I felt the need to write a blog today given that I won't be able to do another one on this date for 4 years!
So 'they' have now decided that anti-depressants are pretty much ineffectual, and people are just as well off taking placebo's. I beg to differ. If it is only the fact that they are taking a pill (and the content of the pill makes no difference) then why is it that it has negative affects on the person taking it too? Surely if it is all a cognitive response to believing you are taking a pill to make yourself better, then you wouldn't create negative reactions as well?
I don't see it as a bad thing that someone takes a pill which makes no difference to them physically if it helps them to access part of their mental self that they couldn't reach on their own.
That's not to say I think anti-depressants are the best thing to use to help with depression. In my opinion, nobody should be on medication without having at least tried counselling, or some other kind of therapy. They can be seen as an easy route out of depression, without having to disturb the waters by going to counselling. The trouble is though, they do make the lows easier to cope with but they take the shine out of the highs too. A bi-polar patient described it well on Holby City recently. She had stopped taking her Lithium and on being asked why, she said it was because she missed the sun shining and the brightness of the world when she was on a high.
Surely it's worth disturbing those waters and causing a few ripples to be able to live a life where you can handle the lows when you need to, and can embrace those highs?
To bring it back to the anti-depressants, if they are a necessary aid along the way then fair enough, use them (regardless of whether or not they technically do work). I know people who would not be here today if it weren't for those pills. They needed something to help them and fast. Those pills kept them alive long enough to be able to get the therapy they needed.
Pride
I wanted to write about my list of things to do now I've turned 26, but I was thinking about the six nations matches this weekend and decided to write about pride instead.
As a child of mixed nationality, I could have chosen to place my heart and my loyalty in England or in Wales. Given that I was born in England, and have only lived 3 of my twenty six (eugh) years in Wales, it would make sense for me to have picked the land of roses and roast dinners. Instead, I sided with the leaks and the dragons. When describing a person of Welsh heritage, you would use the phrase "they are Welsh" as part of that description. People understand what that means. It evokes the image of a beer swilling, rugby loving, generally short person who has everything Welsh running through their veins and would happily lay down their lives for their country such is their love for it. They defend their country and their culture to the end of their days, and I love that about them. They never lose faith in their beloved rugby team and feel a personal loss when or if they are knocked out of a competition. I'm just now able to talk about the Wales v Fiji world cup match without having a lump in my throat!
Then there's England. The English have a lot to be proud about. For some reason though, they don't show this pride. Instead, my experience has been more that they apologise for being English. Show a bit of backbone people! Don't let the fact that other nations pick on you make you believe the press! England is a great country; it's got a fantastic history, a brilliantly diverse culture. Some of the brightest minds and most creative people alive or dead have been from this little country. So be strong, be proud and hold your head up for England!
Maybe then people would stop laughing at you and start having a bit of respect.
As a child of mixed nationality, I could have chosen to place my heart and my loyalty in England or in Wales. Given that I was born in England, and have only lived 3 of my twenty six (eugh) years in Wales, it would make sense for me to have picked the land of roses and roast dinners. Instead, I sided with the leaks and the dragons. When describing a person of Welsh heritage, you would use the phrase "they are Welsh" as part of that description. People understand what that means. It evokes the image of a beer swilling, rugby loving, generally short person who has everything Welsh running through their veins and would happily lay down their lives for their country such is their love for it. They defend their country and their culture to the end of their days, and I love that about them. They never lose faith in their beloved rugby team and feel a personal loss when or if they are knocked out of a competition. I'm just now able to talk about the Wales v Fiji world cup match without having a lump in my throat!
Then there's England. The English have a lot to be proud about. For some reason though, they don't show this pride. Instead, my experience has been more that they apologise for being English. Show a bit of backbone people! Don't let the fact that other nations pick on you make you believe the press! England is a great country; it's got a fantastic history, a brilliantly diverse culture. Some of the brightest minds and most creative people alive or dead have been from this little country. So be strong, be proud and hold your head up for England!
Maybe then people would stop laughing at you and start having a bit of respect.
Getting My Dreams Come True
It's a funny feeling, when something you've wanted for so very long finally comes true. I keep metaphorically pinching myself that it has really happened. I feel like I want to play it down, like I do whenever I excel at things. I don't like the attention or the praise that comes with it. Truth be told, I don't think I'm worthy of the praise so feel very uncomfortable when I get it. I tend to shrug it off and say it's not a big deal instead. I am aware that this can come across as arrogance though, or seeking admiration from people, but honestly it's not that.
This time though, I'm trying something different. I'm trying instead to enjoy the congratulations people are giving me. It goes against the grain, and feels uncomfortable, but I'm proud of myself so I'm going to persevere!
Yesterday I had my first counselling client. My first counselling course began in September 2003. Since then I've done 3 counselling courses, one Psychology a-level, an NVQ in Youth work and am a year into my counselling diploma. I've waited patiently to be old enough to embark on the diploma. I've survived on a part time salary, put myself through a year of uni and kept up my mortgage repayments. In amongst all that I've also done around 1,000 hours of voluntary youth work. On that basis I am indeed going to be very chuffed with myself that I've made it to my first client, and accept all the praise that comes my way!
This time though, I'm trying something different. I'm trying instead to enjoy the congratulations people are giving me. It goes against the grain, and feels uncomfortable, but I'm proud of myself so I'm going to persevere!
Yesterday I had my first counselling client. My first counselling course began in September 2003. Since then I've done 3 counselling courses, one Psychology a-level, an NVQ in Youth work and am a year into my counselling diploma. I've waited patiently to be old enough to embark on the diploma. I've survived on a part time salary, put myself through a year of uni and kept up my mortgage repayments. In amongst all that I've also done around 1,000 hours of voluntary youth work. On that basis I am indeed going to be very chuffed with myself that I've made it to my first client, and accept all the praise that comes my way!
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