Related Posts
Chief
More Posts
Please help me with 11 likes
Bowl Leader
Icebreaker: best date spot in NYC?
Conversation Starter
Enthusiast
Additional Posts in Depression/Anxiety Talk
What’s the point of it all?
Community Builder
Conversation Starter
Take the leap. Book that therapy appointment.
Sometimes the body sucks at making or using serotonin. Mine certainly does. After a tough acceptance that meds were right for me, I took the jump and am so glad I did. You wouldn’t feel bad about taking medicine to regulate your blood pressure—what’s so different about meds for your brain?
OP that is your depression talking- that you’re just complaining, that there’s nothing wrong with you. Meds saved me. I’m back to myself - not some artificial version of myself.
What my GP told me when I was having the same doubts was “There is no special prize for going through this without any help”.
That convinced me that it’s not an easy way, or a sign of weakness (who was I trying to impress anyways?!). Took the treatment and can 100% relate to the above comments.
Take the meds. They give you the space you need to keep your life from falling apart and allow you to do the work needed to get better.
There’s no style points for this, so fook the ‘easy way out’ stuff.
My therapist told me “You wouldn’t judge someone for taking insulin, would you? It’s the same idea, your body doesn’t make the right chemicals.” That really resonated with me and oh my god I had been living life on hard mode! Sometimes takes a bit to find the right meds but it’s so worth it.
I was very hesitant to start medication as well. I didn't realize I had self-stigma while I would have supported others who needed it. Granted I've only told two ppl in my life other than the doctors who prescribed me.. I think it still made a huge difference. There were some side effects and allergies so it was a bit of trial and error to find the medication that works for me. But now I feel much better. I hope you give yourself a chance with medication and be kind to yourself. I think you just asking these questions are a good sign that you are trying to take care of yourself. You got this!
While I understand a hesitancy toward meds for many reason, the reason should never be that they are “the easy way out”. There is no shame in needing medication. If you are actively taking steps to improve your mental health you are never taking the easy way out.
Definitely... accepting being depressed makes it much more real, but it also marks the beginning of getting better. As someone mentioned before, you don't get a prize for weathering this without help. At one point in my life I was reluctant to take meds, as if they somehow would make me weaker... on the contrary, thanks to meds (and therapy, exercise and friends), I'm a completely functional, happy person now.
I believe that for a short term, meds can be helpful, but you need to keep working on understanding why the feelings of depression/anxiety are there. "Lost Connections" by Johann Hari is an interesting read about it.
Are you weak if you break an arm and use a cast? Or break a leg and use crutches? Or take medicine when you're sick?
Mental health issues can be caused by chemical imbalances, which is a physical thing. What's the difference between the medicine and a cast? Sire the symptoms are mental vs physical but the cause is both physical.
That's how my doctor framed it.
It is not the easy way out.
Lemme put it this way.
Think of your brain as a CAR.
A car irrespective of who made it has a few basic components that make it work.
Now your CAR( read brain) has a faulty fuel pump which makes it harder for you to drive on the highway with other cars which all have a working fuel pump.
Now if you chose to go the garage and get it fixed , you aren't weak. You are smart.
Why the f will you think of yourself as weak for doing a smart thing.
PS: Fought ADHDH for 31 years. Got diagnosed.
Started medication, was promoted in 6 months. ( Was stuck in the same role for 3 years).
Got get the therapy, go get the meds. You deserve to be happy.
PPS. Don't forget to cc your manager in every email.