Heather asks for, and gets, help:
[snip]
My anxiety has only gotten worse since I started psychiatric and medical treatment over two months ago. It’s so bad that it chokes me every day, and sometimes I can’t even walk I’m so anxious. I’ve tried over 10 different medications and each one has made my anxiety worse. The depression comes and goes, but the anxiety is constant. I can barely eat anything and I still can’t sleep, even though I’ve tried every sleeping pill available at the pharmacy. It’s seriously out of control.Over the weekend I started a new round of medication for a new diagnosis, one that I don’t want to talk about yet because it will be such a loaded discussion, and that medication has caused all sorts of problems. I have to get all this shit figured out or I really think I’ll hurt myself. I can’t believe that I don’t feel better. I can’t believe that it’s been two months and I DON‘T FEEL ANY BETTER.
[snip]
Friday morning I finally saw my official doctor, a kick-ass psychiatrist who has been treating people like me for longer than I have been alive. He had read my chart — imagine that! He had done some research! on me! his patient! and within the first five minutes of talking to me he determined why and how the meds I’m taking aren’t working. He had such a direct approach, almost like a bulldozer with a Ph.D. and I wanted to smother him with Internet love. I could tell that he wanted to see me get better and knowing that he cared, even just a little bit, made me feel SO MUCH BETTER.
When people say that they can’t believe I’m being so open about this I want to ask them WHY NOT? Why should there be any shame in getting help for a disease?
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If there is a stigma to this, let there be one. At least I am alive. At least my baby still has her mother. At least I have a chance at a better life.
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Dooce is famous for her openness. Now she is showing us openness about hospitalization for mental illness. The Cool Kids are showing us that openness about alcohol abuse, and our efforts to put down that bottle, is a good thing. I think this is the new openness, and I hope it helps lots of people.
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