Prozac Nation chronicles a brilliant 19-year-old woman's struggle with depression. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wurtzel is an aspiring writer and freshman at Harvard University. With a childhood marked by divorce and abandonment, Lizzie has a history of depressive episodes and self-confidence issues. The book is set in the 1980s, when mental illness was a very taboo subject and medications for psychiatric disorders were rarely prescribed. Lizzie certainly meets the criteria for abnormal behavior and major depressive disorder, and tries to cope throughout the book. Although his efforts are misguided, they are certainly typical of someone with this disorder. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Lizzie, who suffers from major depressive disorder, exhibits many common symptoms of depression. The book takes place primarily in the present, but includes flashbacks to her childhood, where she also exhibits many telltale symptoms, such as social isolation. Currently, she describes feeling empty, hopeless, and pessimistic. Although she doesn't openly admit it, it's obvious that she also feels extremely guilty about her condition. She cries in her mother's arms while repeatedly shouting how sorry she is. Lizzie also suffers from low energy, which is evident when she is unable to get out of bed in the morning. This affects his schoolwork and his passion, writing. On the other hand, she also has difficulty sleeping and even goes several days without rest at one point. She can't concentrate on her work or writing, which frustrates her and makes her even more irritable. Irritability is a common symptom of depression, especially among adolescents who do not know how to regulate their emotions (NIMH, n.d.). She also turns to drugs and alcohol to numb her pain, which is very common among people suffering from mental illness. Perhaps the most alarming symptoms of Lizzie's depression are her suicidal thoughts and self-harm. A flashback shows a young Lizzie cutting her leg, while a shot of the present day shows her cutting her wrists. She admits to having suicidal thoughts towards the end of the story. All symptoms mentioned correspond to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, nd) guide to depression. The author did a great job portraying a person suffering from depression; Lizzie suffers from almost all of the common symptoms of depression and shares how her life experiences led to her current state. It is very common for people suffering from depression to be able to identify the causal factors of their illness, although some people fail to find any reason. Lizzie has experienced many traumatic and heartbreaking events in her life that have led to her current state. . Her parents divorced when she was just two years old; it was a bad breakup and led to many tumultuous years. Her father disappeared when she was fourteen, leading to many abandonment issues for Lizzie. Major life changes, trauma, and overwhelming stress are common causes of depression (NIMH, n.d.). Additionally, she describes her mother as overly involved and controlling, leading Lizzie to set unrealistic expectations for herself. All these events from her childhood certainly trigger her depressive episodes, as do events today, like the breakup with her boyfriend and the argument with her best friend. These types of conflictsInterpersonal relationships can certainly lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, guilt and ultimately depression. During a flashback, it is revealed that Lizzie was put into therapy at a young age. However, she stopped the treatment and is now completely against it. When her mother suggests it again after discovering that Lizzie is isolating, Lizzie becomes combative. She eventually accepted and began seeing a psychiatrist every week. She participates in individual talk therapy and eventually starts Prozac, an antidepressant. This is a common course of action according to the National Institute of Mental Health; Typically, talk therapy is used first. If this is not completely effective, a drug regimen is often added. If these treatments still do not help the client, electroconvulsive therapy is rarely considered (NIMH, n.d.). This is also the course Lizzie took. She first tried talking therapy, and while she was still very symptomatic, her psychiatrist put her on Prozac. At the end of the book, Lizzie admits that she is starting to feel better. She says she's recovering the same way she fell into her illness, "gradually, then suddenly," which is very common among people with depression. Depression often has an immeasurable impact on the family and friends of the person suffering from it. This can strain relationships and make family and friends believe they are responsible for the other person's illness (Croft, 2016). This certainly rings true for Lizzie and those close to her. His mother seems to be the person most affected by his depression. Sometimes she blames herself, and sometimes she even dares to blame Lizzie for her own illness. This is common for people trying to support someone with depression; they may feel both helpless and angry (Croft, 2016). The portrayal of Lizzie's mother is very realistic and heartbreaking. She just wants to see her daughter get back to her old self, to be able to write and make her dreams come true. When Lizzie is not yet at this stage in her recovery, it is frustrating for the whole family. We cannot ignore that Lizzie is particularly difficult to manage during her depressive episodes; she attacks her family, behaves irresponsibly and excludes others. However, all this is characteristic of a deeply wounded person. The portrayal of her best friend and boyfriend is also perfect. At first, they try to be supportive and loving, but grow tired of caring for Lizzie and eventually cut off contact completely. This is unfortunately common among friends and family who do not understand depression (Croft, 2016). Prozac Nation is an in-depth look into the life of someone suffering from depression. Lizzie suffers from many of the common symptoms of this condition, which are successfully described throughout the book. As someone living with major depressive disorder, it's refreshing to read works that aren't afraid to show the bad side of mental illness. Lizzie tends to act out when she is in trouble, lashing out at family and friends, experimenting with drugs, sex, and alcohol, and fighting with her therapist. I tend to “act passively” and experience symptoms internally, without giving others the slightest idea that I am struggling. Although Lizzie and I are different in this regard, the underlying disease is still the same. It is exhausting to live with depression and struggle with your own mind. There are few other illnesses that feed on themselves like depression does. It's difficult to seek help due to overwhelming stigma, an unfortunate truth