Eli5: why is there no test for the “chemical imbalance” that is often mentioned for depression?
In: Chemistry
As has been answered from legit neuroscientists, because depression isn’t a chemical imbalance.
What is very interesting in all of this is that there are plenty of possible culprits to explain depression but nothing that works all the time or stands up under scrutiny. What is obvious is that there is no replacement for fist hand introspection when it comes to understanding mental illness. This sort of puts us back in the camp we were in before Big Pharma told everyone they could handle it. Talk therapy, that thing that insurance companies are loathe to pay for, seems to be one of the therapies that works and offers an explanation for depression (relates to shame and guilt, relates to a harsh inner critic).
I take meds but I also started on medium-intense therapy. I was lucky to meet a psychiatrist who rejects the pharmacological-only description of depression and knows that therapy works. Along with exercise, diet, good relationships, good habits, etc.
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