Posted by Racer on August 18, 1999, at 12:15:25
In reply to Re: Off methamphetamine, on serzone, posted by Dee on August 18, 1999, at 11:59:01
Good for you! The first thing that I learned after I got off drugs was that I needed to make decisions for myself, rather than letting other people or the drugs make the decisions for me. That's a hard lesson to learn, and it took me about 8 years to learn it! I still backslide, too, but it's finally getting through my rocklike head!
I'm so glad that you're taking care of yourself. The ADs don't mask your emotions, they normalize the chemistry in your brain. The meth just keeps you from feeling the pain that brought you to it. THere's a wide difference there. You might ask your recovery groups what they'd say if you were going on insulin to treat diabetes. In both cases, it's the same foundation: the drug normalizes your chemistry to treat a pathological state.
Insulin is a hormone, and it can effect your mood. Neurotransmitters are made of the same kinds of elements as insulin. The latest research on the brain shows that depression not only changes brain chemistry, it also changes the physical structure of the brain. The ADs normalize the neurotransmitters, and they help prevent the physical changes. That's not masking the feelings, is it? It's treating a physical disease.
Sorry, I get a little het up about that attitude. The Calvinist types in my family give me grief for it a lot, so I've gotten a little sensitive. Most of my family suffers from depression, but I'm the first to take ADs. My grandfather was treated for it, but not for long, because everyone looked down on him for it. It ruined his life. I WILL NOT go that route. I WILL do what I can to make my life better.
I'm glad to have your company on my journey.
poster:Racer
thread:10214
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990814/msgs/10290.html