February 27, 2006
Neurochemical semantics
I had a discussion with one of my friends on Friday night. I asked him point blank, "What do you think about me going on anti-depressants?"
His response was interesting. To paraphrase his response, he said that I needed to do what I needed to do, but he was sad I felt the need to be on anti-depressants. It was a bit of a smack in the face, but honest. The thing is, part of me agrees with him.
There was/is a strong little voice in my head that says, "...you don't need those drugs, you'll be fine with out them, just go fix these things up..." It took a cacophony of other voices to finally push me to the conclusion that that voice was wrong.
I know the fact of the matter is my brain chemistry just isn't balanced the way it should be. But to admit that brings upon oneself with a whole cart of societal prejudices.
This is bullshit.
Can you envision society calling diabetics lazy because they cannot regulate their sugar by what they eat? Or perhaps calling those with spinal cord injuries lazy for not walking on their own? Or blame someone for getting a simple cold?
No.
The fact of the matter is this is depressionphobia. I'll admit right up front that right now I'm depressionphobic. I need to change that.
I said at a dinner with friends "that there are parts of me that I hate". I was promptly scolded by one of my friends who had already bitten the bullet and was on antidepressants.
I am not ashamed that I suffer from depression.
I will not let other people be ashamed of me because I suffer from depression.
Depressed people are all around us. Let us not be ashamed of them, but welcome them.
I think I love you!