multi-factorial:
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Trauma
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Nutrient imbalances
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Inflammation
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Stress hormones
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Sleep dysfunction
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Lifestyle and isolation
So if the cause is complex, why are we giving out one-size-fits-all pills?
📉 The Darker Side of SSRIs
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Sexual dysfunction: Often persistent, even after stopping the medication
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Emotional blunting: Many report feeling numb, flat, or less creative
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Weight gain: Can lead to body image distress, worsening self-esteem
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Dependency: Withdrawal symptoms can be severe — dizziness, brain zaps, suicidal ideation
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Relapse risk: Many relapse after stopping, especially when there’s no therapy or lifestyle change alongside
Most people aren’t told these risks up front.
That’s not informed consent — that’s convenience care.
🧠 What’s Missing From the Conversation?
We don’t have a chemical imbalance crisis — we have a resilience, nutrition, connection, and trauma crisis.
But those take time to fix.
A 10-minute GP appointment doesn’t allow for:
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Talking about childhood trauma
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Testing for B12, magnesium, or omega-3 levels
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Rebuilding a life structure after burnout
So we mask the symptoms with SSRIs — hoping that will be enough.
But for many, it’s not.
✅ What Should We Be Doing Instead?
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Root-cause testing (nutritional, hormonal, inflammatory markers)
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Therapy access (NHS waiting lists are up to 18 months — that’s the real scandal)
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Lifestyle interventions: Sleep, light exposure, gut health
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Supplementation: Evidence-based use of adaptogens, amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine), omega-3s, and magnesium
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Trauma recovery work: EMDR, somatic therapy, nervous system regulation
🧬 Final Thought: When Pills Become a Trap
If antidepressants help you get through a rough season — great.
But if you're on year three and still waiting to feel like yourself again, it’s worth asking:
Are you treating the root — or just medicating the branches?
You deserve more than a band-aid.
You deserve full-spectrum healing — biology, psychology, lifestyle, and soul.
🛒 Nutritional Support for Mood Without Medication
Explore FitLife’s range of mood-focused supplements designed to support brain chemistry naturally — without masking your real self.