Disturbing trend: family doctors giving out anti-depressants like candy

Wednesday, May 30, 2012 by: Mike Bundrant
Tags: antidepressants, doctors, drugs

(NaturalNews) Anti-depressants are the third most commonly prescribed drug in the United States. A study published in the journal Health Affairs analyzes trends between the years 1996-2007 and suggests that many Americans have come to expect mental health care from their family doctor. Ten percent of doctor visits in the U.S. result in a prescription for anti-depressant or medication, not to mention anti-anxiety medication, another popular fix.

Worse, less than half of those millions and millions of people were screened for a mental health disorder. In other words, doctors are giving out these drugs without taking the time to make a diagnosis. This violates one of the fundamentals of medicine: Diagnose before you prescribe.

Do we need to remind doctors that anti-depressants aren't candy?

This is unacceptable. Primary care doctors do not have mental health training. They don't understand the cause of emotional issues. They have no business giving out medication without any knowledge of the problem they are trying to solve. It is an insult to real mental health professionals who spend years studying the nature of mental and emotional life.

Do counselors offer to cut people open and remove internal organs? Do psychotherapists attempt to set broken bones? Likewise, family doctors should stay away from mental health issues. They simply don't know what to do and prescribing medications without any knowledge of the problem is the height of ignorance.

Find a professional to help you with mental health concerns that:

• Will take more than 10-15 minutes to listen to you.

• Understands the mind-body connection and how mental activity affects emotional life.

• Understands the impact of early life imprints and beliefs.

• Works with family dynamics and relationship issues.

• Advocates natural methods of healing.

Most of all, seek help from people who have been working on themselves. Mental health professionals who work on their own issues can speak from personal experience. There is no training or education that can substitute for this.

If your family doctor meets all of the above criteria, he or she is qualified to prescribe. Actually, if your doctor really is qualified, you may never need an anti-depressant!

Sources for this article include:
http://psychcentral.com

About the author:
Watch the free video The AHA! Process: An End to Self-Sabotage and discover the lost keys to personal transformation and emotional well-being that have been suppressed by mainstream mental health for decades.

The information in this video has been called the missing link in mental health and personal development. In a world full of shallow, quick-fix techniques, second rate psychology and pharmaceutical takeovers, real solutions have become nearly impossible to find. Click here to watch the presentation that will turn your world upside down.

Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.

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