I just finished reading an article from Blog Her entitled "The Problem with Handing Out Happy Pills" by SelenaMKI. In this article she discusses the problematic issue of doctors who are too quick to prescribe anti-depressants.
SelenaMKI tells a story about a friend of hers who was prescribed anti-depressants by medical doctor. This woman was prescribed medication to assist her with the depression she has been experiencing due to the loss of her husband.
SelanaMKI expresses her frustration as she tells us that grief is a healthy process and it takes time. Agreed. She says that medical doctors do not have the expertise that psychiatrists do. Agreed. Not all doctors refer their patients to a psychiatrist but rather prescribe medication and let them go their merry way. Agreed.
"That is not to say there isn't a role for medical doctors in the diagnosis of a mental health disorder. In fact, medical problems need to be ruled out first before a mental health diagnosis can be given. But I know from my own experiences that often the mental health card is played when a medical doctor can't figure out what is physically wrong with a patient"
I'm glad that she acknowledges this.
(source)
SelenaMKI elaborates upon her feelings of discontent when she says,
"I know that my anger comes from my training in social work--the career that chronic illness has taken away from me. Even though I can no longer practice being a clinical social worker, all my social work education and experience hasn't become completely lost to me."
I am a clinical social worker myself. I currently work at a long term psychiatric hospital and I have worked within the outpatient world as well. I understand that the mental health system is not without it's problems. And that is an understatement. Believe me I have my own complaints against many mental health policies as well as Big Pharma.
I agree that there are many doctors who are too quick to prescribe medications. My main issue for this post however, is not the obvious dilema of doctors over-prescribing. My issue is with the term "Happy Pills".
Perhaps SelenaMKI has an understanding that anti-depressants aren't ACTUALLY happy pills. If this is so, I find it dangerous to even jokingly refer to them as such. Especially being that the Tom Cruises of the world continue to have a field day with this phrase.
I'm an advocate of medication for those who need it. And discovering who needs it often takes time. Note that I said "often". I truly believe that there are cases in which an individual can have on session with a shrink and said shrink can accurately understand that the patient can benefit from medication.
Anti-depressants do not create happiness. In fact many who begin taking anti-depressants have a difficult time saying goodbye to the depression they hated but became comfortable with. It becomes a part of them, and in some cases it is all they know.
Okay...enough with the they they they. I I I have depression and medications have benefitted me in a great way. I've avoided mentioning it on this blog (Until now. And I still feel nervous and hesitant about it so please be kind) but there are some mental health issues that speak so loudly to me and I suppose I need to get loud as well.
Anti-depressants work in different ways for everyone. My experience may not be like hes, or hirs or theirs or yours. Even so I think I can generalize certain aspects of medication consumption. If the medication is actually working, it will not create happiness. I am thrilled to report that I am stable on medication. There was a time when I was against the idea of medication altogether and periods where I was prescribed various anti-depressants that did nothing for me.
The medications I swallow, does not create happiness or contentment. They do not create but they do ALLOW. This is an important distinction. A vital distinction actually.
The medications took away the depression (for the most part), the anxiety, the sheer panic and have allowed other lights to seep through. Sure I can become sad, depressed and anxious at times but it is not as it once was. I now have the energy to get through the day.
Energy does not equate to the energy of a bouncing, obnoxious cheerleader, pom poms and all. Rah rah rah. I can now rise out of bed without wondering how I can get through the day. I can function. Small things no longer seem like big things. Everything isn't a shade of gray. Birds chirping no longer sound like nails on a chalk board, brushing my teeth with cold water is no longer a painful shock to my system. I no longer sink into bed with the dread of racing thoughts, I no longer wake up wondering how long I will make it before I escape from from my work desk and hide in the bathroom for short periods of time just so that I can feel the comfort of hiding. I no longer spend time wondering what my brain looks like inside my head and feeling that it is some how broken.The list goes on and on.
Medication has allowed me the breathing room to respond to a joke with laughter, to respond to a person's smile with interest rather than resentment, to acknowledge the sun rather than hate it ,(although I do prefer overcast weather) to spend time with friends rather than make excuses as to why I can't go out and play, to let go of oddities such as feeling sorrow when using a short salad fork and feeling relieved when using a long dinner fork.
And one of the MAIN reasons that anti-depressants are in no way "Happy Pills" is because they have given me the gift of concentration and focus. I can now focus on my real issues and not be distracted by the the painful dibilitation. We all have issues and we don't always work on them. Since I was a wee lass I have been interested in introspection and personal growth. Being that I have been depressed for most of my life (I gather since childhood) I can now truly focus on good things and well being without the misery getting in the way. And what a gift that is.
Am I happy? Sometimes. Am I depressed. Not really. Is this good? It's excellent! And I am very very grateful.
There is NO such thing as a Happy Pill. Repeat it with me! There is NO such thing as a Happy Pill!
No comments:
Post a Comment