Taking the Pill Depression and Social Stigma

Taking the Pill: Depression and Social Stigma Depression is widespread in today's society and is called 'the common cold of mental health problems.' But despite its prevalence, people are wary about the use of a pill in order to chase the blues away. Some even liken anti-depressants to Soma as depicted in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Soma is the perfect pleasure drug that provides a mindless, inauthentic happiness, which makes people comfortable with …

…less in touch a person loses basic human nature. Kramer agrees that Prozac may take away those emotions that make us most human. As their depression disappears, so does their sensitivity to their own and others' problems. Should we feel our emotions deeply, even if these emotions may cause harm to others and ourselves? Or should we be medicated and become 'less of a person'? The sufferers of depression must answer these questions for themselves.