The WORST 3 Things

I can't help it. I just have to post some more.

"Why don't you go to the movies?" Said by my T. This was when I was on short-term leave from work and it was all I could do to get out of bed, take a shower, get dressed, and go to my appointment. She got offended when I told her that I didn't want to do that.

"Try taking vitamins. Mental illnesses were invented so that Big Pharma can make money off of medications." Look, while I believe that certain diets can help somewhat (I've tried everything from being a vegetarian to juicing to diets that are supposed to detox), I am somewhat suspicious of the "alternative medicine" industry. In desperation, I've tried all kinds of medical supplements and products that claim that they are supposed to cure everything from A to Z. What happens to help me is the medication.

Oh, and another statement regarding meds. "You're just using medication as a crutch." For Pete's sake, managing depression isn't just about the medication, or "happy pills" as some people call them. I recognize that meds are only part of the equation and that I have to learn to get to the root of the problem and develop coping skills to manage my bipolar depression. Geez.

1.) Smile, Jesus loves you!
2.) You need to just stuff your emotions and get your job done.
3.) You know you have like a really good life compared to pretty much everyone else, right?

I was just told another one. "You know I felt the same way when I was younger. But you'll live because you don't have it as hard as I did." Usually said by my elders. Why does that mean that what I'm feeling is not as bad as yours? It is appalling.

1. "You need to find Jesus!"
Actually, my upbringing in an oppressive, fundamentalist religion is one of the primary contributing factors behind my depression! Please feel free to shove your prayers where the sun don't shine.

2. "Think more positively."
Gee, okay, let me just flip that switch in my head and forget all about decades of negative thinking. It's so easy!

3. "You need to get over it and move on."
Just pull myself up by the boostraps, right? Forget about a lifetime of failures, zero self-esteem, zero confidence and just move right along like nothing bad happened? That's easy too!

"Fake it until you make it." I wasn't eating or drinking and just a wee bit past that stage!

"The psychiatrist doesn't see patients for med review until they have a diagnosis and you can't get a diagnosis until you've seen the psychiatrist and the psychiatrist won't see patients without a diagnosis". So WTF does the psychiatrist actually do then and how does anyone ever get to see one?

"You're too depressed for therapy but I can't prescribe an anti-depressant until you've tried therapy and it didn't work and if I'm not prescribing for you then I can't offer you a follow up appointment to check whether you tried therapy". Again, WTF!

paleo?

Thats the one that boils my blood.I mean really changing my diet is not going to cure me.

I live with someone who has terminal cancer, and both of us agree on this one point "i would not want to be fighting your battle"

So to the person who was told "at least its not cancer" I bet they dont know someone with cancer. Because everyone my brother has depression and cancer, and still doesnt want to fight my battles and he says " I know my depression is because I have cancer and I will die, but why are you depressed - see you dont know, thats worse." Im under the belif that no one persons suffering is greater than anothers and we all deal with our own problems, illnesses and sittuations differently so for me what might be massive may be simple to you.

Its uneducated people that are making everyone else feel like they are "broken" for being depressed.

I hate "snap out of it" or "suck it up" or similar statements. If it were that easy, no one would have clinical depression, or bipolar, or anything else for that matter. Then, on top of the depression that I already feel, I feel a tremendous sense of guilt for not just being able to get it together and do what I need to do.

I have had similar statements but said with force and conviction, almost yelling, not spoken.

In Australia there is no direct to consumer marketing. You never see an advertisement for any pharmaceuticals. This big pharma stuff is foreign to us - it seems peculiar to America. Here is a thought: who would invest in the research to bring anything to the market if there was no profit? Profit is not just a motive for bad. On the other hand 'alternative' medicines can advertise all they like and can make claims and they hardly answer to anyone. I remember working with a Russian immigrant as a fitness trainer. He was surprised about how every Australian seemed to want to take supplements. In Australia it is Big Supplement not big pharma.

I hate being told my depression is self fulfilling. I know when my Ts have said that it means they don't have a clue what to do next.

Self sabotage is another of my pet hates, for pretty much the same reason.

Just go out and buy a candle or go for a walk in the park were also pretty lame pieces of advice that I was given recently.

I have also had it yelled at me. I hate it when people belittle me and my problems.