Psychiatrists to brand grief lasting longer than two weeks a mental illness

[davidthegnome]

110. Yes, it can.

In theory, there are quite a large number of things that can trigger any kind of mental illness, including depression. My thinking is that the label is given too easily, too quickly, without enough study, without enough consideration.

I was fourteen when I was diagnosed with PTSD (this was fourteen years ago now) and it took less than an hour. A nice man in an expensive looking suit asked me what was going on in my life and how I felt about it. He seemed considerate and kind. He pulled out his pen and wrote a prescription for zoloft, telling me that it was non habit forming and that the side effects would be mild. I have no idea what the price was, but I know that, today, an hour meeting with a psychiatrist in the town I grew up in costs 300 dollars or more. Three hundred dollars. For one hour of someone's time. I'm rather cynical when it comes to psychiatry in general, because true therapy, psycho-analysis... was not used with me. There was no dedication from any staff, no true follow up or real lasting concern about what happened to me, or how I reacted to the medications. It was, "Take this and go home. See me in a few months. If you can afford to."

It took less than an hour to determine that I was a good candidate for a powerful, mind-altering drug that I have struggled with ever since. I couldn't begin to describe, in just a few paragraphs, how much I've come to hate it and rely on it. It helps treat the symptoms - but it creates it's own issues via side effects. For instance, unless I am severely and completely emotionally overwhelmed in a very brief period of time (which rarely happens) I cannot bring myself to cry. This is not a good thing.

Anyhow, back to the topic at hand... do you think two weeks of grieving is enough to determine whether someone is mentally ill? Do you think one hour is enough? I'm assuming we're both well aware of the diagnostic criteria.

There is a difference between grief and mental illness. Grief is a natural way of letting go of friends, family, pets, loved ones. Mental illness is generally described as a chemical imbalance within the brain.

Psychiatric medications can help, they can help a lot. At the right time, when used short term. In the long term though, they can be devastating. I know. I am one of those people that slipped through the cracks.