![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
I had an unexpectedly PLEASANT dental experience today. The first in years - or perhaps ever! So, that was a "good thing." In fact, the dentist sat and talked for an hour before he ever looked in my mouth simply because he could sense my (literal) hand-wringing desperation. I left the office so thrilled that I had a game plan, and that there wasn't that usual guilt trip, that I momentarily thought I could drop a few meds due to sheer joy.
There is one part of the visit that brought something to mind that I wanted to ask bring up here on the board. I'm betting that others have been frustrated by this question and that it's been brought up before here on this board.
The dental assistant, a very nice (and sincere) young woman, requested my medications list and as she was writing them all down in the chart she asked what Wellbutrin is prescribed for.When I answered: "Depression" she answered "What are you depressed about?"
I know she meant well (or certainly didn't mean to be unkind), but I'm sure you all probably know my answer:
"I'm not depressed about one thing in particular, in most cases "it" doesn't work that way. It's caused by a chemical inbalance, blah blah blah."
"What are you depressed about?" is the equivalent of "snap out of it" for me. If I could "snap out of it" I would be thrilled. I don't enjoy going to bed thinking "will I have to be medicated for the rest of my life in order to feel somewhat 'normal?'" or waking up feeling like there's a brick of despair resting on my forehead.
If my father could snap out of diabetes, or my husband could snap out of high blood pressure I know they would in a New York minute.
We talked about the stigma of depression a few weeks ago, and I guess this is yet another example of the misunderstanding that exists about mental illness.
I need to learn to overcome the need to overexplain depression and A.D.D., as if they are signs of weakness, versus an illness and a disorder.
I understand that people mean well when they ask such questions, but it was yet another example of the difficulty in conveying the concept of depression to someone who hasn't experienced it in their own life.
Maybe I can use this as part of the key to understanding my mother. I remember wanting to ask her so many different times (when I was a young adult): "what are you depressed about." Of course, now I understand that this can be the ultimate pain with no distinct name.
Has anyone else experienced this? I sound like I'm being nit-picky (I probably am), but it seems so exhausting (of course!) to explain it to people. Luckily, I'm not usually in a situation where I need to do so.
Thank you for the momentary rant.
Posted by WorryGirl on April 29, 2003, at 2:34:42
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
> I had an unexpectedly PLEASANT dental experience today. The first in years - or perhaps ever! So, that was a "good thing." In fact, the dentist sat and talked for an hour before he ever looked in my mouth simply because he could sense my (literal) hand-wringing desperation. I left the office so thrilled that I had a game plan, and that there wasn't that usual guilt trip, that I momentarily thought I could drop a few meds due to sheer joy.
>
> There is one part of the visit that brought something to mind that I wanted to ask bring up here on the board. I'm betting that others have been frustrated by this question and that it's been brought up before here on this board.
>
> The dental assistant, a very nice (and sincere) young woman, requested my medications list and as she was writing them all down in the chart she asked what Wellbutrin is prescribed for.
>
> When I answered: "Depression" she answered "What are you depressed about?"
>
> I know she meant well (or certainly didn't mean to be unkind), but I'm sure you all probably know my answer:
>
> "I'm not depressed about one thing in particular, in most cases "it" doesn't work that way. It's caused by a chemical inbalance, blah blah blah."
>
> "What are you depressed about?" is the equivalent of "snap out of it" for me. If I could "snap out of it" I would be thrilled. I don't enjoy going to bed thinking "will I have to be medicated for the rest of my life in order to feel somewhat 'normal?'" or waking up feeling like there's a brick of despair resting on my forehead.
>
> If my father could snap out of diabetes, or my husband could snap out of high blood pressure I know they would in a New York minute.
>
> We talked about the stigma of depression a few weeks ago, and I guess this is yet another example of the misunderstanding that exists about mental illness.
>
> I need to learn to overcome the need to overexplain depression and A.D.D., as if they are signs of weakness, versus an illness and a disorder.
>
> I understand that people mean well when they ask such questions, but it was yet another example of the difficulty in conveying the concept of depression to someone who hasn't experienced it in their own life.
>
> Maybe I can use this as part of the key to understanding my mother. I remember wanting to ask her so many different times (when I was a young adult): "what are you depressed about." Of course, now I understand that this can be the ultimate pain with no distinct name.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this? I sound like I'm being nit-picky (I probably am), but it seems so exhausting (of course!) to explain it to people. Luckily, I'm not usually in a situation where I need to do so.
>
> Thank you for the momentary rant.
>
>
>
>Hi Leeran,
Glad your dental visit was successful.
Before I go to bed and stare at the wall, I had to answer this post. It is a very valid rant.I CAN'T STAND WHEN PEOPLE SAY, "WHAT ARE YOU DEPRESSED ABOUT?" either!!!!! Even my husband has been known to say that, but I think he finally learned to give it a rest.
I know I'm sort of repeating what you said, but I feel like ranting, too. People who are either uninformed about depression and/or have never been depressed seem to feel that something extremely tragic has to be going on in your life for you to be depressed. They believe that just because people appear to have great lives (and probably do, except for the depression) they couldn't possibly be depressed, and if they are, they are seriously disturbed. It's sort of like the people who think that "rich people have no problems". Some might see "depressed" people as whiners, weak people who give up too easily, or just trying to get attention. Why anyone would intentionally want to be depressed is beyond me! These often well-meaning but uninformed people actually think that you can choose to be depressed or not be depressed.
And to be put on the spot with that question, it's like they're saying, "So why don't you just not be depressed?"
They're never going to get it.
If you can think of a good retort to that question that isn't rude let me know!
Maybe you could say, "I'm depressed because I can't choose not to be" or "because I can't just snap out of it". That might shut them up.
Posted by Dinah on April 29, 2003, at 5:28:52
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
I can't believe they don't train their staff better!!!
I rarely get asked questions like that, oddly enough. Well, not so oddly I guess. In person I radiate a personal space bubble that people are loath to violate. And if someone does by chance ask something impertinent I can manage to convey that without saying much.
Actually, though, when it does come up, it's usually because someone's father/aunt/themselves is on similar medication. And the questions are friendly and relatively on target. I must live in an area with poor mental health and/or lots of doctors.
And of course, if you carry baggage about similar questions from your parents, it's bound to be more distressing and disorienting. My parents didn't ask that one. (grin) They knew what I was depressed about. I didn't relax and party/play enough (father). I didn't pray enough (mother).
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 29, 2003, at 9:18:28
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
> "What are you depressed about?" is the equivalent of "snap out of it" for me. If I could "snap out of it" I would be thrilled. I don't enjoy going to bed thinking "will I have to be medicated for the rest of my life in order to feel somewhat 'normal?'" or waking up feeling like there's a brick of despair resting on my forehead.
----------------Even with people who claim to understand, the immediate suspicion is that it's just a fabrication of your mind. You must feel the same way they do, you're just dwelling on the negative, or self-absorbed, or overreacting. I'm convinced that without experiencing such illness, people can only understand "feelings" from their point of view. Depression in particular doesn't fall entirely outside of the range of normal experience, so when you describe the issues to them, they're thinking, "Yeah, so? I've been sad. Last year when my dog died, but I got over it." What's worse is trying to decribe the sporadic derealization or lack of reward that keeps me from behaving "normally." People think that I'm doing it to myself, or that it's just a fabrication. It sounds like too simple of a defense, as if you're begging off the difficulty of your life to something "not your fault," and people hate that. The worst is that it comes and goes, and people figure that it must be 100% or nothing. If I have a good day, it's proof that I'm just being silly on the bad ones.
I've been really frustrated about this topic lately. I feel powerless, and like the only way for me to get along is to not involve other people in my life, because it just becomes a problem when things don't go well for me. I just can't get people past this point, and I'm not sure it's possible.
anyway, that's my rant. I'm glad to hear that the dentist wasn't that bad. I need to go too, but am dreading it (so expensive, and so unpleasant).
Posted by ayuda on April 29, 2003, at 10:02:29
In reply to Out of sight, in your mind. » leeran, posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 29, 2003, at 9:18:28
What I normally tell people, instead of just telling them that I suffer from depression, is that I suffer from CLINICAL depression. That way, they then want to know the difference between that and being sad, and I get the chance to tell them it's an inherited (for me at least) chemical imbalance that has to be treated with medications that stabilize my neurotransmittors.
If they don't know anything about chemistry or anatomy (and I certainly don't!), they are fascinated, and I usually use the diabetes comparison. If they do, then they ask more questions, and I can then tell them that all I know is that my body does not use its serotonin and other chemicals correctly, and that the resulting condition is commonly called "depression."
We need a new name for it, because it gets too confused with sadness.
But I have found that calling it clinical depression usually makes a world of difference in people's reactions. If not, I tell them that they have misconceptions about depression, and then go into my spiel. If they still don't get it, I usually tell them that there IS a difference and they need to look it up, and that if it wasn't a chemical problem my meds would not work.
I can get terribly cranky with people who ask those questions. Then again, I can just get terribly cranky, period!
Posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 11:16:03
In reply to depression, it's not just for sad people anymore!, posted by ayuda on April 29, 2003, at 10:02:29
It's amazing... I'm post severe clinical depression by a few years now, but I'm exquisitely sensitive to the misunderstandings. On PSB, I posted a thread re: CAUTION: SI. My WH and I rented the DVD, and I blew a gasket over it. Two days and three rants later, my WH suggested that I post an inquiry on here to get others' thoughts. I'm not an SI'er (is that the proper term?), with the exception of one disassociative episode w/a razor decades ago), but found myself extremely protective of people who suffer from SI.
Whenever the opportunity presents itself to educate people about depression, I'll take it, but if the person has already made up his/her mind and is of the "Snap out of it" persuasion, I'll smile sweetly and say, "It's clear that you have no grasp of this situation." Also irritating to me are the folks who are so misinformed about meds......... arrrrghghghghgh
And so I rant....
Coral
Posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 12:00:17
In reply to Out of sight, in your mind. » leeran, posted by Eddie Sylvano on April 29, 2003, at 9:18:28
Eddie,
You hit every nail on the head with that post!
Example: If I have a good day, it's proof that I'm just being silly on the bad ones.
Luckily, my husband doesn't view it this way - but I understand exactly what you're saying. Last night I managed to prepare a meal that involved six different dishes. Some nights I don't feel capable of throwing a bag of chips on the table. It seems every day is a roll of the emotional dice.
Regarding the dentist . . . it's taken me years to find one I could actually like. I don't know why, but my experience with dentists has typically been negative. I often feel like they are using guilt (my issue completely, but I don't ever feel the same way with doctors) or fear to encourage me to act in certain ways.
Pictures of teeth falling out next to a picture that says "Your Smile Says Everything About You" strikes me as "fear marketing." I'm sure this is because the dental profession and dental care is based on good maintenance/habits and the best way to goad people into that is a fear based approach. Of course, I remember the days (as a child) when the dentist didn't use any form of anesthetic and the only brake I had was my left arm raising in protest.
When I asked this dentist (yesterday) about the condition of my teeth in general (waiting for the other shoe to drop, expecting the news that I'm two weeks away Polident and creamed corn) he said "it looks like you take very good care of your teeth, keep up the good job." I sat straight up in the chair and gushed with gratitude.
Positive reinforcement goes a lot further I suppose. Now, he is still going to get an enormous chunk of change from me (us) but somehow I don't feel bad about it (or moreover, apprehensive about the next appointment).
Eddie, I hope you can find a dentist you like and trust. I won't even say "someone who is reasonably priced" because that would be pushing it.
Thanks again for your input. I really appreciate it.
Lee
Posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 12:32:43
In reply to Re: depression, it's not just for sad people anymore!, posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 11:16:03
"Also irritating to me are the folks who are so misinformed about meds......... arrrrghghghghgh"
My friend told me just last week "If you would go through some years of therapy you wouldn't need the meds."
Huh??? If I were diabetic and went to a diabetic seminar would I no longer need insulin?
Yes, don't get me started, but then again - LOL - I started this thread.
By the way, these boards have made me more accepting of my own condition, which in turn, makes me more protective about the entire mental illness subject in general.
Posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 17:18:15
In reply to Re: depression, it's not just for sad people anymore! » coral, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 12:32:43
ACK!!! You both said the "d" word.......
:::::::running wildly down the street to escape:::::::
Coral
Posted by fayeroe on April 29, 2003, at 19:31:25
In reply to Re: Shar and Leeran, posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 17:18:15
> ACK!!! You both said the "d" word.......
>
> :::::::running wildly down the street to escape:::::::
>
>
> Coralthat's me stepping on your heels!!
Posted by Willow on April 29, 2003, at 21:30:24
In reply to depression, it's not just for sad people anymore!, posted by ayuda on April 29, 2003, at 10:02:29
Posted by maryhelen on April 29, 2003, at 23:55:15
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
leeran:
Although you say that the dental assistant is a very nice, sincere young woman, I think it was very inappropriate of her to ask the question in the first place.
The only concern should be what medications you are taking so that the dentist is aware of any possible reactions regarding your treatment or prescribing pain medication.
maryhelen
Posted by leeran on April 30, 2003, at 0:56:54
In reply to Re: What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by maryhelen on April 29, 2003, at 23:55:15
Maryhelen,
I agree. Which is why, during the course of the long discussion with the dentist, I made a point of it (without looking like I was making a point) while she was sitting to my left.
It was all quite innocent, but he immediately piped up and said (to her) "'D' is all chemically related. It involves the misfiring of neurons between dendrites, etc."
I'm hoping that she's a bit more understanding now of the next person who answers "depression" when she inquires about a particular medication.
It would be interesting to hear whether or not she would inquire about, say, the use of Viagra. These are the little scenarios that are at play between my dead-end dendrites.
Lee
Posted by maryhelen on April 30, 2003, at 1:36:46
In reply to Re: What are you depressed about? Arggggh » maryhelen, posted by leeran on April 30, 2003, at 0:56:54
leeran:
You guys are so clever and witty on this board that sometimes I am afraid to post.
What did the dentist mean when he said 'It involves the misfiring of neurons between dentries, etc' and at the end of the post when you said 'dead-end dendrites'? I don't know what that means or am I missing some clever and witty remarks from you?
Sorry, I don't mean to sound dense. Maybe it's the Lithium withdrawals I'm going through.
maryhelen
Posted by leeran on April 30, 2003, at 2:11:11
In reply to Re: What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by maryhelen on April 30, 2003, at 1:36:46
Hi Maryhelen -
There was a lengthy discussion of neurons/dendrites/synapses during a pregnancy/birthing class I took before my son was born and I guess it just stuck with me (or maybe it goes back to high school biology, since I never took that type of course in college).
My referral to "dead end dendrites" was my wry (and silly) observation that my dendrites are no longer working, or in other words, no longer able to fire synapses back and forth, which in turn, may trigger depression.
SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) work (I believe) by interrupting the synapse so that enough serotonin gathers on the end of a neuron to illicit a proper "firing" between the different dendrites.
Our brains are so incredibly complex. It just goes to show that the question posed to me yesterday ("what are you depressed about?") can go a lot deeper than just missing the big sale at Macy's.
Someone else mentioned a chemical imbalance (I think it was Ayuda). When you think of depression in that way it removes some of the stigma.
Maryhelen, I don't think you are dense at all. I'm just geeky when it comes to remembering certain things. At other times, I can't remember what I had for lunch!
Have a good night -
Lee
Here are a few links:http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/moa-ssri.htm
Here's another link:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artoct02/gohisto2.html
"A neuron has one cell body, containing the nucleus and surrounding cytoplasm (perikaryon), one axon (up to one meter in length), and one or more dendrites, which extend from the cell body. Dendrites are highly branched and form a so called dendritic tree. The axon splits into several branches. Each of them ends in so called terminal buttons. Those terminal buttons exchange signals over the synaptic gap via neurotransmitters to dendrites of a neighboring dendritic tree belonging to an other neuron. (See Fig. 1 for a simple drawing of two neurons.)"
Here's another link
Posted by Tabitha on April 30, 2003, at 2:11:50
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
All I can say is.. it's none of her damn business! They're only supposed to ask that stuff to find out possible effects on your teeth or interactions with the anaesthesia.
I always hated answering that question, every time I went they'd say.. are you still taking the X and Y? and I'd have a whole new regime of psych meds to report. One technician was kind enough to advise some special toothpaste to help dry mouth that I got from tricyclics, but all the rest just wrote down what I told them.
Er, maybe if you said it was for 'mood disorder' instead of depression that would help? Sounds more medical. Nobody would say 'what are you mood disodered about?' would they?
Posted by leeran on April 30, 2003, at 2:27:33
In reply to Re: What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by Tabitha on April 30, 2003, at 2:11:50
Tabitha -
Mood disordered. Yes, that might bring about a few vacant looks! Or perhaps, "My M.O. is that I'm M.O.'d." Or, even more confusing: "I have a bi-acronymic condition known as A.D.D.M.O., and it's possibly contagious."
Thank you for your creative approach.
It doesn't come up that often, but I really felt dumbstruck as to how to answer yesterday. Of course, then I felt rather guilty all over again . . . that old "you have everything you could possibly ever want, why do you feel this way?" mantra.
By the way, those images you described were pretty intense. You sound very visual. I think the "D" word grays the world for me a bit, but I'm hoping that I'm "spiraling up."
Lee
Posted by maryhelen on April 30, 2003, at 6:11:31
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
Leeran:
I think you are hilarious, witty, knowledgeable, intelligent. To pick up the way you did on Tabitha's message, which by the way is a great response, and come up with "My M.O. is that I'm M.O.'d" or " I have a bi-acronymic condition known as A.D.D.M.O., and it's possible contagious" - how very clever.
I just want to share some of my thoughts about my journey with depression. I am not proud to say, but it's the truth, I have been hospitalized 5 times in psychiatry, been in 3 different substance abuse programs for my addiction to pain medication and have had 2 rounds of ECT. From the beginning with my first hospitalization in 1980 to the present, the difference in my own perceptions is 100%.
I had such shame, fear, embarassment, guilt etc.... when I was first hospitalized. I work in a school and swore my principal to secrecy. Lie after lie after lie. I don't want to make this post too long but I can say now that every staff member knows and any parent who asks I tell them I have depression. In fact, anyone. I have never had anything but positive support and encouragement and came to know that 8 teachers are also on antidepressants.
My point is though, that throughout my hospitalizations and follow-up therapy, I have met the most interesting people I have ever known in my life. If I ever get better, I know I will be a better person for it. I have learned so much about life, I am totally empathetic, I have learned so much about different mental illnesses that I never knew even existed. I have such high regard, except for myself, for those who have the courage and tenacity to fight through all their demons. And then when you think you know it all about different disorders, 2 years ago New Year's Eve I ended up being certified to yet another hospital. They had no room on the 'regular' psychiatric floor so I ended up in a locked unit with people suffering with schizophrenia for 4 weeks. What an experience. My God, the way people suffer with that illness and apparently the medication is as bad as the illness itself.
I can certainly relate to what you were saying about you have everything you could possibly ever want. My life is the same. I have a good job 3 minutes away from where I live, live by myself, which I prefer in a beautiful apartment, have 1 daughter and 4 grandchildren, 9 brothers and sisters, my mom, more than most people have. So how is it possible to explain to others why I am depressed. It has been with me most of my life and I cannot even explain it to myself. I have been off work for 2 years now. I do know my daughter's circumstances with her husband is what set off this ongoing depression 15 years ago, but I don't know how to deal with it.
Anyway, I have gone on too long. I just wanted to say, and we can recognize it on this site, that mental illness does not take everything away. Again, the humour, wit, intelligence, support, caring ...... from one to another can only enrich our lives. Let's just hope we can get to a point where we can enjoy and reflect on the wisdom we have gained through suffering with this horrific disease.
maryhelen
Posted by fayeroe on April 30, 2003, at 8:07:25
In reply to What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by leeran on April 29, 2003, at 1:41:18
> I had an unexpectedly PLEASANT dental experience today. The first in years - or perhaps ever! So, that was a "good thing." In fact, the dentist sat and talked for an hour before he ever looked in my mouth simply because he could sense my (literal) hand-wringing desperation. I left the office so thrilled that I had a game plan, and that there wasn't that usual guilt trip, that I momentarily thought I could drop a few meds due to sheer joy.
>
> There is one part of the visit that brought something to mind that I wanted to ask bring up here on the board. I'm betting that others have been frustrated by this question and that it's been brought up before here on this board.
>
> The dental assistant, a very nice (and sincere) young woman, requested my medications list and as she was writing them all down in the chart she asked what Wellbutrin is prescribed for.
>
> When I answered: "Depression" she answered "What are you depressed about?"
>
> I know she meant well (or certainly didn't mean to be unkind), but I'm sure you all probably know my answer:
>
> "I'm not depressed about one thing in particular, in most cases "it" doesn't work that way. It's caused by a chemical inbalance, blah blah blah."
>
> "What are you depressed about?" is the equivalent of "snap out of it" for me. If I could "snap out of it" I would be thrilled. I don't enjoy going to bed thinking "will I have to be medicated for the rest of my life in order to feel somewhat 'normal?'" or waking up feeling like there's a brick of despair resting on my forehead.
>
> If my father could snap out of diabetes, or my husband could snap out of high blood pressure I know they would in a New York minute.
>
> We talked about the stigma of depression a few weeks ago, and I guess this is yet another example of the misunderstanding that exists about mental illness.
>
> I need to learn to overcome the need to overexplain depression and A.D.D., as if they are signs of weakness, versus an illness and a disorder.
>
> I understand that people mean well when they ask such questions, but it was yet another example of the difficulty in conveying the concept of depression to someone who hasn't experienced it in their own life.
>
> Maybe I can use this as part of the key to understanding my mother. I remember wanting to ask her so many different times (when I was a young adult): "what are you depressed about." Of course, now I understand that this can be the ultimate pain with no distinct name.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this? I sound like I'm being nit-picky (I probably am), but it seems so exhausting (of course!) to explain it to people. Luckily, I'm not usually in a situation where I need to do so.
>
> Thank you for the momentary rant.okay, you had your rant. she was ignorant and though she meant well, it was disconcerting. to people who haven't experienced what we go through on a daily basis>>>>>>>>>we're "different"....i can no more keep from being depressed than she could keep from being "unenlightened".......so, i do what you do...explain it and i very solemnly do it in a way that makes they hope that i will shut up and get the hell out of there before i start foaming at the mouth!!!!! i would have definitely said something to the dentist or the office manager because she crossed a line......and should be stopped in her tracks on that one. you DON"T ask patients questions like that unless you are their psych/psychologist/internist/etc..........now, i've had my rant...about dental assistants and i've already gone head to head with msn today! so, my day will be rosy, rosy, rosy~~pat
>
>
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Posted by shar on April 30, 2003, at 20:04:50
In reply to Re: Shar and Leeran, posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 17:18:15
Yikes!! I'm running too, from what? What d word did I say? I don't have another post in this thread? At least I don't see one! Is what we're running from gaining on me? I'm moving as fast as I can, and getting seriously out of breath, and scared, too!
???Shar
> ACK!!! You both said the "d" word.......
>
> :::::::running wildly down the street to escape:::::::
>
>
> Coral
Posted by shar on April 30, 2003, at 20:13:45
In reply to Re: depression, it's not just for sad people anymore!, posted by coral on April 29, 2003, at 11:16:03
Good, I'm glad other people still have energy to attempt to educate others. I'll give it a weak effort, but I'm pretty worn out with it.
The other day, at 'work', one guy was asking the know-it-all about a kid who had been egged on in a chat room to commit suicide. The list of drugs included klonopin, restoril, methadone, and some other one. The asking guy wanted to know what klonopin and resotril were. The know-it-all said 'anti-psychotics' or 'something like that'.
Well, we all know klonopin is not an AP, and restoril--which I've had--is a mild sedative for sleep (I had it after surgery). I was in a bit of a tizzy because I hated for misinformation to get out there (others were listening). And, not just that klonopin is a benzo and restoril is a sedative, but that idea that anti-psychos and anti-depressants are lethal. I know if one can take enough, just about anything can be lethal, but it's hard work to kill yourself with an AP.
I didn't want to jump into the discussion, it did not include me, and people looked upward in awe at the vast knowledge of the know-it-all.
Wonder what to do about that!
Shar>
> Whenever the opportunity presents itself to educate people about depression, I'll take it, but if the person has already made up his/her mind and is of the "Snap out of it" persuasion, I'll smile sweetly and say, "It's clear that you have no grasp of this situation." Also irritating to me are the folks who are so misinformed about meds......... arrrrghghghghgh
>
> And so I rant....
>
> Coral
Posted by coral on April 30, 2003, at 22:04:11
In reply to Pant, pant, pant...Coral !, posted by shar on April 30, 2003, at 20:04:50
::::::::calling over my shoulder:::::::: Didn't youuuuuouu sayyayaya ddd....GULP ....ddrrrr....
A BIG GULP.... drill????
Posted by leeran on May 1, 2003, at 1:35:38
In reply to Re: What are you depressed about? Arggggh, posted by maryhelen on April 30, 2003, at 6:11:31
"I just wanted to say, and we can recognize it on this site, that mental illness does not take everything away." - Maryhelen
Maryhelen,
I agree. My lowest lows always make me aware of some change that's needed. For me, it's like falling asleep on my arm and realizing it's dead weight until I shake it around a bit. There's this annoying pain before the feeling comes back - then relief that I have my arm back.
For that reason I refuse to believe that mental illness has robbed me blind. As long as I'm still able to recognize myself in the mirror, "it" doesn't win - and fighting it must make me stronger, after all, it takes such effort.
There are so many creative people on this board. Isn't it amazing to think that this board is just a tiny microcosm of a much larger group of individuals who are out there every single day, doing the same thing we are, trying to make some sense of it all.
And there are so many "famous" people who have battled mental illness (I just had to do a search and there were more than what came to mind immediately): Abraham Lincoln, Vincent Van Gogh, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Winston Churchill, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Virgina Woolf, John Keats, Tchaikovsky, et. al.
Plus, here's another link:
http://www.frii.com/~parrot/living.html
I'm not meaning to imply that "famous people" validate mental illness more than anyone else does. For me, it's just more proof that mental illness doesn't have to be a dead end street where I sit alone on the curb.
I'm glad you shared your experiences. I can relate to the fact that incidents beyond our control (in your case, your daughter's situation with her husband) can set the wheel in motion.
My closest family consists of my son, parents and husband. When one of them is upset and/or hurting it becomes the backdrop for everything else. That desire to "fix things" in situations where I don't have any control leaves me feeling helpless, especially in situations concerning my son.
Once I know about it (whatever "it" is) my brain goes "on nag" until there's a resolution, yet so many situations are simply unresolvable. So, my brain just stays "on nag" while I stand by and watch it unfold. The feeling reminds me of one of those dreams where I'm trying to scream but the sound won't come out. The desire to scream expends so much energy, but it's useless energy. I should learn from my dreams. There's probably a lesson in there somewhere.
I want to comment about the eight other teachers you know who are on antidepressants. Thank goodness for the positive support you've had from all of your peers! We'd probably all be surprised if we slapped out our prescriptions on the communal table.
Maryhelen, you said "If I ever get better, I know I will be a better person for it."
I've read your post three times and I've learned so much from your honesty. I can't imagine how you could be any better than what comes through in your post. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your experiences.
Lee
This is the end of the thread.
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