Hello, world, I am medicated!
I’ll have you know that I don’t usually start my conversations like that, but I needed a hook so, what the hell. Disclaimer: this blog is not meant for you to feel bad for me and it definitely is not a place I’ll be spilling my problems. You can go on any teenage Tumblr page if reading angsty sadness is your favorite pastime, but if that’s really the case, you should probably consider getting a therapist too.
Last summer, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and over Thanksgiving break, I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was given these little white pills and those didn’t work so we maximized the dose. That made things worse. Then I had to try different little white pills paired with other little white pills. I felt like a lab rat. In this blog, I am actually going to intentionally use myself as a lab rat. Healthy, right? RIGHT. As of recent, I’m trying to befriend these pills rather than hate them; I want to understand them rather than be anxious about them.
You’re probably thinking that I’m a very sad human being and my life is just a terrible hellhole. WELL, you’re right, but you’re only half right. You have shitty days don’t you? You also have good days and so do I. In fact, I’m a very happy person. Most of my close friends, the ones who know about my disorders and the ones who don’t, would agree with me. I’m not living in denial or anything. I know myself very well; you’re just going to have to trust me. I don’t suggest you trust any stranger on the Internet, but just trust me, because, reasons.
I am weird. My life is weird, toes are weird, and you’re also weird. My therapist says I should use more descriptive words and stop using the word “weird” because it doesn’t really mean much. Sorry, therapist whom I respect very much. What I’m trying to say is, we all have our unique experiences and I am here to share mine with you, friend. Can I call you that? Since I can’t receive your answer right now, I’m just going to assume your answer is, “No, we are not friends,” and to that I respond, “Right on, friend!” and proceed to give you finger guns and a fantastical wink. I’m getting off track. Anyways, friend, in this blog, I want to share with you what I’ve learned so far about mental health medication and what I will be learning in the next 15 weeks. Here are some questions that will hopefully be answered by the end of this series:
-How do doctors give a diagnosis?
-How do they prescribe medicine?
-What are the different philosophies concerning mental health medication?
-How far have we come in medication and what information are we lacking?
-How much does our chemistry and genetics play a role in our overall happiness?
I will do my research to make this blog seem more legit and useful. I hate research, but we’re friends. So, you’re welcome.
Why am I blogging this, you ask? Because this is a school assignment and I’m paying for tuition, BUT also because there is a lot to be learned. According to a study from the CDC (2009-2012), 48.7% of Americans have taken at least one prescription drug within a given month (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-therapeutic.htm). Look, we’re learning already. That’s a lot of people. You or a loved one can be suffering from mental illness and it’s important to be educated in the subject to better aid yourself or those around you. Consider this post syllabus day, my friends. It’s going to get real, a little uncomfortable at times, but most importantly, it’s going to be damn fun. Until next time, gang.
Sincerely,
Friend
P.S. If want to read other blogs about mental health, I made the extra effort of reading horribly boring blogs so that you don’t have to. Here are the hip and fun ones. WOO! Happy reading!
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