#-meggu

[tswatch]

(to Jen) This is meggu. I already talked to her about it directly and it went okay. The way I did it was I came over to watch a movie and while i was over I grabbed a notepad and just wrote down everything i wanted to tell her bc i was too scared to say it out loud and gave her the note. I did tell her about how I used to do it too. I think it was effective and I'm really glad i was able to do it.

Hi love,

I’m so sorry we didn’t answer your message in time. I hope you can forgive us for that!

What you did was really strong, brave, and selfless. You should be very proud of yourself! You did the right thing and you did what was best for your friend. Like I said, your friend is very lucky to have someone like you. Please keep me updated on the situation!

<3 Jen

[tswatch]

I often hear about people who have been in therapy for years and take antidepressants for years and are still depressed. Does that mean once you get depression you'll never be free again? If I get prescribe antidepressants will I have to take them my entire life? I don't want to be like this forever I don't want to be seen as a freak!!! -meggu

Hi love,

Mental illness, such as depression, can be really complicated. Depression is different for every person. Some people have one episode of depression in their life and then never experience it again. Other people struggle with depression their entire lives. Most of the time, though, depression is cyclic. This means that it comes and goes. For example, a person will suffer from depression for a year or two, then be fine for a few years, then have another depressive episode again. These episodes can last weeks, months, or years, and the recovery period in between can last weeks, months, or years as well. Like I said, it’s complicated and unfortunately there isn’t a straight forward answer to your question.

There’s also not a straight forward answer to your question about anti-depressants. Some people are able to wean off of them and live happy healthy lives, other people may need to be on them for extended periods of time. But there’s nothing wrong with that, love. There’s nothing wrong with having to take a medication for the rest of your life in order to survive. It’s not ideal, but it doesn’t make you a freak. Diabetics often have to take insulin for their entire lives... they aren’t freaks for doing so! People with high cholesterol often have to take cholesterol medication for the rest of their lives. They aren’t freaks for doing so! No matter what, you’re not a freak, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise, okay? There’s nothing freak-ish about doing what is necessary to keep yourself happy and healthy! :)

Here are some links that I think will help you:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/will-depression-last-forever.aspx

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/12/08/depression.medication.raison/index.html?eref=rss_latest

http://www.alwaysgreater.com/achievements/will-my-depression-ever-go-away

http://www.thegloss.com/2013/01/23/culture/being-on-anti-depressants-forever-is-okay/

http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/antidepressants

Hope this helps,

<3 Jen