Does anyone here believe anxiety and depression are real, true, organic disorders that are actually harmful to an individual? I argued relentlessly with professors throughout college that they are not. It's not only being spoon fed to students, it's being forcibly fed to the masses on a daily basis. Whether we recognize it or not is another thing. I became so sick and tired of hearing the same crap over and over on how anxiety and depression are a "sickness", and how such "disorders" need immediate psychiatric counseling and "assistance". I believe the term assistance is a kind way of saying you need to be on drugs. while most professors didn't want to hear anything other than a regurgitation of their one track mind propaganda, some of the others took the time to listen to a different perspective. I never got upset when I couldn't express myself because it's very typical of professors (i.e. "intellectuals") to get so trapped in their little idyllic world of academia.

Anyway, the premise of my argument was that anxiety and depression should not be considered a "sickness" as the way the media and society are telling it. I believe the anxiety & depression are the basis of evolution of oneself. And that the large part of society still isn't ready to accept people with such "disorders".

Here is the rest of what I had to say:

The idea is to not inflict any emotional or physical pain on yourself, but to learn and grow from the pain that has been inflicted upon you. Pain functions as a tool of development by forcing an individual to concentrate when they are trapped in a mental snare caused by the emotional or physical pain. Their mind automatically begins to seek out answers as to "why" the person is suffering. As long as this process is not interuppted (such as distractions like drugs & alcohol) the psyche will continue to operate in a progressive fashion. The individual will, at first, dwell almost soley on the pain at hand. given time, the mind will grow used to the pain and the consciousness will automatically progress into other areas of though. this progression of thought will, with time, lead intio psychological development. The state of mind generated by forces of pain or loss is known clincially as "depression" and "anxiety". The major body of psychiatric thought considers depression (and anxiety) to be a "sickness". These concepts should be considered as apalling to anyone who understands the significance of suffering, perdition, pain, and despair.

This is not to say that depression or anxiety should be a constant state of mind for everyone. By all means depression and anxiety, like all things will likely run its course and move on with time, leaving only mental advancements and wisdom in its place. It must not be left understated that the ascension of out of pain is just as important as the suffering itself. For it is the suffering the enables our development and our greater appreciation of new found heights.

As an individual who has survived pain, I must constantly remember to remain aware of the pain I have suffered and allow the pain to continue to teach me for that this life is wroth. Thus, the integration of pain and suffering into our psyche, rather than fighting it, teaches our souls the meaning of loss. When we accept pain in our lives, we can learn to live at the depths of emotion which pain can induce. It is in those depths that we can often reach true realization.

I tend to agree with you. Too many are looking for the quick fix with drugs, especially MDs and pharma-corporatists and the corporate media who enable them.

In many cases, it seems, drugs make the problem worse, or at best, cover up the cause. Best results are achieved when a person can get completely free from drugs and apply balanced diet and exercise (physical and mental). Seeking humility and understanding never hurts.

About 17 years ago I was watching a Television advertisement for antidepressants, and it was speaking of how one could feel more outgoing and lessen any mood swings.."See your doctor and find out if they are for you" they said. Being that I had a great medical plan since I was a member of the aerospace union, and the fact that I was really open at the time to taking drugs that made you feel good, I thought I'd go see a doctor to see if I could get some. I went to the doctor told him I had mood swings and he sent me to a psychologist who told me he could start me out on one kind and if I didn't like 'em I could try another. Actually I described to him the way I felt when I smoked pot, lethargic, sometimes paranoid at the grocery counter when I was buying munchies thinking everyone was aware that I was stoned, liked being alone, etc, etc..
He told me it might take me a couple of weeks to get used to them and that they could stifle any sex drive I had.
He was right about both, I had no sex drive, I always felt spaced out and dehydrated, and after trying a couple of different kinds to see if they would make me more outgoing and less likely to feel moods I opted for the moods and quit the drugs.
It wasn't really hard to get them, all I had to do was say I felt depressed at times and I was given a prescription. It didn't seem normal to just give me the prescription without spending some time at least going through some kind of therapeutic process to see if I really needed them. I remember getting more of a third degree from my dad when I asked him for a quarter to buy a popsicle when the ice cream guy came around.