Why are so many teens on anti-depressants now?

At my high school, there are so many people on antidepressants and ADHD medication.

Sometimes they joke about how they feel when they forget a dose.

My brother is on an antidepressant and I am contemplating taking one as well. My mom thinks I need one to control my social anxiety, and I agree now. I can't write my notes because I can't stop shaking in class. I was bullied every day.

I was prescribed Prozac a few months ago but I never filled the prescription. But now I see how many people are on antidepressants, I think it will be more "normal" for me to take the medicine. Sometimes my brother gets the brain zaps though and I worry I will get these too.

I don't think we have much reason to be happy. We have to get up at about 5:30am to catch the bus. It is dark and cold out. Then we are under cameras all day, and we have to work nonstop or we will get detention.

Taking medication is an important decision that, in my opinion, many people take too lightly.

Don't get me wrong, there are organic and personality disorders that require a medical prescription for the sufferer to lead his or her life, but these cases are a lot more rare than they seem considering how many people are on medication today.

One reason for why so many people are on medication these days could be because people are becoming more comfortable with psychology and with discussing their problems than they have ever been historically. On the other hand, the growth of pharmaceutical companies (and their relationships to various HMOs) may have an affect on how quickly a psychiatrist might prescribe medication.

Before you go on medication, really think about how you feel. Taking psychiatric drugs will have a profound affect on your brain chemistry and may change your mood, perception, libido, and really could affect nearly every system of your body.

I suggest you first try seeing a therapist or trying homeopathic therapies to address and overcome your problems on your own (but with human support).

If you find no success with any therapy, THEN you should consider medication.

Best wishes.

people do that because they think it is so cool. also in this time period things are alot More stressing for kids which gets the depressed. talk to your doctor

Anti-depressants are probably over prescribed to kids and teens these days. But it seems like a cultural phenomenon... these days people just want to take a pill to solve their problems.

If you are interested to alternatives to pills try exercising regularly (30 minutes a day 6 days a week). Also try eating a healthier diet and getting more involved in your community. Volunteer somewhere on a weekly basis and join an extracurricular activity (band or sports team or drama).

Exercise and social connectedness are two ways proven by science to reduce the incidence of depression.

Its tough to be a kid in this day and age. Maybe they really are depressed, maybe their seeking attention. Who knows.

Not just teens, but people of all ages are on antidepressants more so now than ever before. The reason is that the billion dollar drug industry heavily markets drugs because drugs are huge moneymakers. They convince doctors to give them out instead of having people deal with the underlying problem.

Also, people don't want to deal with the underlying problem. They want a quick fix. Drugs provide that.

I used to take antidepressants but I stopped because there are so many side effects to them. I had more problems while I was on antidepressants than before I started them. Now, I deal with the actual problems in my life instead of taking a drug to try to make things better. The drug industry doesn't want people to do this because they'll lose all their money.

we're to busy worrying about things that we cant fix. We need a better way to cope than medicine. but i cant find anything. so i'm contemplating getting medicine myself.


I'm pretty sure i have social anxiety as well. though my mother doesnt think so. but i'm sick of shaking and holding my breath and almost passing out all the time. it makes things so hard.
and i've been depressed for about... three years.

that ez. because there mom or dad r *** hoe or thay get bully alot so thay feel like ****

because the typical north american diet is to blame, eating a diet high in gluten and saturated fat and excessive protein can act like depressants. to be happy eat mostly raw fruits, vegetables, and seeds and nuts

tell your parents you prefer a different school

I have this feeling that physicians give the lexapro starter kit out at the lightest suggestion

think about wellbutrin as well

read about these medications at wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellbutrin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexapro

because, now there are more people having disorders. you need to take your antidepressant...you will become very very depressed and maybe even suicidal if you do not. antidepressants balance out your brain chemicals to make you a happier person. adhd is becoming more common too. but you know, most highschoolers just take it because they think they need it to do better. no, it is not because parents are lazy. people are just becoming more aware of problems. doctors arent in it for the money. have you realized there are more killers out in the world? we're human. we're bound to get fuckd up. mental disorders are genetic. people are getting together and making babies when both their families suffer from a mental disorder or somethin. that's what happens. it's all genetic.