Chemical imbalance, hereditary or situational?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was 23, I'm now 45, and still dealing with it. Psychiatrists, therapists, and family doctor all stated that it's due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, and hereditary factors. Sometimes I believed that, other times, not so much.
On the hereditary side of things, there's 3 generations, that I know of, that have anxiety, depression, or both, and that's just on my mother's side. Not everyone is afflicted, but there's a good amount that are. Can this be attributed to chemical imbalances, or poor coping skills, which would make it situational?
Sometimes I think "chemical imbalance" is a band-aid excuse doctors hand out so they don't have to go into details. However, the psychiatrist that I've been seeing for almost 20 years isn't the kind of doctor that gives a quick reason or excuse to your issues just to get you out of the door, yet she stands firm in the belief that my issues are due to chemical imbalances, and hereditary factors. I prefer to have proof for many things in life, so of course I wish there was a test that could prove or disprove the diagnosis of anything.
I'm curious to know everyone's opinion about all of this, especially your take on belief or non-belief of chemical imbalances.
Thanks much, Kim
2 likes, 70 replies
helen20833 Psyched_Out_Kim
Posted
It's interesting that we anxiety sufferers desperately seek a reason as to why we are as we are. Perhaps it's the belief that if we know why then there will be a medical solution to cure us.
Certainly there has to be a reason but as yet opinions are varied upon the subject, even amongst the professionals.
I tend to lean towards the chemical imbalance theory coupled with each indivuals coping mechanism threshhold.
Having said that I have ceased driving myself mad searching for an answer and have resigned myself to accepting it's there. That's enough to deal with without the frustration of hoping to find a "Why?" If the medical profession disagrees upon what triggers it then what chance have I? No sense going round in circles and adding to the stress levels. It's enough coping with it as it is.
Psyched_Out_Kim helen20833
Posted
I fully agree with everything you said. It's like every few years it pops in my mind, and I try to figure it out. No success yet. lol
helen20833 Psyched_Out_Kim
Posted
Well there is a reason. I'm sure of it. If only the medical profession would get it's finger out of its ass and research until they find an answer!
Psyched_Out_Kim helen20833
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Purpledobermann Psyched_Out_Kim
Posted
I feel it is a mix of things: learned behaviour, genetically tranferred and chemical. However for me the real question is what came first, the chicken or the egg. Did the chemical imbalance effect the disorder or did genes effect chemical imbalance? Or did learned behaviour trigger chemical response? Or did situational stess trigger learned behaviour triggering chemical imbalance or did the chemical imbalance pre-exist causing us to malfunction during times of heightened stress or....you see where this is going? Nowhere. :D The fact remains that if you can address your responses effectively, your chemicals should rebalance. Similarly and for some preferably, if you balance out chemicals then your responses will also improve. So medication, psychotherapy and even psychoanalysis (latter for really stubborn disorders) OR the other way around. :D GOOD LUCK!!!!
Purpledobermann
Posted
and let us not even go into environmental factors and also diet, exposure to sunlight, exercise....(ok I will stop now
helen20833 Purpledobermann
Posted
Which brings us right back to if there isn't definitive proof then we have to deal with what we have piecemeal I think! LOL
helen20833 Purpledobermann
Posted
It's never ending isn't it? Sigh...wish someone out there could invent a pill that would magic it all away...
Psyched_Out_Kim Purpledobermann
Posted
All of the questions you listed after the chicken or the egg reference, I've thought of. Every last one of them! My brain is going to be a fried egg, (or chicken) soon. lol
helen20833 Psyched_Out_Kim
Posted
Lol! I'm sitting here going dizzy! And now, speaking of food you've made my belly rumble
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
Psyched_Out_Kim cia42277
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helen20833 cia42277
Posted
Bacon! Or steak n caramelised onions in fresh crusty bread!
Now I'm starving ! Gonna have to lurk in the kitchen for edible
Goodies,. Yikes! My belly thinks my throat's been cut ??
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
helen20833 cia42277
Posted
Divine! I'm salivating...??
Purpledobermann helen20833
Posted
"wish someone out there could invent a pill that would magic it all away..." GASP...and ruin all the FUN??!! What is wrong with you girl LOL xx
helen20833 Purpledobermann
Posted
I hang my head in shame for being an ingrate!
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
It looks like you have attracted another member to the Cuckoo Club. Welcome, Purple
helen20833 cia42277
Posted
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
This angel's sleeping timer has no earthly idea when to sleep, if to sleep, or even where to sleep.
When I wake at 3 or 4 am, I often try to get back to sleep in one of the two beds in the guest room, a recliner, or one of the sofas. By morning, I have to make up every surface one could lie down on.
I can't remember the last time I spent the night in my own bed. That was also true in my much younger years, but for a different reason.
helen20833 cia42277
Posted
You are truly a delightful person!
The blessings of growing older:
Sleep when you are tired
Eat when you are hungry
When awake enjoy every moment by doing what you want when you want.
Ignoring the clock. It's days of dictating what and when you do it are over.
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
Yep to all the above. When I have company, the first thing I think while waving good-bye is ...I can eat and sleep however, wherever and whenever I want. I get to enjoy company twice...when they arrive and when they leave. In between can get iffy.
helen20833 cia42277
Posted
LOL ! You can, if you so desire, go completely mad and have a pixie cut! I did as you all know and squashed my initial horror by the realization, What the hell! Nobody notices a 67/ bout to turn 68 year ole trout anyways
Plus, we always have an excuse for our mistakes
Me, when I was a gal it was youthfull folly
When I was middle-aged it was menopausal
Now it's senility!
cia42277 helen20833
Posted
My hair is long but thinning. I loved pixie cuts when had more and thinker hair. Now i have a blast with hats and wild bandannas and scarves. I wear them all the time when out. I'm sure bets are being taken as to whether I have hair or not. However, I do get a lot of compliments as noone seems to wear hats anymore. I have always loved them.
helen20833 cia42277
Posted
I love hats too!
I loved hair too...when I had some that is
cia42277 helen20833
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helen20833 cia42277
Posted
I'm In!!!!!!!!