|
Enneagram Type 4 Board Archive Re: AntidepressantsPosted by Hal on September 28, 1999 at 14:44:59: In Reply to: Antidepressants posted by Ev on September 25, 1999 at 12:25:56: : I was wondering how many of my fellow 4's are either now using antidepressants or have in the past. We 4's, being well versed in the "art" of depression, should have a more intimate knowledge of the subject than other E-types. In the past I've noticed a bias *against* the use of pharmaceuticals to deal with the condition. Now, while I don't advocate the indiscriminate use of "get happy" pills, I also don't see any problem with using these drugs as prescribed by a physician. (And no, i'm not talking about physicians like Elvis Presely had.) :>) : Ev For a long time I was one of those opposed to the use of drugs for dealing with depression. It always seemed to me to be a way to fool yourself into happiness without really resovling the issues that were bothering you. But I've recently had a change of heart and mind, and just over a week ago began taking Zoloft. I have been very depressed for several weeks now, even more so than my usual low-level mood that has been going on for many years--the vast majority of my life, in fact. It had just gotten to the point where I was asking myself over and over again, "When will it get better?" The external circumstances in my life have improved immesurably in the past few years, but my mood hasn't. I have found so much personally and spiritually, and have finally been able to truly experience love and joy. But even after a great experience that lifts me up, I keep falling back into a deep depression. It's only been a week so far, so I can't gauge all the effects. But one of the first things I noticed is that the drugs have given me a choice, at least some of the time. I find that I have more of a choice in how I look at things. I can see things from a place of love rather than a place of fear more often than I could before. This has certainly not been a "happy pill" that solved all my problems, or even make me forget about them. They still bother me, and I still need to work throug them and come to terms with them. I still need to work to gain a truer perspective. But it seems that the drugs have put me in a place where I CAN work through the problems intead of just being overwhelmed by them and stuck in misery. I still feel my losses greatly, and they still hurt, and I often still don't know what to do about them. But this is better than before. I'll keep y'all posted on how things go... - Hal -
|
|