Hi,I am somewhat new here,but I totally agree with the things you said. I am not currently taking any meds as I weaned myself off of them ,but now am dealing with the effects on my own in other ways…but I am not against anyone who does need them and always keep the options open for me if I feel like I am failing to work things out on my own. But when I used tot ake the meds,I was on alot. And what hurt me the most was when my teenage daughter,during a fight or whatever we would be in,if she didn’t like my opinion or a rule or whatever,she would tell me to go take a pill. It would piss me off so much and hurt at the same time,because she would use it my problems against me,when it wasn’t anything to do with my anxiety or whatever,.it had to do with being a mother to her and making the right judgement calls for her.
Thankfully,now that she is a few years older and in college,she is actually majoring in Psychology and now knows that it was wrong of her and she has apologized to me for it.But my extended family treat me like they have to walk on eggshells around me and asks me if I am taking my pills whenever something doesn’t go thier way. Uggg!!!
Yeah, when I’m about to go off on someone my friends ask me if I took my meds. A couple of times they’re right for asking me but sometimes they’re not and it pisses me off more.
i just had the beginnings of a conversation with a long- time, very opinionated, very religious friend of mine last night… he made a comment about believing the same thing as tom cruise! i was stunned. i don’t think he has any idea that i was offended.
Sometimes its not as easy as water on a ducks back… to ignore the comments or attitudes… especially when they come from people you would expect to support you, like your kids or husband or brothers or best friends.
I HATE when people use that “did you take your meds?” thing. You know, just because we’re on meds… we are still alowed to get pissed or sad. Doesn’t everyone else?
The next time someone else gets mad or sad, we should tell them…“Maybe YOU should be on meds… if I’m not allowed to get mad on mine… you shouldn’t be getting mad either”
I gotta say… I’m SO greatful to have my friends here… to bitch together… it’s comforting to know this happends to other people too… not just me.
I love you guys!
Christine (StillOn) sent me to depressioncenter.net and it is a fabulous site - thanks again, Christine... one of the quotes from the program resonates with this subject perfectly...
"keep in mind that if you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, you have a real medical illness. As is true for other medical illnesses including the flu, diabetes and asthma, you can only cope with the illness if you take charge and look after yourself. Being depressed may excuse you from some of your usual responsibilities and obligations to work, family and friends. There may be some things you simply can’t do right now. If you are depressed, your job is to get healthy again, so you can get back to your life. While you are not responsible for being depressed, only you can take responsibility for getting better."
I think this helps with both sides of the coin - reassures us that it's not our fault (i.e. medical illness, medications) and that is exactly what we tell anyone who questions our illness(es) and use of medication(s), and yet states clearly that it is our responsibility to do what we can to get better, get through it (not "get over it"), and learn to live healthier lives with mental illness - no one else is going to do it for us.
Keep on keeping on!
gone fishing