Irritating Media

I have a love-hate relationship with the media. I love how skilled people can use one little piece of information to make a point. And I hate how skilled people can twist data into something more than it really is. A local news station posted an article yesterday on the number of women aged 18-44 who have been prescribed an antidepressant. A wopping 34%. Ooooo. The author's point is that perhaps antidepressant medication is over prescribed. Oh, and it's touted as the #1 drug prescribed.

I suppose it's a logical conclusion to make. However, when an antidepressant can perscribed for a myriad of ailments, is it fair to even go down the these-get-prescribed-too-much road? Let's see, off the top of my head, antidepressants are prescribed for:

Depression
OCD
Social Anxiety Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress

Wouldn't it make sense that antidepressants are the #1 prescribed drug? The reasons someone needs antidepressants don't just go away after a 10 day course of treatment like bacteria. And they can't build up our immunity against them once the germs enter our system. For many people, the postives outway the side effects. Tell me one medication that doesn't have a risk of side effects.

How many people are on medication to control heart disease?

How many people are on medicatoin to control diabetes?

And I'm SO tired of hearing that you should really get your antidepressants from a pshychiatrist along with therapy. I'm much happier these days on medication and not seeing a therapist. I don't know a single person who couldn't benefit from seeing a therapist now and again to help work through varoius issues. But talk therapy isn't the end-all-be-all for treating anything that an antidepressant can help. If there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, something is wrong and needs to be addresses... often with medication.

I used to be one ofthose people who thought that you were taking the easy road if you needed antidepressants. I even thought that there was something wrong with you if you took them for years. Karma is a complete bitch, because after trying all sorts of natural methods and exercise and talk therapy the only thing that truly works to solve my problem is an antidepressant.

I'm proud to be among the women 18-34 on an antidepressant. They aren't the best solution for everyone. But for those of us fortunate enough to live successfully among the Medicated Many, we could really use more stories on how antidepressants can be a good and wise choice.

I wonder

Early on in my mommy-at-home role, I understood why decades ago women at-home with the kids enjoyed a drink or two, or three during the day. Can't tell you how many days I couldn't wait for my husband to come home so I could enjoy a glass of wine to help take the edge off. I saw a therapist not too long ago who said back in those days, women self-medicated with alcohol, but they didn't know that's what they were doing.

One of the reasons I don't have the can't-wait-till-I-can-have-wine feeling is because I'm happily among the medicated many. Therapy and self-realization has been helpful too. But I think that being properly medicated helps keep my overall view of various experiences more real, allows me to concentrate better, and makes focusing on various things much easier.

I wonder how many moms would have truly benefited from the types of medication prescribed today all those years ago?

Out of the mouths of babes

At the grocery store this afternoon, my children were getting all giggly at the birthday candle section. Some candles were for babies, some were for little boys who love trains. Some were princessy. My daughter picked one up that was black and white. It had a 40 sitting next to a headstone that read RIP. And she says,

Mommy, this candle would be for someone turning this many on Halloween!

I chuckled, smiled, and told her she was exactly right.

Hoping this leaves you with a reason to laugh and enjoy life's simplest moments.

I knew I needed help when...

My son was about 3 months old. And I had a 2-year-old too. I felt like every time I turned around I was snapping at my husband for absolutely no reason what-so-ever. He breathed wrong and I chewed his head off. He kissed me on the cheek and I'd be mad that he picked the left one instead of the right one. Or that he interrupted me trying to get the dishes washed.

So NOT the reaction a normal person would have. All day I would have mind battles trying to figure out how what was going on in my brain was so far from what was happening in reality.

Then one morning I woke up with a very bad thought: my family would be much better off without me in the world.

Hold on, sister! That is not good!

I ran down the steps and caught my husband before he went out the door to work. I need help! I think I'm dealing with postpartum depression.

That night I took my first pill... and I hated having to admit that I was not in control of my brain. I felt like I was a failure and a cop out. Being a parent is hard - and parenting a newborn along with a toddler was exhausting. I never had any issues with anyone else needing medication to survive, but not me! No way.

Was I weak? Was I a mental case?

No. I was a normal human being who needed help.

When the medication kicked in and I could see clearly again, I was amazed at how long I took to realize I had a problem.

But, postpartum depression is temporary, and I didn't want to have to be medicated longer than necessary. I weaned off my medicine of choice after about 9 months... and thought everything was normal.

Until about a year later, when some of the same visions, thoughts, and reactions were coming back. But, I'll write about that another time.

If you think you need help, you probably do. And you owe it to yourself to get it.