[begin rant]
I fail to understand why “mental illness” is not treated like any other medical problem. It’s typically caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals. To me, this is the same as having a problem with your thyroid or having to take insulin because your body doesn’t produce the right amount. Or the more popular, having to take some sort of proton pump inhibitor to help limit acid production in your stomach because you experience too much and/or too frequent heartburn. We even have over the counter medicine for this now.
Heck, we plaster commercials all over TV about medications to help men have “a more quality sexual experience.” But my suffering from depression is something that’s not mentioned in polite company. EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!? Since when (and why, for goodness sake) did it become more socially acceptable to suffer from erectile disfunction than from depression?
I think our culture and our medical community have their priorities screwed up…
[end rant]
Sorry for posting to such an old post but I just had to. I am reading through your archives and you have such a way with words. You make me laugh LOL. I too suffer from depression, second time in about 5 years. Don’t know if you still on medication now or not, but you should never be made to feel inadequate for being on anti-depressants, and a huge slap to the person who did this. I can totally understand where you are coming from. Hope that this hasn’t brought up any ‘old’ feelings due to you original diagnosis, but I just had to post.