Let's Talk About Unsexy Self Care
Last week was hard. It marked the end of my seventh week at home. With close proximity to my husband, my dog, and no one else.
I felt tired, in a way that I have never felt before.
I slept & wanted more sleep.
In this moment, I’m grateful for unsexy self-care:💊MEDS.
I was diagnosed with MS when I was 15 years old. I was confused, I was scared, I was sad. I went to my therapist regularly & my psychiatrist briefly - both in duration & frequency. I went through the usual rigmarole to find the right antidepressant and finally landed with one that lifted my mood & kept me feeling normal. Phew.
I stayed on the med through high school, college, & grad school, and when I was happily settled in a REAL job, I was feeling really good. Life was good. I didn’t need the med anymore. So I decided to cross titrate and stop.
Fast forward one month-ish. I’m watching TV and that ASPCA commercial with Sarah McLaughlin singing in the background comes on. (Remember this one?!) And I start to weep.
I love animals. Don’t get me wrong. But a cat commercial? That shouldn’t be a thing to make me cry. So I went back on my med. Update: my neurologist recently prescribed a med for pain. It’s also another class of antidepressants.👌Two are seemingly better than one as I’m in a brighter place. Happy surprise.
The desire to not need medication can be really strong. For whatever reason. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had conversations with humans who feel that they shouldn’t “need,“ psychotropic medication. The fact is, we don’t determine how our brain chemistry works. Or whether or not it doesn’t always help us feel good.
If you need meds to feel like your best self, I see you. If you don’t want to be on meds, I see you. If you don’t need them, I see you. If you’re reluctant to try them, I see you.
It is my hope that cat commercials - or the equivalent - are not making you cry. (or feel anxious or panicked or whatever you feel) l am proud to say that they don’t make me cry anymore. Other things do, sure, but because I am on antidepressants, I’m not depressed. Even in this odd, long moment.
Moral of the story, unsexy self-care matters.
How are you doing?
