Posted by daisym on July 9, 2005, at 1:25:28
In reply to Situational Depression, posted by Poet on July 9, 2005, at 0:54:26
Just because it is situational doesn't mean medication won't help.
My pdoc said she has two catagories of patients. Most are in the situational group -- divorce, laid off, spouse dies, etc. Those people need 6 months to a year of medications to "get through it." Others need the ongoing boost or regulation of brain chemicals. Sometimes those with ongoing needs need a boost due to the situation.
I've been thinking about it like this: When you are standing just off shore, you can see dry, safe land, not too far away and you can feel the bump, bump of the waves. But you can stand up against them. But after awhile, the sun and wind and constant pull of those waves makes you tired. And slowly, slowly, the sand is shifting and you are being pulled further and further away from the safe shore. And you are too tired to swim back. And you have sand in your pants and crabs biting your toes. And suddenly, your feet don't touch anymore and you now have to tread water. So you slip under now and again, fight back, pull yourself up and tread water some more. You might hold your own, but to really get back to that safe dry land, you need help.
Your therapist has a boat, and a strong rope to help pull you to shore. Your pdoc has the flotation devise (medication) on which you get to rest when you get too tired to keep treading water. You need to trust that they know how to help you get to shore. Please let them.
poster:daisym
thread:525319
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050706/msgs/525328.html