Crackpot, it would appear that I was not clear enough in my statements. Either that or you have some non compos mentis issues yourself.
Some people have an actual physiological problem with the structure or chemistry of their brain that causes them to be unable to regulate certain mental functions.
Picture it like insulin for the head, if you need it and don't take it, you are going to have issues eventually. You can get by for a while, but, if you run into sugar enough, you are going to end up in the hospital or worse. stress and change are a chronically depressed persons "sugar" if they get enough, things are going to go downhill fst if they aren't being treated.
Thanks for the kind words moneyjane.
Some "helpful" folk may be bigoted, most just have no idea what might be different between a clinical depression and a bad mood. Since they may be able to cheer themselves up, they figure you could do it if you followed their path.
That your own brain can betray you is not something within most peoples ken. It is like trying to explain the difference between blue and purple to someone blind since birth.
Given the ability to understand the experience, people would be more apt to treat mental illness seriously, and temper their advice giving. I hate to end with a platitude, but the fit is too exact. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."
This story particularly hits home with me, as I have been hospitalized for depression induced psychosis more than once.
Now, I manage a department at a large public sector institution, and am told that my performance is more than adequate.
I am blindingly happy most of the time, and my emotional balance has made me a much more formidable opponent and less easily manipulated than I ever have been.
It is from finally finding the right psychiatric medication regimen. Doing so has felt like the lifting of a life scentence to an internal torture I felt doomed to always bear. This feeling is compounded by the well meaning that tell you to just snap out of it. Would they tell that to someone with epilepsy or parkinsons or alzheimers?
Psychiatric medication is overperscribed, there is no doubt. However most that don't need it will stop taking it after a while. Those that need it and stop eventually become unable to function and try again or perish. A real organic problem will come back as it is not situational, it is not within ones mental control and time cannot heal it.
When people say antidepressants are worthless, orwellian, etc. it feels like a slap in the face. Without them, in another age, I might have faced the icepick and lost.
Crackpot, it would appear that I was not clear enough in my statements. Either that or you have some non compos mentis issues yourself. Some people have an actual physiological problem with the structure or chemistry of their brain that causes them to be unable to regulate certain mental functions. Picture it like insulin for the head, if you need it and don't take it, you are going to have issues eventually. You can get by for a while, but, if you run into sugar enough, you are going to end up in the hospital or worse. stress and change are a chronically depressed persons "sugar" if they get enough, things are going to go downhill fst if they aren't being treated. Thanks for the kind words moneyjane. Some "helpful" folk may be bigoted, most just have no idea what might be different between a clinical depression and a bad mood. Since they may be able to cheer themselves up, they figure you could do it if you followed their path. That your own brain can betray you is not something within most peoples ken. It is like trying to explain the difference between blue and purple to someone blind since birth. Given the ability to understand the experience, people would be more apt to treat mental illness seriously, and temper their advice giving. I hate to end with a platitude, but the fit is too exact. "Forgive them for they know not what they do."
posted by jester69 19 years ago
This story particularly hits home with me, as I have been hospitalized for depression induced psychosis more than once. Now, I manage a department at a large public sector institution, and am told that my performance is more than adequate. I am blindingly happy most of the time, and my emotional balance has made me a much more formidable opponent and less easily manipulated than I ever have been. It is from finally finding the right psychiatric medication regimen. Doing so has felt like the lifting of a life scentence to an internal torture I felt doomed to always bear. This feeling is compounded by the well meaning that tell you to just snap out of it. Would they tell that to someone with epilepsy or parkinsons or alzheimers? Psychiatric medication is overperscribed, there is no doubt. However most that don't need it will stop taking it after a while. Those that need it and stop eventually become unable to function and try again or perish. A real organic problem will come back as it is not situational, it is not within ones mental control and time cannot heal it. When people say antidepressants are worthless, orwellian, etc. it feels like a slap in the face. Without them, in another age, I might have faced the icepick and lost.
posted by jester69 19 years ago
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