Posted by Jost on September 29, 2006, at 22:59:30
In reply to Re: Long Term Antidepressant Withdrawal Success » Phillipa, posted by Philip N. on September 29, 2006, at 22:12:28
Hi again , Philip N.
My experience has taught me a few things-- one being that the rhetoric of "strength" has no place in discussion of depression and the use of ADs.
Maybe when you were younger, you associated ADs and alcohol, and also had an idealistic (and also maybe illusory) idea about not needing to be dependent, overcoming the bad feelings by force of will, in order to feel that you hadn't been dragged down, or weren't self-indulgent and, as you said, relying on a "crutch."
I totally understand that-- I had a long phase of that myself, coming from a home where ADs were considered really bad.
But an AD won't take who you are away, if it's any good for you-- if it does that, it's not working, and the issue is what alternatives there are.
It's not the rosiest picture-- but life is short-- unfortunately-- and we only have limited time to take the opportunity to live it. If there were better ADs, it would be great. But there are mostly ones that can work well, in many instances, but can, for some people, have frustrating, annoying, or even just confusing elements.
Still, I say if an AD (or even combination of ADs, as you see on this board) can give you a fuller life, now-- help you to be more emotionally present for your family, to begin to go back into the larger social world, maybe to find a job, or other meaningful contribution-- it's well worth some of the undoubtedly difficult struggles, existential questions, and practical questions, that may--or may not-- arise.
I respect your asking these questions and becoming satisfied in your own mind about the rightness of trying medication again. It could be difficult for a while, and you might (again, you might not) need the commitment to stay with it, which will only come if you do reach that inner decision. So, by all means, continue to question.
I hope you'll find your answer, and that it will move you toward the things you want.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:689687
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060927/msgs/690379.html