“On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being fabulous-top-of-the-world and 1 being, oh … antidepressants, how are you?
That was the question posed to me yesterday by an old visiting friend at church. As he started his question I was forming a 5-6-7 response in my head. By the end of his question my smile was gone and I applied his scale.
Why do we put we put depression and antidepressants as the indicator of rock-bottom? Is it really rock-bottom? Are there not worst places to find myself? Or am I really a 1 in denial?
Filed under: Father's Day, Friends, Suffering
I believe antidepresents automatically puts you somewhere between 3 and 5. You have admitted that there is something wrong and you are seeking…
So you must have been better than 1 as you made it out of bed and went to Church.
Yeah, so I’m a 5. ish. So there. (how does one write that sound one makes by sticking out their tongue and spitting air out making that obnoxious, childish noise?)
pssstthhhhbhbbbbbbt?
Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!
Ric: There are worse places to be than depressed. Trust me.
Thanks Deb & Nor. I feel more 5-ish now. Man, I let that conversation get to me…
I know how you feel Ric. There have been a few negative instances lately in Blog-Land that have seriously got on my nerves, to the point where my creativity is paralyzed. I was writing three or four Pstorms a day before, but now I can’t write anything. Negativity kills my creativity. And that is infuriating because through my Pstorms I had been seeking Him so diligently. Without writing, I am so lost; nothing makes sense. And I just want to lash out.
Perhaps when we have so much to address personally, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, &c, we shift easily–letting conversations (or comments, in my case) get to us more than they usually would– because we are still adapting, still absorbing, still adjusting, still processing those recent revelations.
To put it another way: “Don’t struggle with the struggle–just struggle.“
Anti-depressants speak of an ability to still make a healthy choice. I have people in my life who need them, but refuse to take them. I have to admit, I’m much healthier AND happier.
5 ish for me!
Its feels good to be in great company
i think your acute observation in the post is a CLEAR indication that we should NEVER use someone else’s ’standards’ as a guide to how we think/feel.
if there is ANY ‘need’ to you can use your own ’scale’ choosing your own ‘extreme’s based upon your own experience, but there is no way one person can experience the entire spectrum possible of ALL human beings.
i can think of at least half a dozen much worse things than ‘antidepressant’ which i will not list lest i give some people ‘ideas’ (so his scale would be my 10 to 5 or mine would be 10 to -10 on his, making you around a 7-8!!).
As to your question it’s a ‘literal’ thing – a ‘depression’ is a physical low point the opposite of being on a ‘high’ – it’s nothing ‘personal’ dude – we should not so easily ‘identify’ with other people or situations or words.
i am personally much happier you choose to take anti-depressants than the more common ‘medication’ of Alcohol – which curiously enough – is a depressant!
( and it’s (Raspberry) – that sound Deb made)
<B
You’re right blove, about someone else’s scale and about the literal thing. He was asking about how I was feeling, not necessarily how I was doing overall.
Your response to Love was an important point. You may feel like a one, but as long as you are working on the problem, even if it means taking anti-depressants, you are doing much better.
Thanks Ed. Taking a deep breath and refocusing helps.