The Topic
Depression is one of the mental illnesses that can have serious effects on affected individuals. While some form of mild depression is normal and may not have serious effects, the major depressive disorder can have dangerous symptoms that may be difficult to cope with. People experiencing serious depression usually have difficulty in concentrating, loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts, and insomnia (Fennell, 2016). Depression is not merely a feeling of sadness but entails a complex and chronic combination of both physical and emotional in nature. Depression is increasingly becoming a common mental illness amongst many people, thus the need to find ways to overcome it (Issakainen & Hänninen, 2016). Many different ways can be used to overcome depression, and in most cases, these strategies can be difficult to handle, especially due to the serious symptoms that accompany depression. Some of the ways that have been used to overcome depression include maintaining strong social support, medication, and going for therapy services.
The Controversy
As depression continues to become a serious health problem in the United States due to the rising number of affected individuals, controversy exists over the effectiveness of different ways of overcoming depression. While some people argue that depression is a manageable condition that individuals can overcome by their own through social connection and a healthy lifestyle, others are of the contrary, viewing this approach as ineffective in helping affected individuals. There is also a growing concern over the need to access therapy and medication services (Greenberg, 2017). As a result, one side is for self-management for depression through lifestyle changes and having social network while the other side is for treatment methods through therapy and medication.
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Pro Side of the Controversy
The proponents of therapy and medication as the best treatment for depression argue that people with a chronic depressive disorder are usually unable to control their own emotions and actions and thus the need to seek the services of a qualified psychotherapist to help them overcome. According to the reports by Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 90% of people with depression who have undergone through medication and counseling sessions have found these strategies effective (Freedland et al., 2017). Within six months of therapy and medication, clients report positive feedback. Therapy and medication offer a scientific mechanism to understand the cause of depression and then make out for a solution. This is contrary to the self-management techniques which have proved to be less effective in helping the patients.
Con Side of the Controversy
The opponents of therapy and medication argue that most of these services are not readily available for the patients to access. Also, they argue that most people with depression are not aware of their situations and only think of it as a temporary sadness. This group views self-management techniques such as a healthy lifestyle and having a social network as the best alternative to live a depression-free life (Karp, 2017). Even though there exist programs to support the depressed in society, overcoming depression must first start with self-awareness and acceptance before one can recover (Goldstein, 2015). It is not possible to assist a person who is depressed until they first make an effort to understand and accept their situation.
Tentative Thesis Statement
An effective way of overcoming depression requires a combination of the social support programs, therapy self-management techniques such as healthy lifestyles and strong social network.
References
Greenberg, L. S. (2017). Emotion-focused therapy of depression. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies , 16 (2), 106-117.
Issakainen, M., & Hänninen, V. (2016). Young people's narratives of depression. Journal of Youth Studies , 19 (2), 237-250.
Fennell, M. (2016). Overcoming low self-esteem: A self-help guide using cognitive behavioral techniques . Hachette UK.
Freedland, K. E., Lemos, M., Doyle, F., Steinmeyer, B. C., Csik, I., & Carney, R. M. (2017). The techniques for overcoming depression questionnaire: Mokken scale analysis, reliability, and concurrent validity in depressed cardiac patients. Cognitive therapy and research , 41 (1), 117-129.
Karp, D. A. (2017). Speaking of sadness: Depression, disconnection, and the meanings of illness . Oxford University Press.
Goldstein, E. (2015). Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming depression with mindfulness and self-compassion . Simon and Schuster.
