Let’s say that a close friend or family member, Caitlin, takes you aside and asks you, in strict confidence, if she can “get some advice about my depression.” At age twenty-six, Caitlin has had three serious bouts of depression in the last two years, leaving her largely unable to function for weeks at a time. A self-employed web designer, she has managed to eke out a living working largely from home, where she lives with a “very understanding” female roommate who essentially acts as Caitlin’s caretaker during her depressive bouts. During these periods, Caitlin’s appetite is poor; her sleep is interrupted by early morning (4 a.m.) awakening; her concentration is markedly impaired; and, at times, she has fleeting thoughts of “just ending it all.” Caitlin asks you, “Do you think I have some kind of chemical imbalance?”
The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance
The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance
The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance
Let’s say that a close friend or family member, Caitlin, takes you aside and asks you, in strict confidence, if she can “get some advice about my depression.” At age twenty-six, Caitlin has had three serious bouts of depression in the last two years, leaving her largely unable to function for weeks at a time. A self-employed web designer, she has managed to eke out a living working largely from home, where she lives with a “very understanding” female roommate who essentially acts as Caitlin’s caretaker during her depressive bouts. During these periods, Caitlin’s appetite is poor; her sleep is interrupted by early morning (4 a.m.) awakening; her concentration is markedly impaired; and, at times, she has fleeting thoughts of “just ending it all.” Caitlin asks you, “Do you think I have some kind of chemical imbalance?”