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Category: Blogging
Most of you know that I was diagnosed with Panic & Anxiety Disorder and Clinical Depression back in October of 2001. A few of you were concerned with a status posting I made a few days back (very few of you, but no matter) and posted words of encouragement. I appreciate that and thank you for showing that you care. Let me tell you a bit of what's been going on in my life to bring you up to speed and why my moods have been "fluctuating".
Thanks to the current economy, I have no health insurance. Because of that, I'm unable to get certain medications filled, one of which is my anti-depressant. The anti-depressant the doctor insists that I take costs close to 300 dollars a month. Even if that was the ONLY medication I took, there's no way I could swing that without winning the lottery. Consequently, I've been "off my meds" for approximately 3 months. Now that the anti-depressant is completely out of my system, I've come to the realization that I really AM in need of an anti-depressant.
Because of my illness (and yes, due my diagnosis, I AM classified and categorized as 'Mentally Ill') and no medication, I'm having more mood swings than a woman who is pregnant and "going through The Change" at the same time. I go from total, near suicidal sadness to crying, to frustration, to anger, to rage to ripping complete strangers (and some acquaintenances) a new rectal orafice on a chat board I frequent to wanting to "break stuff" over the course of any given day. I now have problems putting my thoughts down in an organized fashion without having to go back and do major revisions, corrections, etc. which eprives me of the joy I get from writing. Not EVERY day is like this, but when it happens on average of 4 out of 7 days at a time, even *I* know something's not right.
It's a long, convoluted story of how I got to where I'm at, but the trigger was the bombing of the Twin Towers on 9/11/01. The buiding I worked in had a federal office and, as a result, I had to be "frisked" everytime I came in to work. After a week of this, it got that I would have to rush to the mens room and vomit after I would get "felt up, frisked down and otherwise manhandled" to prove that I wasn't some gun-toting "terr'ist" on a mission to overthrow the country by attacking a no-name government office. After two more weeks of this, I had a complete breakdown at my jobsite and had to be hospitalized for a few days, It was at that time I was given my diagnosis, along with a secondary diagnosis of "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" caused by the constantly repeated showings of the Towers crumbling to the ground. Becauise of that, I LOATHE the "commemorations" of 9/11 Think of me what you will, but reliving that event every year like it was some sort of sick holiday is, to me, the most asinine and sick act this coungtry has ever done. I even turn off the radio when Toby Kieth comes on with his money-making "tribute song". It disgusts me.
I'm saying all that to say this...no matter what your belief system is no amount of prayer, fasting, self-flagellation or any other form of "Religious Voodoo" that *I* can do is going to change anything. While your offers of prayer and support are apprreciated, you may want to use them on someone that they might do some good on because, unless God is willing to give me an injection that will correct the chemical imbalance in my brain, erase the memories of the awful upbringing I had and is willing to make an emplyer "take a chance" and hire me, even part time, there is no way I'm going to be able to get and KEEP a job. The stress level gets to me, the people I deal with, pardon my French, piss me off to no end and the fact that I'm being told how to do a job I've done for almost 30 years by a KID who wasn't even a gleam in the milkmans eye when I started in the job force is enough to make even a sane man want to start ripping off heads and defecating down the holes.
I've been accused by a couple of people of being on a "24 hour pity party". I would invite them to say that to my face and see exactly how much "pity" I'd show them. To them, all I need is to "get my sh*t together", ot "I need to get back in church" or "I need to get OUT of church" or...and thisis the best one..."give in to the idea of killing yourself because you have absolutely no value or use to anyone the way you are."
Nice, huh? The only thing that actually STOPPED me from stepping in front of a semi the other day was the fear that the Catholics MIGHT be right about the spiritual destination of those who kill themselves. My life has sucked bad enough without having to deal with a bunch of "demons" wanting to give me a ration of crap for eternity.
So, the next time you see me or someone else who is going through a bout of depression, DON'T insult them or their illness by telling them they need "Jesus", "A Holy Ghost Enema" or any one of a number of "spiritual snake oil cures". Simply understand that without the doctor prescribed medicine they need, no amount of laying on of hands, beating or casting out of supposed "demons" or having a "stronger faith in God" is all they need to get by. If a simplistic approach like that works for YOU, great...but don't expect it to be the Ultimate Cure-All for EVERYONE. Even in the bible, God and Jesus didn't work that way. Some people are MEANT to be like they are...apparently this is a source of amusement for God and He doesn't want to "fix" all of His toys. But hey, He's God...who's gonna tell HIM what HE HAS to do?
Anyway, thats where I'm at, spiritually and mentally. Right now I feel completely cold toward God. Not hatred..just coldness. I have no idea how much longer I'll be in this mental place. I may be "fixed for a while" starting tomorrow or it may go on for another 6 months, I have no idea. If you wish to pray for me, feel free. Specifically pray that I somehow get the money to be able to buy the meds I need. Praying that I have the right Lottery Numbers to win the lottery would be a definite plus.
Thanks for taking time to read this,
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