The first time I ever heard of the spoon theory was when I was in specialty pharmacy. The company that I worked for gave a presentation to help us understand the struggles and limitations that those with chronic health conditions experience. The deeper they got into this theory, the more I wanted to yell, “I […]
Tag: Depression
The 10-Step Depression Relief Workbook
Medication and therapy are often used in conjunction to treat depression. Just as there are numerous types of medications, therapy also comes in different forms. The book, “The 10-Step Depression Relief Workbook” describes how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be a useful tool in the fight against depression. I had the pleasure of speaking […]
“Woman killed when 12 year old lands on her SUV in suicide attempt off overpass”
This was the headline of an article posted on Facebook by WPXI news in Pittsburgh. (Link here https://www.facebook.com/wpxi/posts/10154925399146615 ) How many of you immediately said, “Why would a 12 year old want to kill himself?” Congratulations, you are part of the stigma we’re trying to fight. Sorry to sound harsh, but it’s true. But you aren’t […]
My Hidden Costs of Depression
Having depression can be expensive. Psychiatrists, therapists and medication costs are just the beginning for me. LATE FEES Damn you credit cards. Whether I’m running a balance or planning to pay it off in full, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been late with a payment. Not because I don’t have […]
Things That Scare Me at Halloween
Halloween conjures up many spooky images. I love the decorations, but because of my depression (now diagnosed as bipolar II), they remind me of frightening things that only someone with a mental illness can understand. GHOSTS I’m not referring to the kind that go bump in the night, but about FEELING like a ghost. For […]
The History of Antidepressants (Part 2)
SSRIs and SNRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants today due to the reduced side effects compared to their predecessors (to read about tricyclics and MAOIs, click here http://bit.ly/Antidep1RphMH17 ) SSRIs and SNRIs are most closely related to the tricyclics, in that they inhibit the reuptake of Serotonin and Norepinephrine. (To read about neurotransmitters, click here http://bit.ly/2hiy3FO ) These […]
The Pharmacist on Mental Health 