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It all started with David Westerfield
I am sorry, but I found this article really offensive. I have struggled through out my teen years with bi-polar disorder and have gone through many different medications. I agree that pills are not the answer to a mental illness, but with the combination of therapy they are a huge help. If you had a pyschiatrist who obviously didn't know what they were doing why would you stay with them and then complain about what they did to you? You play the victom in a situation that was entirely in your control, and then you blame the people who were trying to help you, albeit they sound as if they were not qualified. Medications do cause side effects but that is why you change drugs. You find one that works with you. You make huge statements about a field you know absolutely nothing about. Its infuriating. Who are you to discourage other individuals to take medications? You think you had it tough? Try having Anorexia and Bulimia then finding out your Bipolar. However, because you are not a trained therapist or psychiatrist you most likely do not know that both eating disorders come with severe depression, severe anxiety, and also OCD. Are shunning the 13 year old girl who took Zoloft to relieve some of those symptoms? I have been in therapy and also in a residential treatment center (for 9 months) and have worked on myself but the only way I could FUNCTION was to take medication to relieve symptoms. I have had side affects including weight gain but guess what? The trade off of not feeling like a crazy person is worth the five pounds. Altogether, you can hardly blame an entire medical field for your problems. In therapy you learn that you can only control your behavior, not the behavior of others or their reactions. Thus learning to be your own advocate. “I am 20 years old, and for the rest of my life I need to be on medication to keep me sane. Other people my age don’t have to deal with this. I don’t think it’s fair. Why can’t I be normal?” That is the most self centered statement I have ever heard. Look around you, people struggle every day with diseases and mental disorders much worse than your own. You have a phobia, and as phobias go, not that severe. Get over it.— August 19, 2010 10:01 p.m.