Don’t Judge Me – Taking Antidepressants

Psalm 142: 5, 6 – I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.

When you have an invisible mental health issue such as depression, it’s easy to fall prey of judgmental attitudes.
                                       

• First, they don’t believe there is such a thing as depression.

 

• Second, if there is such a condition they don’t believe that you suffer from it.

 

• Third, if they believe you have it they think you can just snap out of it with your own strength.

 

• Forth, some people believe that if you had enough faith then you could be healed from depression.

 

• Fifth, if you do pray for release from your captivity and you’re still depressed, they figure that you’re just hanging onto depression for attention.

 

• Sixth, and this is an important one, they certainly don’t believe that anyone with depression needs medications to help with that depression.

 
Judgment.
 
It seems like everywhere I go I sense that others are watching me. Some know that I battle depression. And yes, it is a battle. One fought on the battlefield of our minds. And the enemy stands in front of us laughing.
 
Laughing because they think we’re doped up.
 
Laughing because they think we’re taking the easy way out.
 
But there is nothing easy about depression. And even though we may be seeing a doctor for the condition, we’re judged by others when we choose to accept the help antidepressant medications can give us.
 
So how do we cope with the judgmental attitudes others feel towards us when we choose to treat depression with medications? Thetempest.com in their article, “Here’s How to Battle the Stigma Surrounding Antidepressants,” discusses how too many people believe depression and anxiety are the individuals choice; and lists some of the unhelpful statements and questions that someone struggling with mental illness deals with when considering medication.
 
Removing the stigma around taking antidepressants can help people who fight depression to get medical help when treating depression. We have to stop judging others and ourselves so that healing can begin.
 
God knows that those of us who fight depression are in desperate need of being rescued from those who pursue us by placing labels on us. Our world would be a gentler and more compassionate place if we would support those who choose to get help.

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