If your car Mercedes needed new brakes, would you take it to the Ford dealership to be fixed? If your arm was broken would you go to a Cardiologist to have it set? No and No! I make these comparisons in the same way I feel about going to your General Practitioner aka Primary Care Physician, instead of a Psychiatrist for anti-depressants. I should add a disclaimer that this entry is strictly based on my opinion and experiences alone. I don't claim to be a med guru or know what's best for everyone. I can only relate what has not and what is working for me.
Most everyone I know pops these pills like candy. We all want a quick fix. Heck, I wanted a quick fix and was starving to feel better. Coping skills are not necessary anymore - you can pop a Xanax every time you feel "uncomfortable" or a Paxil when you are sad about something that actually should make you sad. It saddens me to see children watching their parents manage their lives with pills. I was fortunate to grow up in a house where my parents only took antibiotics when prescribed. I didn't even know the terms Xanax, Hydrocodone or Prozac until I was in my thirties.
I see the real problem here is that doctors are prescribing the meds but not making the diagnosis. I'll tell you that I was on many different antidepressants over the years and was never told I was "clinically depressed", "severely depressed" or any type of diagnosis. It was basically me walking in and saying I feel x, y and z and twenty minutes later I walked out the door with prescription "a" praying it worked with minimal side effects. I saw the prescription as a possible ray of hope to help with my mood and I was raised to have respect for doctors and do what they recommend as a patient.
I strongly believe that if your GP or PCP has given you a prescription for an antidepressant without a recommended follow up to a Psychiatrist, Psychologist or Licensed Counselor, they are providing you an inferior level of care. I also believe if you aren't given a preliminary mental disorder diagnosis with your prescription, they have not completed their job.
My two prescriptions I take every morning are not candy, nor are they cure-alls for my illness. My Doctor and "The Peach" both echo the sentiment that the 2 tried and true aids in depression are pharmacology and forms of talk therapy. How did I know I was on the right combination of medications along with the right therapy? I can say I vividly recall the day I looked up and suddenly saw how blue the sky was and that I could see color again in the world. How amazing to know the sky isn't always a shade of grey.
Happy Monday....xo, n
Angie Dillon Morton....Christian mother of 4, wife of l, loyal friend to many, Auburn alum, driver of kids, homework Nazi, Bible study facilitator, Griffin native, Tampa transplant
Admittedly, I wrote Angie's bio. She's too humble in my opinion to tout her attributes. She has too many to summarize. Suffice it to say, when going into any crisis, you want her on your team. And on my team she has been. Enjoy this most appropriate Easter guest blog from Angie.
I love you my sweet friend. Happy Easter!
I have always believe there are 2 kinds of people, those who are in counseling and those who need to go to counseling. I have never been to a professional counselor, but I have often sought counseling. Be it from my parents, my husband, friends, or a stranger that did not understand the impact of their words, I have most certainly been in counseling. The definition of counselor is "someone who advises," and we all have a friend or person we call for sound advice or just to listen. Each of us has the "something" that we deal with, we all have struggles. They look different from person to person, but we all have them.
We live in a fallen world and we are not perfect. After all isn't that what Easter is all about? To remind us the Jesus, the One and only, died for us to save us from our sins, to proclaim victory for us and to free us from the sin we cannot escape? John 16:33 says, "...You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." He died for you and He died for me so that we may have eternal life; a life free of suffering. My pastor said, that when we are suffering we must "live with quiet strength in us that makes people stand up and take notice." Life is not always easy and life is not always fair, but in the end, because of the cross, we will be victorious!
I am standing Natalie; standing in admiration of your strength and determination, standing in awe of your bravery. You are right; God will never waste a hurt. He will use it to glorify Him.
And in all things be thankful...
Happy Resurrection Day!
Angie
