No Shame
Hey guys and Happy Friday! I hope everyone has had a great week so far. As always, I just want to say thank you for taking time to read and I hope you enjoy it.
You probably know by now or at least I hope you know my blog name is “Positivity, Prayers, and Prozac” - all of which go hand in hand in my life. I try to remain positive, I am a Christian, and Lord knows I’m thankful for the prozac. I wasn’t always this way and I still struggle to maintain this way of thinking sometimes. A lot of times when we “rely” on medication to make us feel better or to help us, it feels as though we are giving up and taking the last available road. That is simply not the case.
Like I mentioned in my very first blog post, a lot of this depends on how you look at your situation. If you look at taking medicine as a crutch and use it as such, it will likely not satisfy you, and you will be more apt to feel ashamed or embarrassed. Now, if you look at taking medicine as a tool, a tool to help you, it doesn’t sound nearly as bad. I take an antidepressant because it is a tool that helps me EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. My therapist uses the term “reframing” and mentioned that when you reframe your thought process; it’s likely you will see things in a more positive light.
I do not want to promote antidepressants or any drug to try and make things perfect. That’s not the purpose, nor do I think it’s possible. There are more holistic and natural ways to treat anxiety/depression. But this isn’t about that. I simply want to help others see that you do not have to be embarrassed or ashamed of taking medication if that is what works for you. Obviously I am no doctor, but I feel like the most logical thing to do is talk to one before beginning any sort of regimen in treating anxiety/depression. The thought of being on medication for the rest of my life used to really upset me. I would try to envision myself as an 80-year-old woman whose life is still out of whack and still having to take her daily dose of happy. Pathetic. I couldn’t even think of someone that age that didn’t seem happy, or to have their life together. But guess what? There are older people who take antidepressants every single day of their life too. And why? Because they want to use it as a tool to live the best life they can.
I am extremely fortunate that no one has ever directly ridiculed me or said anything nasty about me taking antidepressants. Unfortunately for many others, especially if you are a Christian or religious at all; there is usually a guilt associated with such things. I’ve heard people say things like “If you believe in God, why don’t you trust Him to take that away?'“ “You must lack faith.” “Your life is probably filled with sin and that’s why you can’t find peace.” There are tons of examples, but these seem to be the most common.
Here are my answers. They are exactly that. They are mine. Not right and not wrong. I am NOT seeking any sort of religious debate- if you are.. I’m not your gal.
I believe in God but more than that, I love Him. I believe that God created the heavens and earth and all that inhabit it. I believe that we are put on earth to carry out Gods will and to love and help people. I believe God put the doctors, nurses, therapists, psychiatrists and all the other “ists” on this planet to help others too. Because of what the Bible tells me, we are born into a world of sin and evil. Ever since the fall of man with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, there is no such thing as perfect in our world. Even though God created me, I was born into a world filled with problems, turmoil, evil and hatred, with bad people and the likes. I believe it is totally relevant to have anxiety and/or depression in the world we live in. Whether you are born with it, whether it’s hereditary, or if you acquire it later in life- I am not exempt nor is anyone else. I don’t believe its lack of faith in God. I have faith that God could take every problem in my life within a second if He so wished, but I don’t believe that is part of His plan for me. I believe that Gods purpose is so much greater than anything I could ever imagine, it’s far too complex for my simple human brain. Thinking about a life free of anxiety or depression sounds amazing! But maybe the point is that my struggle is helping someone else in an even bigger and better way. In ways that I will never even know or see. It is true that my life has sin, I will forever be a sinner. But through the Blood of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, I am saved. So no, I am not perfect. Not even remotely close… and I never will be, Christian or not, it doesn’t matter.
Guess you didn’t think you’d hear a sermon today. Neither did I. Just sort of came out. We have problems in this life. Problems that we cannot help. Troubles that make us different from one another. Regardless of the problems or issues you face, there is no shame in getting the help that you need, whether it be in the form of medication, or therapy, or maybe some simple diet and exercise changes. Whatever you need to do, DO IT. Be a better you. God gave us this life to live and to share our love with one another. He didn’t create us to live a life of misery.
He loves you. I love you. He wants you to live your best life, and so do I. There you have it.
Much love and ZERO SHAME- we are in this together… Alexis