By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent
The use of anti-depressants is rising at a record rate as struggling patients seek help from their doctors.
In the past three years, the number of prescriptions has risen by close to 25%.
But there is growing concern that drugs are being handed over too readily to those who would be better helped with counselling.
Writer Julia Llewellyn Smith found life tough after the birth of her first child but was shocked to be instantly offered medication by a doctor.
"I said to her: 'I am not depressed, I'm just exhausted and having a bad time with a new baby'.
"She said: 'No you are depressed, I want to give you Prozac ... you will feel very better very soon,' and it really was a struggle to convince her that I didn't want, or in my opinion, need, anti-depressants."
Prescriptions have risen by nearly 25% in the last three years Instead she went to group counselling and once the nights improved so did her mood.
But the former chair of the Royal College of GPs, Dr Clare Gerada, does not believe that everyday sadness is being unnecessarily medicalised.
Dr Gerada said: "I don't think my profession are giving out anti-depressants when they are not needed.
"But I think if there is a long waiting list for talking therapies, and there certainly is in the areas that I work, it may be that rather than see the patient get worse depression and risk their life, it may be the GP appropriately gives anti-depressants as a bridge."
Statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveal that 53 million prescriptions for anti-depressants were handed out in England last year.
Julia Llewellyn Smith was offered anti-depressants by her doctor And twice as many people take the drugs than a decade ago.
Caroline Ashrafi first sought help for depression when she was in her late teens.
For 30 years she has taken different tablets and has now been told she will need to take them for the rest of her life to stabilise her mood.
She said: "There is a stigma but I think when anti-depressants are prescribed in the right situation and with proper medical care, for me they have literally been a lifesaver."
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