Amidst all our blog entries about fighting for your own happiness, one thing must be included: If you keep trying to change your thoughts, feelings, and actions, but it's not working well enough, then for Pete's sake please consider seeing a physician to discuss taking some medication --even if it's just to get you through something temporary or situational.
What about the stigma of taking something for your mood? Get over it. Seriously, I beg you: get over it. The real stigma in this culture is toward anyone who, God forbid, isn't happy.
Don't like the idea of "artificially" manipulating your brain? Oh please! We all manipulate our brains daily-- through television, newspapers, music, exercise, perfumes, food, tobacco, alcohol, romance, alternative therapies, vitamins, herbs, etc. etc.
Maybe your resistance is about not liking to ask for help; afterall, you "ought" be able to fix this on your own. Think about this: If your car's electronics weren't working, would you try to WILL the electric system to work?
Oh, but what will "they" think? Number one, perhaps "they" don't need to know. "But what if 'they' find out?" Consider this true ditty: Six, single girl friends in their 30's and 40's were hanging out when one of them asked, "Whatever happened to Amy? She was such a whack job on Prozac." Group silence. One brave woman said, "Uh, *I've* taken Prozac." Then another admitted the same. Then another and another. If you live in a non-hip, rural town where everyone knows everyone else's business, have your physician order your Rx through the mail or talk to your doctor about St. John's Wort or SAM-e.
It's hard to make a decision. I know. In some ways, you'll only know you've made the right decision after the fact: after you've experienced the difference between feeling like you're sludging through the mud of each day to feeling like you can finally just walk about normally.
I'm not talking about taking a magic potion that allows you to cheat your problems. Anti-depressants (and/or anti-anxiety medications) can allow you to deal with your problems without additional disadvantages.
You can face climbing up the steep, rocky moutain with a sense of dread or hopelessness OR you can face climbing that mountain with a bit of optimism.
Which one do you think you ought to choose?
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This is really helpful. You hit all of my reasons for not taking medication. I'm still scared & worried but I'll do some research and talk to my doc.
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