A Facebook friend posted a link to the following article, which talks about the theory that anti-depressants not only don't cure depression, but make it worse by altering brain chemistry in negative and sometimes long-lasting ways:

The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?

Not surprising, many responses to the article were from folks who were attached to the belief that they needed psychiatric "rescue" by drugs. I posted a reply (admittedly, sometimes I waste too much time debating on Facebook), but thought it might be good to share here on my blog. Given that anti-depressants may make you depressed for life, can you afford to take the risk of using them? Wouldn't it be good to know that there is another way?

Here is my Facebook response:

Feeling depressed or down? Don't automatically reach for an anti-depressant. Do some yoga. These days, the typical treatment for depression comes in the form of a pill, which can often lead to serious side effects and dependency. Prior to modern drug companies, however, sages from the East discovered a method of calming the mind and soothing the spirit. These physical exercises, called “asanas,” are what modern Westerners typically think of when they hear the term “yoga.”

The roots of yoga date back tens of thousands of years. Yoga, in the grander sense of the word, is not just physical exercise. It is more than asanas. It consists of an entire philosophy and prescription for emotional and spiritual well-being.

It's something I've believed for a long time - anti-depressants aren't necessary when you can use exercise to achieve the same effects:

Exercise on par with drugs for aiding depression