Drugs . . .

No, not the illegal kind.

I think about two years ago, my niece was experiencing severe depression and anxiety and she got on some medication for it. Then, when my older sister saw how much good it did for her daughter, she decided to try it too. Keep in mind that all of my siblings, including me, suffer from anxiety. Some of us more obviously than others.

For years, I've been telling my sister that she needed to be on something because it was easy to see how much she could benefit from it in her life. I really hoped it would help. Oh it did! I'm amazed at how much she has progressed and how some of the things I used to see in her are just gone. Which is awesome. Handling a divorce, dealing with emotional abuse, and three teenagers who have their own set of problems would have been impossible for her before the medication and counseling. Now, it's deal-able although I'm sure she sometimes thinks it isn't!

During all those years I didn't pay attention to my anxiety. I paid attention to my younger brother's depression/anxiety and was always full of advice to him to also get on medication. It's only been in the past year or so, as I've seen the difference in my sister's life that I've started to pinpoint times when I've been anxious and how it's affected my life.

Don't get me wrong. I have a great life. I have a wonderful husband, a good job, great family and friends. Yes, I don't have children, but that's been at time a blessing and a challenge. I also haven't had the problems I've seen in my sister. Or even my younger brother. So I thought I was fine. Just like I think a lot of people out there think they're 'fine'.

And the thing is . . . I am fine. I can deal with it. But, WHY SHOULD I? There is medication out there that may help me and if it could bring me more happiness in my life--or even make my life slightly easier why wouldn't I do that?

I don't have to make my life any harder. So yesterday I finally made the phone call to my doctor to talk about getting set up on some medication. I'm going to see what kind of difference it makes for me.

A lot of people feel like getting on medication for a mental illness, even a slight one, is too risky. We've all heard the horror stories and you do have to be careful. I also think there's still a huge stigma out there against mental illnesses and especially in the medications, because we still know so little about the brain. It's not like an antibiotic where we know exactly what's going on in the body. We really don't know what the brain is up to. And I think because of that people tend to ignore or excuse the depression, anxiety, or other problems they are having.

BUT, the possible benefits outweigh the possible risks. If I can be a better, happier person then I want it. And I'm willing to try to get it.

Are you?