![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
I have been taking lexapro since aug.I have been on 10mgs.I guess i am just depressed right now and need a increase.I dont have insurance but have an apt for wed at MHMR.I feel impaired that i have to take a AD everyday.I am hesitant to talk to anyone about this side of me.Does anyone else feel this way?I will overcome depression and anxiety.
Lexman
Posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 20:03:41
In reply to Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
Having to take ADs is like having to inject unsulin for diabetes. You are not responsible for being this way, but you do have to take of yourself.
I feel weak in that I see so many people around me who seem to need no apparent outside assistance. Actually i think that MOST people need help but we are the few who desperately ask for it.
A lot of people muddle thru life and never questions whether what they are doing is good, bad, or will make a dfference.
I think ADs help us become stronger eventually.
Posted by greywolf on March 29, 2004, at 20:16:52
In reply to Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
Lexman:
You are about as impaired as a blind man. Neither of you asked for your difficulties, but only you can do something about them (at least for now--who knows what science will come up with). Don't buy into the idea that acknowledging you need help and then getting it is a sign of weakness. Strength comes in many forms, and I think one of them is common sense.
Posted by Sad Panda on March 29, 2004, at 20:25:18
In reply to Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
> I have been taking lexapro since aug.I have been on 10mgs.I guess i am just depressed right now and need a increase.I dont have insurance but have an apt for wed at MHMR.I feel impaired that i have to take a AD everyday.I am hesitant to talk to anyone about this side of me.Does anyone else feel this way?I will overcome depression and anxiety.
>
> Lexman
>Hi Lexman,
I felt pathetic about being a wimpy depressed person. Since I have been on Effexor I feel alot less pathetic & worthless & I am able to talk to close friends & family about my woes. An increase in dosage may help you feel alot better.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 20:34:23
In reply to Re: Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by Sad Panda on March 29, 2004, at 20:25:18
Thanks for everybodys posts.i really needed the encouragement.:)
lexman
Posted by KathrynLex on March 30, 2004, at 14:58:04
In reply to Re: Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 20:34:23
Hi Lexman,
Try not to get too discouraged. Being on an antidepressant doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're assertive in dealing with your depression and/or anxiety. Some people suffer from the same problems and never seek out a solution. You're taking action and trying to get better. It takes a very strong person to seek out help for their problems and to engage in the healing process.
Also, remember that sometimes when anxiety or depression is left untreated it can get worse. You're doing the smart thing by getting treatment now. I hope these are encouraging words for you.
K.
Posted by Viridis on March 30, 2004, at 22:32:57
In reply to Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
As others have already pointed out, there's nothing "weak" or even particularly unusual about taking medication for a medical condition, including depression. The stigma against ADs seems to have diminished a great deal over the last decade or so, and many people talk casually and openly about their AD use nowadays.
A few months ago, I went to a clinic to get some vaccinations for a trip. The doctor (a woman who must have been in her 60s) was very knowledgeable and professional. She looked at the list of psychiatric drugs I take and said something like "Oh, I see you're on a few medications". I was slightly defensive, I guess, and said "well, I need them". Her response was that this was not a criticism -- instead, she felt that people who recognize these disorders and seek appropriate treatment may be some of the sanest people around. She added that she wished more people would acknowledge problems such as depression and seek medical help, and that if they did, society would be better for it.
An interesting perspective from someone who has a lot of experience, yet must have been trained in "old school" medicine and been exposed to older attitudes about mental disorders.
Posted by ST on April 1, 2004, at 4:23:52
In reply to Does anyone feel weak for taking ADs?, posted by lexman on March 29, 2004, at 19:54:13
Hi Lexman,
I've been on ADs for about ten years now. I look at it this way: you are actually a strong person. You have taken control of your life and are doing somthing that will help get you out of your depression. That takes guts and a sense of responsibilty. Those who stay depressed and do nothing, I feel, are in a weaker state until they make an active choice to get better. (And I don't judge them for being there; I certainly was there until I finally got help)
I really feel proud that after years of wallowing in my depression and ruining relationships I finally did something to make my life better. It makes me feel strong, not weak.
You really are strong. You've made a smart and responsible choice by taking ADs.
Hang in there - you'll feel better about yourself every day. Good luck and congratulations.
~ST
> I have been taking lexapro since aug.I have been on 10mgs.I guess i am just depressed right now and need a increase.I dont have insurance but have an apt for wed at MHMR.I feel impaired that i have to take a AD everyday.I am hesitant to talk to anyone about this side of me.Does anyone else feel this way?I will overcome depression and anxiety.
>
> Lexman
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.