Cosmopolitan magazine uses millennial slang to try to normalize antidepressants for teen girls

Sunday, May 15, 2016 by: Julie Wilson staff writer
Tags: Cosmopolitan, antidepressant drugs, teens

---

(NaturalNews) Cosmopolitan magazine says it's geared towards "contemporary women," however, its true audience is impressionable teenage girls, which is what makes the publication's latest offense that much more disgusting. Cosmo recently ran an article promoting and normalizing psychiatric drugs, and various combinations of them, for young women.

"16 Things Only Girls On Antidepressants Will Understand" teaches teens that exchanging "horror stories" about the side-effects of psychiatric drugs is a great way to bond with friends, that there's nothing wrong with relying on antidepressants to function, and how incredibly annoying it is when someone has the audacity to recommend natural alternatives.

Below are among the most offensive points used to push psychotropic drugs:

People who tell you that they think psychiatric meds are evil are SO ANNOYING. Going on antidepressants literally saved my life and allows me to be a functional human being, but please, keep telling me about that one article you read that totally proves your point.

Your body is basically a science experiment until you find the right meds. It's so rare to initially be prescribed the medication that's right for you, so you have to try lots of different meds out. But when you find that perfect combination of meds, you realize it was probably worth it.

Exchanging medication horror stories with friends is now a ritual activity. "Did I tell you about the time my doctor prescribed my Lexapro and I slept for 14 hours a day?" "Oh my god, no way! Once my doctor prescribed me Abilify and I gained 15 pounds..."

People asking you why you're on antidepressants is rude as hell. OK, I know this might sound crazy, but I take them because I have this disease called major depressive disorder.

Meeting someone who's on the same meds as you. No better way to bond than learning a new friend is also on Wellbutrin! Yay!

Explaining all your pills you take to your new bae. This one helps me go to sleep, this one helps me wake up, this one is for depression, this one's for anxiety...

Someone who acts like psychiatric medications are just as dangerous as party drugs is just the WORST. Nope. Sorry. Bye.

People who ask you if you've tried a "natural" solution, as if they're being really helpful. Have you tried not offering unsolicited advice to me?

Those moments where you can't remember whether you took your pills. 'Cause who knows what happens if you take them twice?!

Approximately 10 percent of Americans are prescribed antidepressants, and while they are essential for some, depression pills are vastly over-prescribed. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reported last year that 69 percent of people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed antidepressant, have never been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.

Just less than 40 percent have never been diagnosed with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, or social phobia, reported Medical Daily.

So why are some 30 million Americans taking antidepressants?

Well, because just about anything fits the description for off-label uses, including autism, ADHD, eating disorders, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, according to the Scientific American.

While antidepressants make some people feel better (or urge them to kill themselves or others), long-term use is not recommended, as evidence shows that they may trigger or worsen other mental health problems.

Antidepressant use among teens is even more concerning, as their effects on the developing brain are largely unknown. Prolonged use of the drugs may also create dependency, as people trying to get off them sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sleeping problems, an upset stomach, nightmares, memory impairments and trouble focusing.

They can also eliminate your ability to be happy without them.

"Antidepressants like Prozac ... raise levels of a brain-signalling molecule called serotonin, seemingly by blocking a compound that gets rid of serotonin. But after several weeks of taking the medicines, the brain responds by making less serotonin, which may be why when people stop taking them they can get long-term withdrawal symptoms," reports New Scientist.

Those are just a few reasons why it's completely irresponsible of Cosmo to be promoting antidepressant use among teens and young women. Consuming psychiatric drugs should not be taken lightly, and if there's an alternative, it should be utilized.

Talk therapy, diet, exercise, meditation and quality relationships with friends and family have proven to be much more effective than psychiatric drug use.

Cosmo should be ashamed of themselves. If they're going to push harmful drugs on teens, they should at least report the side-effects. Anything less is a walking advertisement for Big Pharma.

Sources:

MedicalDaily.com

ScientificAmerican.com

NewScientist.com

Cosmopolitan.com

Science.NaturalNews.com