>Four years ago today I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I was put onto antidepressants and told I would need to take them for six months. I was later told by a different doctor that I had been told that incorrectly and no one with clinical depression only takes meds for six months as the protocol written by the WHO states six months once stability/remission of symptoms is achieved. Reactive depression however does tend to have shorter treatment plans because of its differing nature. Four years and three medications later I have two prozac capsules waiting for me to take them in a minute and the medication dance continues.
Today isn’t a day to be sad however, I don’t regret that I ended up getting depressed and needing medication for it. And I’m no longer bothered by the fact that I am still on medication. I absolutely hated going to the doctors and getting put onto antidepressants, I was so worried about it I was physically sick before I left the house. And I hated 10th February 2004 when I marked one year of meds. 2005 and two years of meds was a little easier but it was Feb 10th 2006 that was the easiest anniversary for me – I celebrated it.
And I celebrate today.
I had mild depression for at least a year before I went onto treatment, probably longer. And for the last five months of that I was seriously struggling and my best friend told me repeatedly how worried about me she was. 10/02/03 was not a day when it all went wrong for me and I “caught” depression… depression caught me way before that. So today is not a sad anniversary for me. I took control back of my life that day and that is positive.
I’ve always said that I have CP, it doesn’t have me. Before 10th Feb 2003. Depression had me and I was lost in it. But not after that. Today I am celebrating the fact that for the past four years I HAVE depression and depression DOES NOT have me – I am in control once again and if it still takes pills to do it then so what?
Join me in my celebration won’t you please?