Anti-depressants and social stigma....

[Limonada]

This kind of goes along with what I posted about friends' reactions to anxiety issues...

I haven't admitted to many people that I'm on Celexa - my dad, brother (who's also on an AD himself) and a handful of very close friends, aside from my husband (of course!)  It feels embarrassing, somehow, to admit that I need help, non natural help, to get through this rough patch....

Is that stupid or irrational??  I know that so many people take them nowadays.....but sometimes I just feel that I'll be judged or looked at differently if people know I'm on them....

[Limonada]

Thanks :-)

[cj29]

It definately is not stupid or irrational to think that.  Initially I was very much against any medications, but as time went on I realized that they are there to help you through symptoms just like any medication.  I used to hide the fact that I was on Zoloft when I was in the military until I walked into my supervisor's office and found out that he was on an SSRI as well along with many co-workers of mine.  It is alot more common than you would think.  I started to become more open about it and in return it relieved alot of the stress I was carrying on my back.

I look at it this way...you have realized you have a problem and are taking the steps to confront it.  In my book, that takes a whole lot more courage than pretending nothing is wrong.  Furthermore, would you take a claritan if you had allergies or medication for high bp?  You probably would, but you would also take steps to help your condition along with the medication.  If you had high bp, you would modify your diet and exercise.  Same thing with taking ADs...while there are no pills to 'cure' you of this, they are very effective COMBINED with counseling.  So, do not feel bad about taking them; I don't.