Posted by Toph on February 12, 2005, at 8:32:07
In reply to Re: Redirect: » Dr. Bob, posted by Toph on February 12, 2005, at 8:16:37
(copy)
The only comment I would add to mair's excellent response is my experience as a 25-year user of lithium. The concern we have regarding a life-long dependence on medication is certainly a universal theme for individuals with mental illness. I resisted for years my psychiatrist's advice to take lithium despite recurring hospitalizations for both psychotic manic and clinical depressive episodes. I could not accept a self-image of myself as someone who was permanently flawed in my bio-chemistry. It took the birth of my son while I was hospitalized to convince myself that I could no longer deny my condition. I have been free of significant mental decompensation for over 23 years and counting. The irony of the question posed by rain is that my current fear is not whether I will be dependent on lithium, but rather an increasing fear that my medication will someday no longer be effective. I have indeed come to peace with my dependency on medication and, with time, have come to embrace it.Toph
poster:Toph
thread:455733
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050211/msgs/456695.html