Posted by IsoM on January 16, 2002, at 12:42:11
In reply to Re: How depressed are YOU? » spike4848, posted by dee on January 16, 2002, at 8:50:33
For all those who wish they didn't have to take pills every day for the rest of their lives (& that included me), here's a little message.
I got to know a surgeon from South Africa who came to North America to do additional studies. I'd have him & his wife over for supper & visit. He found it amazing that I could remember to take my meds every day. He said he found a lot of resistance in people against be "enslaved" to daily medication.
I've also heard from some good friends who are very well-meaning but uninformed about medications. I take it upon myself to educate them in a friendly, positive way. I ask them if they need to drink fluids every day, or eat or sleep every day? Of course, they say. I tell them the body can't supply its own food or drink, we need to get it from an outside source. It's the same for some people with medication. The bodies of some people need an outside source to prompt their brain to make the right neurotransmitters. No one thinks it strange that a diabetic has to take daily insulin shots, so why not help other major organs like the brain?
I say there's no more stigma in having to take medication each & every day as there is in having to eat, drink, & sleep each & every day. If someone argues that meds aren't "natural", I just ask them how much foods are natural nowadays. I do think I'm making a small difference because I've really been surprised at the number of friends & sometimes just acquaintances who've come to me asking about psychotropic meds or telling me how they're on them & how much it's helped.
Hope I don't sound pompous by this comment. I just want people to feel positive about needing medication. So few of us do sound positive. I think it's mostly when we can't find the right combo for us that we come across negative. I know I do.
poster:IsoM
thread:90162
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/90485.html