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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 16, 2001, at 1:08:02
That is to say, with all the articles, books, talk shows, etc; with every celebrity known to man and then some coming out as suffering depression; with so many highly publicized crimes attributed to depression; and with every other household receiving some sort of anti-depressant medication, has anything improved?
On the one hand, it's less stigmatizing to admit to being on anti-depressants. Since all sorts of people are taking one or another anti-depressant, it's not so difficult to admit to taking medication for depression.
On the other hand, there does seem to be a sense that you just take a pill, and bluebirds start to sing. For those of us who are slightly more affected by depression, it can be hard to explain that it's not always that easy.
On the gripping hand, I really like Larry Niven's books...
Anyone have anything to say about any of this?
Posted by AKC on July 16, 2001, at 6:45:37
In reply to Query: has the attention to depression helped?, posted by Racer on July 16, 2001, at 1:08:02
Can I say yes and no? I am certain that because of the attention, my current employer is accepting of my limitations - that is, I have a job, even though I can't seem to get my billables up to where they are suppose to be. But at the same time, my previous employer, a judge, professed to "understand" and be supportive, but when I went into a suicidal depression and had to be hospitalized three times, she spoke with the state's attorney general to see if she could fire me without violating the American's with Disabilities Act. So I believe that the attention has helped to make progress, but we have a long way to go.
Without going into details, I think my family is another example of this - they all love me and "accept" me, but some still don't get it, no matter the educational material available. But I believe it is still much better with depression being out of the closet than in - even if some wrongly believe that a pill can solve it all or depression is to blame for it all. It is a process in the path of understanding. A painful process, but a better place to be than being locked up - and locked up is where I would be if not for the pills and the therapy.
AKC
Posted by Roo on July 16, 2001, at 8:19:01
In reply to Re: Query: has the attention to depression helped? » Racer, posted by AKC on July 16, 2001, at 6:45:37
I'm not sure, racer. In some ways, the media
attention has made it worse. Like it's seen
as "trendy" or just jumping on the anti depressant
bandwagon when you say you have depression and take
meds. There's this sense that everyone's on prozac,
and all these prozac jokes. You know what I mean?
In a way, I still feel reluctant to tell people I
have depression and take antidepressants b/c I feel
like people will roll their eyes and be like "right!
Everyone and their brother is depressed and taking
prozac", and just treat me like a whiner. It seems
like it's become more acceptable to talk about, but
it's also become a joke.
Posted by susan C on July 16, 2001, at 10:52:34
In reply to Re: Query: has the attention to depression helped?, posted by Roo on July 16, 2001, at 8:19:01
In the late 80's I sought treatment for the first time, I said, I will talk about this, be my own one man band so to speak. Now I am trying to keep my mouth shut. It seems like everyone wants to try and 'fix' me, tell me what I should do.
> I'm not sure, racer. In some ways, the media
> attention has made it worse. Like it's seen
> as "trendy" or just jumping on the anti depressant
> bandwagon when you say you have depression and take
> meds. There's this sense that everyone's on prozac,
> and all these prozac jokes. You know what I mean?
> In a way, I still feel reluctant to tell people I
> have depression and take antidepressants b/c I feel
> like people will roll their eyes and be like "right!
> Everyone and their brother is depressed and taking
> prozac", and just treat me like a whiner. It seems
> like it's become more acceptable to talk about, but
> it's also become a joke.
Posted by mair on July 16, 2001, at 22:02:36
In reply to Re: Query: has the attention to depression helped?, posted by susan C on July 16, 2001, at 10:52:34
>
> >I think on a very personal level, the spotlight has helped my husband accept my depression as a legitimate illness. Several years ago, he was more concerned with how long I would be treated and whether I was going to become dependent on therapy. He's much more focused now on having me be well, and how he can help that process, and he doesn't personalize my moods the way he used to. I don't think all that just comes with being with me. I think all the stuff in the news has really helped him take what's going on with me a bit more seriously.Mair
Posted by kazoo on July 17, 2001, at 0:31:25
In reply to Query: has the attention to depression helped?, posted by Racer on July 16, 2001, at 1:08:02
Query: has the attention to depression helped?
Yes.
It's the silence that kills. Case in point: the presence of HIV/AIDs in the 1980s and the Reagan administration's sick effort to not only deny the existence of such, but also in neglecting to do anything about it. This is Mr. Reagan's historical claim to fame, and he deserves it. This is how he will be remembered by many people.
Knowledge is power.
Use it wisely and judiciously and you'll move mountains of ignorance, fear, bigotry and hate.
kazoo
This is the end of the thread.
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