On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 21:28:44 -0600, "slykitten"
wrote:

snip
To be honest, I have to agree that it's cruel to use meds as a way to deal a
blow. I'm not exactly the first to admit when I've got a problem, especially
a mental health issue.... but to be honest.... especially with myself....
medications have kept me going in the last couple of months..... Especially
considering how high my anxiety level had gotten after my son ended up in
the hospital. I believe that with the right therapy, the right meds and the
right kind of support, a person can actually feel better and in general do
better. The only reason I agreed to put myself on meds is because I had to
realize that I wasn't able to be an effective parent until I felt better.
Our kids learn from us. they also learn their denial patterns from us. I'm
trying to teach my son that it's ok to accept who you are for you because
it's what makes us one of a kind, flaws and strengths and all.... sometimes
our flaws are our biggest strengths and what we believe our biggest
strengths are really the flaws we don't allow ourselves to see. Ahh well,
I've rambled on enough....

There are a *lot* of people who are hit with enough life stresses that
their neurochemistry gets realigned. This generation is described as
the highest stressed generation ever, based on quite a number of
different evaluation techniques. It all started with electricity....

Anyway. I applaud you for doing what you need to do to be as healthy
as you can, for both yourself and your kids. I've done the same - we
had a multi year run of truly nasty things happen in this family, and
I too have taken antidepressants. It's like any other medication:
inappropriate if it's not necessary or if it's for a misdiagnosed
condition, and extremely helpful if it's properly applied. People have
a fixation on neurochemistry. People who think nothing of taking
insuliin for faulty pancreatic chemistry, somehow think that taking
antidepressants for faulty neurochemistry is some kind of indication
of a weak or flawed or faulty human being. I know that my daughter,
who has been through severe post traumatic stress disorder, really
took her own meds seriously when she saw that I took my health
seriously as well. So more power to you, and good luck with it all.

Cele