Rethinking Life Beyond the Pills

 Rethinking Life Beyond the Pills

By: Megha Jain 



In a world where Tylenol silences headaches, upset stomachs find relief in Pepto-Bismol, and acne disappears with Accutane, society appears to have embraced pill popping as a remedy for almost every problem. This tendency, of course, is a testament to scientific progress but raises a haunting question: what happens when these remedies transform into problems themselves? 


To explore this dilemma, let us focus on a condition that unfortunately affects, according to the World Health Organization, 280 million people worldwide: Depression. 


I vividly remember visiting my aunt’s home in D.C. Regardless of the time or weather, her house was always abuzz with activity. She took pride in hosting a diverse array of guests, friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers she met at the grocery store. Entering her house, one could always feel her positive energy being radiated while she made tea for everyone and had long, thoughtful conversations about any topic she wanted to discuss. She knew how to keep everyone entertained and engaged in conversation very well. So whether you were a kid or older than her, you always looked forward to meeting her.


However, within a few months of visiting her in 2019, everything changed. My aunt was diagnosed with severe depression. The house was no longer filled with laughter but rather with unspoken sadness and unfamiliarity. She was no longer able to enjoy anyone’s company. For our immigrant family, grappling with the reality of depression as a legitimate diagnosis was challenging. Our thought at first was how could such a jolly person be diagnosed with such a terrible thing? How can someone be so good at faking happiness? How could we not see any signs? Yet, as time passed and family advice no longer sufficed, tangible solutions became imperative. We had to acknowledge that depression, like diabetes, is a disease that needs to be solved. Antidepressant medication entered our lives. 


A singular pill was promised to provide relief. At first, it seemed like a beacon of hope in the darkness that had engulfed her. The medication did work very well for some time. However, little did we know that within the span of a year, one pill turned into two, then three, and before we knew it, my aunt was juggling a cocktail of medications. However, not every medicine was to cure her depression but rather to ease the symptoms caused by the anti-depression. She wanted to stop the medicines, but we all knew that was easier said than done. 



At some time, the pills became a daily dread, taking her mind into the depths of darkness that seemed unimaginable. According to NPR, Americans shell out about $10 billion a year for antidepressants, and they're the second-most-prescribed drug, right after drugs to lower cholesterol. Well, this may seem like a good thing. People are being diagnosed earlier, and measures are being taken to solve this issue. This widespread reliance on antidepressants raises concerns about the long-term effects on individuals and their families. An article in Mad In America mentions how two-thirds of all unipolar depressed patients either do not respond to initial treatment with antidepressant medications or only partially respond, and these patients fare poorly over the long term. This data raises concerns about the effectiveness of anti-depressants in the long run and underscores the importance of developing alternative therapies and support systems to address the complexities of this situation.


It's been four years since my aunt's diagnosis of depression, and she, unfortunately, is dependent on her cocktail medications to provide her with some sort of normalcy in her life. I am sure that with so many medications in her body, she is not truly herself, and she may never be. 


This makes me question the very essence of our healthcare system. How can a solution backed by research and professionals lead to the cycle of dependency and potential harm? I feel that we are over-relying on medications to solve issues that have the potential to offer a more holistic approach should be questioned. According to Harvard Health, research suggests you will improve your chances of getting relief if you combine drugs and therapy. 


We need to reevaluate our approach to how we handle mental illness. Pharmaceutical companies, over the years, have taken control of it and must prioritize comprehensive mental health solutions such as therapy, community support, and personalized treatments. My aunt’s journey, along with 280 million people, underscores the need for a nuanced, empathic healthcare system that is not driven by short-term solutions but by long-term effective solutions. 












    • Harvard Health. (2020, May 26). Medication or therapy for depression? Or both? https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/medication-or-therapy-for-depression-or-both#:~:text=Or%20both%3F,-May%2026%2C%202020&text=No%20single%20treatment%E2%80%94whether%20it's,you%20combine%20drugs%20and%20therapy.

    • Shute, N. (2011, August 4). Antidepressant Use Climbs, As Primary Care Doctors Do The Prescribing. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/08/06/138987152/antidepressant-use-climbs-as-primary-care-doctors-do-the-prescribing

    • Whitaker, R. (2012, March 8). Antidepressants/Depression - Mad In America. Mad in America. https://www.madinamerica.com/2011/11/depression-2/

    • World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2023). Depressive disorder (depression). www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression#:~:text=Approximately%20280%20million%20people%20in,among%20women%20than%20among%20men.







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