Frustrated

I come across those kind of people all the time. For me the best ones are the people who think my RA can be cured by drinking a certain tea or wearing a certain type of shoe with no meds at all. I have always thought that the people who says these things are very lucky they have never had anything so disabling wrong with them. Before I was put on the right combo of meds for my RA I couldn't do anything. Before I was put on meds for my depression and panic disorder I was agoraphobic and couldn't cope with everyday life.

Some people will never understand why you need to take the meds you do. I find that to cope with that attitude it is best to say something like: 'We will not agree on medication and I accept that. I am glad you are in such good health and hope it continues. Please accept my decision to take medication as the right decision for me as I accept you decision not to as the right one for you.'

Thankyou guys.

To be honest, it wasnt a hard decision to start taking AD at 14- it was either that, or be totally ruined and probably be institutionalised. the meds have given me a quality of life that i never thought would be possible, looking back at me as a 14yr old. i was totally crippled by my panic, i was completely trapped by my agoraphobia. i was so relieved when i got a diagnosis, and was told that meds would improve my situation- and they did, even though the side effects suck. ive been medicated for exactly half my entire life. that makes me sad, but at the same time, im grateful for meds that work. i just wish people would keep their uninformed, narrow minded comments to themselves- its hurtful.

Maz XX

Oh Maz... I so understand how you feel. I recently had a so called friend tell me the same thing. I felt guilty and ashamed for days... feeling that if I were stronger I wouldn't need this "crutch".... I go through this guilt and self-questioning every now and again when someone says something along the lines of your church comment. It's interesting that of all places would have gotten that comment from church.... isn't a church community supposed to be supportive, understanding, non- judmental... oh well... churches are full of fallible people like the rest of the world. The more I think about it the more I think of this: God said ... God helps those that help themselves.... part of His gift to us is that HE gave some men/women the skill, intelligence, will, to create medications that would help people ... whether its with cancer, diabetes, crohns disease, etc etc... because we suffer from a 'mental' illness , less informed people assume that it is a weakness on our part.... they will never understand until they experience it themselves...
I can't function without my meds.... some days I can barely function with my meds.... but I do know that if I were to go off them...there would be no life in me at all... my girls would suffer for me and with me... my friends would also... it would be a real rippling effect,making a whole lot of people suffer also. God doesn't mean for us to live this way.
I always come away furious after a comment like that ... but eventually forgive the person and chalk it up to ignorance, influences by someone else with an equal amount of misled self-rightousness, and misinformation.
Hang in there...
Meds up to the wazoo "mary".