| For as advanced as American society and culture is, there is so much more that we don't know, than we do know. Since after the Bubonic plaque in Europe, people have learned more and more about the human body and how it works. Every year or so new discoveries are made about humans that lead to answers that help us do better physically in our environments. One controversy that stems from a discovery is that of cloning. This is a way in which, not only cells and tissue be reproduced under the right settings that are identical to the original, but that whole body parts and organs can be made. There have also been discoveries in the field of genetics. Gregor Mendell, with his pea plant experiment, found the idea that crossing certain plants with other plants would produce different results based upon the information in the cells that determined what a plant would look like. Later it was Watson and Crick who were credited with the discovery of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). From these two finding in the field of genetics, huge things have come. Now there is cloning, but most importantly doctors and scientists have begun go discover that certain traits are located on certain genes in DNA. Blue eyes and blonde hair, being able to curl your tongue, and other such abilities are all genetically inherited from your parents. A history of heart disease of cancer can be genetic, as can mental disorders such as depression. Even with the findings that have been made so far, it takes a great deal of time for new findings to come about. Currently there is gene displacement therapy that can be used to produce desired effects. This is in such a low stage of development and testing right now, that whether it works for certain or not, is not known. You really can't change your genetic structure and your chances of inheriting depression. Along with, it's sort of like playing God. We may think that we are the greatest living thing to have ever been on this planet, and that we can do anything. But we are most certainly not Gods, and playing around with an individuals genetic makeup is just wrong. With the exact cause of depression being so uncertain, it is difficult to find something that will help bring people out of it. As stated in the first paragraph, there are several ways that can help reduce and alleviate depression. Any combination of therapy, antidepressant medications, and life style changes can help. There is concern though about medication and the side effects that it can cause some people to have. A wide array of symptoms such as drowsiness, low productivity, and/or extreme times of great productivity or feeling are just some of the side effects that antidepressant drugs can have on a person. Some have been shown to cause problems with the functioning of the liver and some are even not recommended to those with a history of heart disease in their family, due to the medications ability to interact with all parts of the body and not just the brain. Breast feeding, or becoming pregnant while on antidepressant drugs is strongly discouraged because of the possible effects on the baby. Any drug that is in the mother's system can be transferred into the baby whether it be through the umbilical cord before birth, or through the milk that the child suckles when still young. Because the good majority of antidepressant medications are taking orally, and because of the body needing to break the drug down into its component parts so that it can do its work, the medicine gets distributed throughout the entire system and not just the brain. That then explains why and or how medications can be passed from mother to baby, since the drug spreads throughout the mother's body in different systems. There are just too many unknowns and side effects with depression and with antidepressant drugs to make the drugs the best solution to the problem. However, there are ways to help a person deal with depression without having to take medicine for it. The solutions are simply this, change your life to the way you need it to be, go to a therapist and try to find out what could possibly be the cause, and don't look at the shadows, but at the light. These options/solutions don't have nasty side effects like medications do. This type of 'medication of oneself and for oneself' cannot harm an unborn or newborn baby. And best of all, you don't have to wait weeks for it to kick in! That's right, just make up your mind that you are doing to do it, and watch the results come flying in and you become a person that is less likely to become depressed, regardless of whether or not it is inherited. You control your life, you can change your life to fit your needs, and you have the power, the strength and the will to keep from being depressed. Toss those silly drugs out the window because, they aren't going to help you, like you can help yourself. Drugs aren't the only option. To continue reading this paper click here. To return to the previous page, click the back button on your browser. To return to the index page of this section, click here. |