Mousie

We have much in common Barb, but don't we find that often here? lol! so sorry about your brother. I've not lost a family member, but acquaintances.

I hope that comments I have made about doctors etc. is not misunderstood.
There are a lot of good doctors out there, but you have to find the right fit for you personally.
As a person that has had health and mental health issues for 25 years, i feel that I have been down roads, and experienced things that give me a right to say to those that don't understand it all, yes, your right, there are THOSE, that minority (?not sure about statistics), that push medications too freely.
I have experienced it personally, and if I had not been an intelligent, cautious and informed about my own stuff, I could have fallen victim of the wrong medication.
There have been times that doctors have made mistakes.
It is an inexact science and sometimes your doctors diagnosis is only as good as the information you give him.
I worked in the medical profession myself, so i have seen both sides of the thing.
It is not EASY to be a doctor or a patient, unless of course, you are blessed with optimal health.
One of the things being said here is: even if you never needed medications for depression in the past, don't set your mind that you will never ever need anything.
My own husband was SURE he would never need any of that stuff, and he "accepted somewhat", that I did, but he also resented the cost and many times an argument, in his mind was bc I did take something.
That is not only fair, it's mean.
Everybody shows the butt sometimes, and if you take meds and your spouse always blames you, or visa versa, somebody is not checking themselves to see that it takes two to tango.
Medication is not a cure all. Like someone else said about hers...it just takes the black and lightens it enough to cope.
Some get more than that, on my current medications.
I was not always that blessed.
I was misdiagnosed for many years and believed that I had to take what I was on and would for life.
I was shut completely down artistically and always a level of depression existed.
the medication wasn't depressing me, the lack of the right one, was.
Long story how I finally climbed out of that hole, but know this:
Even if you are on medications, you owe it to yourself to become more educated.
You wouldn't go to a church, temple, synagogue, what ever, and just listen and ingest every word without finding the truth for yourself would you? (thats what happens to those that fall into cults. not a religious discussion, using this for an example.)
So, don't follow your doctor blindly. Even if he is very good and you trust him.
The mistake that was made with me, I was with an excellent doctor, very kind and compassionate and a real fighter for the patient.
Once i was at the facility he worked at to see a counselor and he had received blood work back on me, and came and sat by me in the waiting room to discuss it. No appointment, no charge, just compassion that I needed my dosage changed to feel better.
But, he was trying me on something that I agreed to and a month later i left bc i thought my husband was going to be laid off and i would not be able to afford him. So I was just as responsible, initially, for the mistake to be ongoing.
However, having said that, i feel that the future doctors I had, should have made sure i was doing well on that medication and that it was the correct diagnosis.
It wasn't.
They thought I was a high functioning manic depressive, when in reality, I had severe general anxiety disorder.
"oh, she's not completely manic bc she's not that bad."
Even the doctors couldn't see the zooming freeway in my head, and the compulsive habits I had to relieve anxiety that I worked to hide.
I was a doctor/ppl pleaser. I wanted to make good grades.
I thought I had to tell them what they wanted to hear to be a "good patient". I believed what I said, i didn't lie.
But there came a time I became strong enough to start questioning instead of just "behaving and pleasing".
There aren't many that are going to deliberately try to trick you or mess up on purpose. They call those shysters.
But they are human beings and fallible.
So, educate yourself and be open with your doctor. Don't brush everything off as a passing thing if it's not passing.
am i helping this cause? I think honesty always help.
I don't want to see anyone medicated that is not going to be helped, even if they need medication.
Let's get it right. It can change your life. not promising it will, and don't expect it to "fix your marriage" or make your teenagers behave etc.
We still have life stuff to deal with, meds or not, but at least you'll feel more like taking it on in a calmer fashion.
If treated for adhd, like I have, you may, with time and some training, be able to find your keys, remember your appointment and cook dinner without burning it.
It won't make you like donuts but others munching down might not be so annoying either.
(noises was one of my irritants before!:shock:)
I know the mouse is verbose, but it's only bc she cares so much for those that are hurting. hugs to all :-D
(not sympathy, - empathy :-D )