LATELY, when I talk about life’s ups and downs with friends, I’m surprised to find how many are on anti-depressants. They swear by them. Indeed, the TV ads for these medications make them seem like a miracle drug, which for many they are.
But I wonder, are doctors prescribing and people taking these mood-lifting pills too readily? Isn’t it OK to have a bad day anymore? I’m not down most days. But some days I am. Like when I’m behind in my work, I feel stressed. When I hear news of wars and kidnappings, I feel sad. When my kids are fighting instead of doing homework, I feel irritable. When money gets tight, or one of my parents gets sick, I feel anxious. When it’s that time of the month, I feel all of the above. Is that a problem?
