Functioning Numbness Instead of Feelings as a Direction : Young Adults’ Experiences of Antidepressant Use
(2017) In Sociology 3(51). p.543-558- Abstract
- In this article we explore, through in-depth interviews, young adults’ experiences of depression and antidepressant use in contemporary neoliberal society. We show that medication initially brings relief and an ability to function. However, in the longer perspective the dominating experience of antidepressants is emotional numbness. We suggest that this functioning yet numb subject is well suited to neoliberal demands, where the informants respond to outer demands without challenging them. Inspired by Chantal Mouffe we suggest that depression as a diagnosis is depoliticising, and with Ian Craib, we can see a denial of disappointment that surfaces in how depression is related to contemporary society. As a possible form of resistance we... (More)
- In this article we explore, through in-depth interviews, young adults’ experiences of depression and antidepressant use in contemporary neoliberal society. We show that medication initially brings relief and an ability to function. However, in the longer perspective the dominating experience of antidepressants is emotional numbness. We suggest that this functioning yet numb subject is well suited to neoliberal demands, where the informants respond to outer demands without challenging them. Inspired by Chantal Mouffe we suggest that depression as a diagnosis is depoliticising, and with Ian Craib, we can see a denial of disappointment that surfaces in how depression is related to contemporary society. As a possible form of resistance we identify the strong positive emphasis on emotions as giving direction, motivating the interviewees to stop medicating. Still, we see a tension between functioning – expected from adults – and emotionality – linked to adolescence as a phase that should pass. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8253630
- author
- Sandell, Kerstin LU and Bornäs, Hanna
- organization
- publishing date
- 2017
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- antidepressants, depression, experiences, individualisation, neoliberal, post-political, Sweden, young adults
- in
- Sociology
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 51
- pages
- 16 pages
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85019077944
- wos:000400903400003
- ISSN
- 0038-0385
- DOI
- 10.1177/0038038515591947
- project
- After the success with the new generation antidepressants: Experiences, practices, discourses and changes in the self.
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- First published Online, 03 August 2015
- id
- 771fc06c-9a25-4e76-81d7-7b1af8302606 (old id 8253630)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 09:59:09
- date last changed
- 2022-04-19 21:32:04
@article{771fc06c-9a25-4e76-81d7-7b1af8302606,
abstract = {{In this article we explore, through in-depth interviews, young adults’ experiences of depression and antidepressant use in contemporary neoliberal society. We show that medication initially brings relief and an ability to function. However, in the longer perspective the dominating experience of antidepressants is emotional numbness. We suggest that this functioning yet numb subject is well suited to neoliberal demands, where the informants respond to outer demands without challenging them. Inspired by Chantal Mouffe we suggest that depression as a diagnosis is depoliticising, and with Ian Craib, we can see a denial of disappointment that surfaces in how depression is related to contemporary society. As a possible form of resistance we identify the strong positive emphasis on emotions as giving direction, motivating the interviewees to stop medicating. Still, we see a tension between functioning – expected from adults – and emotionality – linked to adolescence as a phase that should pass.}},
author = {{Sandell, Kerstin and Bornäs, Hanna}},
issn = {{0038-0385}},
keywords = {{antidepressants; depression; experiences; individualisation; neoliberal; post-political; Sweden; young adults}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{51}},
pages = {{543--558}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Sociology}},
title = {{Functioning Numbness Instead of Feelings as a Direction : Young Adults’ Experiences of Antidepressant Use}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0038038515591947}},
doi = {{10.1177/0038038515591947}},
volume = {{3}},
year = {{2017}},
}