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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Since I started meds for anxiety-induced insomnia, it's been my goal to get off. No one WANTS to be on meds, after all. But why do we often beat ourselves up for being on them? Stigma?
My girlfriend takes Prozac because she has social phobia and depression, stemming from childhood abuse by her stepfather. She feels so much better when she's on it, but she berates herself for having to take it.
My sister is severly asthmatic and has terrible allergies. She doesn't beat herself up for taking a daily inhaler.
My mother has arthritis and takes Vioxx every day. She doesn't beat herself up.
My friends eat asprin like candy because they have stress headaches. They don't beat themselves up.And that's what they tell you when you complain; they say, "But I take this...."
No one is looking at us like we're freaks because we take Prozac or Serzone or Wellbutrin or Zoloft or any other drug, for that matter. (The general public doesn't know what Zyprexa or other anti-psychotics are for, which is why I didn't include them.) In fact, ADs are as popular as Advil now.
So why do WE do it to OURSELVES, especially when it's working?
Just wondering.
beardy : )>
Posted by andyboy on March 15, 2002, at 17:45:31
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Posted by Greg on March 15, 2002, at 18:16:47
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
beardy,
I feel no guilt over taking my meds. They allow me to maintain some level of normalcy in my life. Now if I was to knowing not take them and allow my disease to run rampant knowing the effects it has on my friends and family and most importantly on myself, then I would feel guilty.
Stigma be damned! If we don't take responsibility for our own well-being, who's going to? Some of the greatest minds of our time had and have depression. We have nothing to be ashamed of or feel guilty about, we're just people doing the best we can with what we've got to work with.
Greg
> Since I started meds for anxiety-induced insomnia, it's been my goal to get off. No one WANTS to be on meds, after all. But why do we often beat ourselves up for being on them? Stigma?
>
> My girlfriend takes Prozac because she has social phobia and depression, stemming from childhood abuse by her stepfather. She feels so much better when she's on it, but she berates herself for having to take it.
>
> My sister is severly asthmatic and has terrible allergies. She doesn't beat herself up for taking a daily inhaler.
> My mother has arthritis and takes Vioxx every day. She doesn't beat herself up.
> My friends eat asprin like candy because they have stress headaches. They don't beat themselves up.
>
> And that's what they tell you when you complain; they say, "But I take this...."
>
> No one is looking at us like we're freaks because we take Prozac or Serzone or Wellbutrin or Zoloft or any other drug, for that matter. (The general public doesn't know what Zyprexa or other anti-psychotics are for, which is why I didn't include them.) In fact, ADs are as popular as Advil now.
>
> So why do WE do it to OURSELVES, especially when it's working?
>
> Just wondering.
>
> beardy : )>
Posted by RhainyC on March 15, 2002, at 19:03:38
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
> Since I started meds for anxiety-induced insomnia, it's been my goal to get off. No one WANTS to be on meds, after all. But why do we often beat ourselves up for being on them? Stigma?
>
> My girlfriend takes Prozac because she has social phobia and depression, stemming from childhood abuse by her stepfather. She feels so much better when she's on it, but she berates herself for having to take it.
>
> My sister is severly asthmatic and has terrible allergies. She doesn't beat herself up for taking a daily inhaler.
> My mother has arthritis and takes Vioxx every day. She doesn't beat herself up.
> My friends eat asprin like candy because they have stress headaches. They don't beat themselves up.
>
> And that's what they tell you when you complain; they say, "But I take this...."
>
> No one is looking at us like we're freaks because we take Prozac or Serzone or Wellbutrin or Zoloft or any other drug, for that matter. (The general public doesn't know what Zyprexa or other anti-psychotics are for, which is why I didn't include them.) In fact, ADs are as popular as Advil now.
>
> So why do WE do it to OURSELVES, especially when it's working?
>
> Just wondering.
>
> beardy : )>
I have the same trouble with beating myself up about not being able to beat this depression. I have so many things contributing to it, that I would have to be *super broad* to beat it without some kind of help...at least that is the way it feels.As for beating myself up over the meds, I do the same thing. I am not sure why. I just keep thinking, *I have always been the strong one, able to cope with anything. Why do I have to have meds now?*
I hope to be able to resolve that, because with this being my second major depression episode, I will more than likely need to remain on meds for a long time, if not permanently.
Regards,
RhainyC
Posted by xjs7 on March 15, 2002, at 19:58:58
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Hi Beardy,
I also have had the goal of getting off all medication ever since I took my first psychotropic pill. I think this sort of goal is very common, especially as taking psychotropics is seen as a sort of crutch.
I think my aversion to taking so many pills for my 'condition' is that I made it through many years without the drugs. I was perfectly fine for 18 years, and then I'm suddenly not. In my mind I link the medications to my condition, and think, illogically, that if I just stop taking the medication I will go back to being mentally well, as I was for most of my life.
In my case, I think the public stigma of mental illness plays little part in my aversion to the drugs. I really don't care what the people at the pharmacy think of me when I fill prescriptions for 3 or 4 mind-altering drugs.
I simply have an inveterate, idealistic notion that somehow I can discard my depression, anxiety, and purported psychosis by flushing hundreds of dollars of pills down the toilet. I tried the flushing thing once, and lived though Hell for it.
Taking the pills validates my illness, and destroys my attempts at denial--how I would love to deny everything! I feel guilt because by taking my medication I feel as though I am accepting all the ugly labels the psychiatrists have given me. If only I were 'stronger,' perhaps I could pull off the maverick thing and be 'independent.'
xjs7
Posted by Cruz on March 15, 2002, at 22:26:05
In reply to meds make me feel dependent » beardedlady, posted by xjs7 on March 15, 2002, at 19:58:58
The current meds are just not effective for me.
I think it boils down to the fact the theory that depression is caused by improper levels of nuerotransmitters is bull.
Posted by trouble on March 16, 2002, at 2:06:29
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Posted by beardedlady on March 16, 2002, at 5:56:32
In reply to meds make me feel dependent » beardedlady, posted by xjs7 on March 15, 2002, at 19:58:58
xjs7:
I was 36 before I took my first "brain" pill! So that notion of "I've been strong for all these years" is certainly one that I've been nursing. Fortunately, most of my family has been able to say, "Now you have a child." When three loved ones die in the same year your greatest loved one is born, I think that fear of death becomes even MORE pronounced than it would had you simply given birth and lost no one. I can't say all my nighttime anxiety is a fear of not waking up--or that any of it is. I just know that I am a different person now.
I, too, beat myself up for being "weak." Yet I don't call it that when other people I know need medications to get their "selves" back.
beardy : )>
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 17, 2002, at 0:37:43
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
This medication stigma might just be a manifestation of our unique purritanical American approach to Alcohol & Sex.
If you drank 1-2 beers after work each day, that would probably be frowned upon be family/peers & labled an 'alcoholic' even though alcohol at low dosages is one of the most effective anxiolytics/stress reducers, & appears to help prevent clogged arteries & improve cardiovascular health. Meanwhile, in England & most of the rest of Europe, there is a pub on every corner & a drink is usually served at dinner, even for children. The Alcohol stigma there doesn't exist as it does here.
Also, ironically, America is by far both the largest purveyor & consumer of pornography but American television is one of the tamest (except for violence) in the world.
Posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 7:14:01
In reply to perhaps same reason alcohol is frowned upon?, posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 17, 2002, at 0:37:43
I drink a beer almost every night at or before dinner (while I'm cooking). And I don't know that it's frowned upon! Just two nights ago on the news, the health story was about the benefits of drinking one beer or glass of wine every day. I also live in a city, and most of the people I know are casual beer drinkers.
My neighborhood is mostly Catholic, and these folks go to church. A lot of them smoke pot, too.
Maybe you should move to a beer-lovin' town like mine!
beardy ; )>
Posted by Denise528 on March 17, 2002, at 10:01:37
In reply to alcohol guilt/med guilt » 3 Beer Effect, posted by beardedlady on March 17, 2002, at 7:14:01
I don't feel guilty I'd just give anything, my right hand (seriously) for them to work again. However, when they did work I did feel guilty and that was mainly because there is no proof is there? A diabetic has proof that they lack insulin but my Doctor never showed me a scan which showed too little serotonin or a lack of norepenephrine, I took the drugs and they just happened, miraculously, to work. So whilst I was taking them and they worked there was always this feeling nawing away at me that maybe I was just a weak person for relying on drugs. If we had more proof of what was wrong then there wouldn't be this feeling of guilt. I still don't know even now whether I'm really actually suffering from something called "depression"or whether I am just an oversensitive, miserable hyperchondriac who is not trying hard enough.
Denise
Posted by Spongemomsquarepants on March 18, 2002, at 1:20:56
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Hi,
I was recently hospitalized due to an adverse reaction to Provigil. The ER Doctor looked at me as I had my 3 year old son running around the ER, with my heart rate at 166 and my blood pressure at 180/110. She said in a discusted voice "so you have ben diagnosed with BOTH an anxiety disorder and ADD?" I didn't feel shame, but I felt like I was wasting her time. It was SO hard for me to call an ambulance. I knew it was not an anxiety attack, but I thought "if it was how embarasing"..duh, who cares? But I certaintly do not need a Dr. making me feel uncomfortable calling because I have tahcycardia! I have decided to call the hospial and let them know my concerns. I live in a small town, and if I am in trouble I go to tis hospital. (first time) I don't want my fear of looking like a dork hinder my medical care!
Posted by pedr on March 18, 2002, at 8:45:40
In reply to Why do we feel guilty for taking meds?, posted by beardedlady on March 15, 2002, at 17:12:37
Watcha Beardy,
[love the name b.t.w.] my opinion is that the reason lots of people, including myself in the past, put themselves down over taking ADs is because putting yourself down IS a cognitive symptom of depression, simple as that.I regularly put myself down for:
not getting enough sleep, not being able to solve problems quickly, not being able to drink, feeling shit, other people's mistakes, the pollution caused by cars [even though I don't own one], the plight of the third world, other people's unpleasant acts/habits/traits... the list is endless.So, my view is that when someone who's depressed puts themselves down for taking meds, it is just a concrete instantiation of a classic symptom of depression.
<Phew>, blurb over!
Cheers,
pete.
This is the end of the thread.
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