Here it is, in writing. My biggest fear, ever since I was very small, has been that someone will discover that I am crazy and lock me up for it. It is the reason that until recently, I have never let anyone read what I write. It is the reason I never pursued this dream in any real way. Whether I am good or not isn't for me to judge. Critics and peers can do that. What is up to me is how I feel about my writing. I love to do it and it comes naturally to me. But I digress (another natural talent).
There are two major camps when it comes to the mildly mentally ill. I am talking about the functioning manic depressives out there. I am talking about most of my friends. Those who take antidepressants and those who don't. I famously espouse "There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who put people into one of two categories, and those who don't." So I don't exactly enjoy breaking things down in this way, but this is the line I am drawing. I am not passing judgment on one side or the other.
The group that decides to take the meds have often encouraged me to join them. Some of the folks that fall into this category are ones whom I would have never thought needed or would consider taking these types of meds. I have heard the testimonies. I did listen to you all when you told me how much easier it has been for them to deal with the day to day mundanity. You take one extra breath before striking out. You, just for one second more, consider the other side before reacting. That is great and I am happy for you. I have also seen first hand the difference these drugs can make in a person's life.
I myself have been prescribed antidepressants at least a half a dozen times and have never taken them. I just choose not to. I have them all in a box in a closet, just in case. I personally feel like no matter how low I get, no matter how close I get, it is me. I am still me. I have an intrinsic fear that these meds will take a part of me away. Shit, this just may be me being crazy again, but I am functioning.
I have no problem with either of these sides. Most of the time, I believe responsibilty lies with the individual. For instance, don't blame the lending agencies for doling out subprime loans. Even when I was a first time homebuyer, it was easy for me to see that paying less than you owe each month on your mortgage was a recipie for disaster. Maybe everyone doesn't have my instincts, but everyone had the opportunity to do their due dilligence. Everyone was presented, by law, the same sheet I was presented with which illustrates what could happen if/when interest rates rose. But advertisers advertise for a reason: it works. And there isn't a much bigger advertising and lobying machine than the pharmaseudical industry. And what are their biggest sellers (ok, penis drugs) antidepressants. As I write this, a commercial for abilify, a drug to take in addition to your regular antidepressant flashed across my tv. What? If your antidepressant isn't enough, here is one you can take as an add-on. Yes, an add-on!
Grey, that is what this is. These drugs clearly help people. But, does everyone who takes these drugs need them?
There are two major camps when it comes to the mildly mentally ill. I am talking about the functioning manic depressives out there. I am talking about most of my friends. Those who take antidepressants and those who don't. I famously espouse "There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who put people into one of two categories, and those who don't." So I don't exactly enjoy breaking things down in this way, but this is the line I am drawing. I am not passing judgment on one side or the other.
The group that decides to take the meds have often encouraged me to join them. Some of the folks that fall into this category are ones whom I would have never thought needed or would consider taking these types of meds. I have heard the testimonies. I did listen to you all when you told me how much easier it has been for them to deal with the day to day mundanity. You take one extra breath before striking out. You, just for one second more, consider the other side before reacting. That is great and I am happy for you. I have also seen first hand the difference these drugs can make in a person's life.
I myself have been prescribed antidepressants at least a half a dozen times and have never taken them. I just choose not to. I have them all in a box in a closet, just in case. I personally feel like no matter how low I get, no matter how close I get, it is me. I am still me. I have an intrinsic fear that these meds will take a part of me away. Shit, this just may be me being crazy again, but I am functioning.
I have no problem with either of these sides. Most of the time, I believe responsibilty lies with the individual. For instance, don't blame the lending agencies for doling out subprime loans. Even when I was a first time homebuyer, it was easy for me to see that paying less than you owe each month on your mortgage was a recipie for disaster. Maybe everyone doesn't have my instincts, but everyone had the opportunity to do their due dilligence. Everyone was presented, by law, the same sheet I was presented with which illustrates what could happen if/when interest rates rose. But advertisers advertise for a reason: it works. And there isn't a much bigger advertising and lobying machine than the pharmaseudical industry. And what are their biggest sellers (ok, penis drugs) antidepressants. As I write this, a commercial for abilify, a drug to take in addition to your regular antidepressant flashed across my tv. What? If your antidepressant isn't enough, here is one you can take as an add-on. Yes, an add-on!
Grey, that is what this is. These drugs clearly help people. But, does everyone who takes these drugs need them?
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