Did Job Take Anti-Depressants?

Think of Job during ancient times. The Bible records his horrific trauma wounds and losses. He lost everything - wife, children, properties, health, friends etc.

Did Job take anti-depressants? Sure answer: No.

Psychiatry and brain drugs is an “infant” field began only a few decades ago. It's totally non-existent during Job's time and much of human history.

Yet humans healed from trauma and loss to low self esteem or depression and a host of other mental health issues.


Enter DSM. It's known as Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, a bible of mental disorders birthed about 60 years ago by APA (American Psychiatric Association).

Chances are, when you go to a psychiatrist or another MHP (mental health professional), he or she will be sizing you up according to this bible.

This bible is basis for medical prescription of brain drugs worldwide. Dealing with labels rather than persons makes it convenient for the Big Pharma multi billion business.

I'm a psychotherapist and psychologist, a MHP.  Why do I have a problem with this bible and its associated brain drugs?

Firstly, I reject the pathologizing of human experience by DSM into clinical or mechanical codes/ labels/symptoms. They don't reflect the "whole person."

"Your essence can never be labeled," says author Dr. Judith Orloff. Every person is unique. Honor the individual. I value that, let it speak to me.

Secondly, brain drugs don't carry any scientific evidence to justify its use. Besides, they produce harmful long-term side effects on the brain and overall health of individuals who take them.

Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin, author of Toxic Psychiatry and leading advocate of drug-free psychotherapy, writes:

"Advocates of psychiatric drugs often claim that the medications improve ... ability to benefit from psychotherapy, but the contrary is true. There are no drugs that improve mental function, self understanding or human relations. Any drug that affects mental processes does so by impairing them."