PROZAC+1

Prozac 1
===In the 1960s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal. ~Author Unknown === =Introduction =  The characters in //Brave New World// by Aldous Huxley use a drug called 'Soma' to make themselves feel better. In today’s world, people use medication and drugs like Prozac, therapy, and other methods to get the same result. Prozac and other drugs are used much like Soma to make "difficult" people less of a "burden" on society.

In today’s society, everybody strives to be happy. However this pursuit is rarely reached alone. Therefore, people try anything they can in order to reach this goal. Some simply pop pills such as Prozac, some try talking about their problems in group therapy, and some pick up hobbies to help make them happy. There are many options out there, but which method works the best? And which one has the least risks?

= = =**Prozac ** = = = = = = = = = __**Introduction:**__ The reason for taking Prozac is simple: people do not want to be depressed. = =  [|Generic and Brand-Name Drugs] A summary comparing and contrasting generic and brand-name drugs.

[|Definition] A simple definition to spark you understanding of Prozac.

[|How Prozac Works] A detailed and scientific article telling how Prozac works.

[|Antidepressant Medicines] An article summarizing all antidepressant medicines, including Prozac.

**RSS Feed:** [|Prozac Articles] Articles about Prozac from the New York Times. = =

 [|The Career of a Celebrity Drug] Explains that an imbalance of the chemical serotonin in the brain causes depression and how drugs like Prozac came about. = =  [|Balancing Brain Pathways] Diagram of the neurotransmitters and serotonin in the brain that affect a person's mood.

[|How Prozac Sent the Science of Depression in the Wrong Direction] An article that goes against a previous thought that lowering people's serotonin levels does not make them depressed. The author explains that some researchers argue that the brain's cells are shrinking and dying, and that depression is NOT a result of a chemical imbalance. With this new theory in hand, they believe that Prozac treats depression incorrectly, and as a result, has sent the science of depression in the wrong direction.

[|Was the Prozac Revolution all in our Heads?] Information about tackling the effectiveness of antidepressants such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

 media type="file" key="Drugs_that_Treat_Depression.mov" A little background about Prozac and how it treats depression.

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====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);">__**Risks/Benefits of Prozac:**__ A chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters in one's body can cause one to be depressed, but in many cases, Prozac will do more bad than good to a patient. ====

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Pros and Cons] A summary of both the helpful pros of taking Prozac and of the harmful cons. ======

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Antidepressant Medicines] A concise overview of the medical reasons for taking antidepressants, along with the risks and benefits the drug yields.

[|The Deadly Risks of Prozac] This article warns of all of the risks that come with taking Prozac as well as how the company tries to hide this information from the public. [|Anti-depressants: just how safe are they?] Another article that shows the dark side of Prozac.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms] A summery of the long term risks of taking Prozac. Although Prozac is taken in order to prevent depression, some side effects include addiction, and withdrawal symptoms like over-sensitive emotions such as depression.

[|Suicides and Homicides in Patients Taking Prozac] An awaking article that states that patients who stop taking Prozac are worst off compared to when they started taking the drug. [|Prozac in the Army] This Time Magazine article explains the use of Prozac by American soldiers serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Most kids get no therapy with antidepressants] This article tells of the risks of taking Prozac without therapy, especially in teens and young adults.

=<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = =**<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);">Group Therapy **= <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> __**Introduction:**__ <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The reason for Therapy is simple: people want to talk about their problems to overcome them.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Definition] A simple definition to spark you understanding of Group Therapy.

[|What is Group Therapy?] An article that simply explains all about group therapy and why you need it.

[|Pros and Cons] A summary of both the helpful pros of talking about your problems and of the complicated cons.

[|Group forum helps children, 'tweens' work through challenges] This article reports how the Hudson Valley Center for Development started group therapy sessions for children and tweens to help them cope with stresses and strains of the school-age and pre-teen years. According to Barry Shrem, director of the Development Center, developing children are faced with a variety of personal and interpersonal challenges. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Your blog can be Group Therapy] A CNN news article about the positive effects of using blogs as a form of group therapy. Its main message being: everybody needs therapy, so why not talk it out online?

[|"Love to Feel Good" Blog] Susan Apollon's, a psychologist in practice for 20+ years, blog who shares that feeling good is a birthright and blogs on how to get that feel-good feeling and more.

=<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);">Having a Hobby = =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = <span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> __**Introduction:**__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The reason for having a hobby is simple: people need distractions.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Hobby Psychology] This article explains the needs of having a hobby by saying that “it is something that adds quality to life and variety to your nine-to-five job” and a little leisure and recreational activity can only help you live life to the fullest. =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Balance It Out] This article presents advice from the author on balancing an academic life and family life. She notes the importance of creating an environment in which you have the flexibility to do the work you love. She advises creating a weekly plan and learning to live with yourself when things do not get done. She also explains the importance of sticking to your routine and dividing your week into time slots set aside for certain projects is important. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

[|Finding balance at work, play takes internal tactical review] This paper offers tips on how to bring more balance to careers and to make them more satisfying. It also tells of the importance of goal setting, the necessity of having a hobby and the benefits of taking a walk after a busy day.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

[|Having a Hobby is Something That Can Keep you Sane] An article that simply states the benefits of hobbies by stating, “When one person finds a hobby that interests them, it can basically boost them up to make their lives interesting”. =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|Live Your Life: A Challenge to Take on Hobbies that Make You Happy] An article that stresses the importance of having hobbies because your daily routine sucks so much of you life and hobbies are the only thing that put life back into your life. =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> [|What hobby makes you enjoy life?] This blog entails people sharing their hobbies with others and why they like them. This site not only shows how pastimes are helpful to you well being, but also shows how talking about them (similar to therapy) increases it. =<span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0);"> = <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1. Are we too dependent on prescription drugs?

2. How close is Prozac to Soma?

3. What does the excessive military use of Prozac say about the current wars America is fighting in the Middle East?

4. Given all of Prozac’s medical risks, should the government step in and propose national regulations for prescribing the drug, or should it just let doctors prescribe the drug to whomever they please?

5. America is commonly referred to as the “Prozac Nation”. Do you agree with this statement?

6. Does Prozac have a place in society? Why or why not?