On using things as crutches...
Apr. 2nd, 2004 01:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulyToday, I managed to hear from two people, talking about two other people, about "not wanting to use something as a crutch". I'm not completely sure why, but this phrase bothers me. It assumes that crutches are a bad thing. Maybe they are. But let's look at my mother, who had to use a crutch, literally, when her foot was broken. She often didn't, and is STILL having trouble with it over a year later. Is it okay to use a crutch as a crutch? When you really need it?
One of the people who is presumably against crutches pointed out that she was depressed for two years, and she just dealt with it without taking any medication or talking to anybody or anything, and then implied (or said, rather) that people who use such crutches, especially medications, are weak. Maybe. But who cares? So they're weak. While you're muddling through, and possibly not getting through your depression at all, they can be living their lives. Some people don't need that sort of help, and if you don't, I'm happy for you, you saved a lot of money. But others really do, and if they're using medication as a crutch, big deal. Isn't that the whole point, to use it as a crutch until you're better?
I'm sure they mean "use something you don't need as an excuse to avoid helping yourself", or something equally convoluted, but I don't see that as the same as using a crutch. Sometimes crutches are a good thing, not a horrible unspeakable evil from beyond the grave.
*sighs*
And that was today's mini-rant. Tune in next week for one (finally) summing up the Pledge, because I'm bored and running out of non-political stuff to say.
One of the people who is presumably against crutches pointed out that she was depressed for two years, and she just dealt with it without taking any medication or talking to anybody or anything, and then implied (or said, rather) that people who use such crutches, especially medications, are weak. Maybe. But who cares? So they're weak. While you're muddling through, and possibly not getting through your depression at all, they can be living their lives. Some people don't need that sort of help, and if you don't, I'm happy for you, you saved a lot of money. But others really do, and if they're using medication as a crutch, big deal. Isn't that the whole point, to use it as a crutch until you're better?
I'm sure they mean "use something you don't need as an excuse to avoid helping yourself", or something equally convoluted, but I don't see that as the same as using a crutch. Sometimes crutches are a good thing, not a horrible unspeakable evil from beyond the grave.
*sighs*
And that was today's mini-rant. Tune in next week for one (finally) summing up the Pledge, because I'm bored and running out of non-political stuff to say.
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Date: 2004-04-02 01:27 pm (UTC)I have a feeling I'm not making much sense. Meh.
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Date: 2004-04-02 02:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-02 02:06 pm (UTC)Thing is, there ARE perfectly good reasons not to take medications, and I prefer, always, to try the unmedicated solution first (talking it out, acclimating yourself to the dirty hands, dealing with it, changing your diet, all sorts of things). But sometimes, you just can't. And certainly it is NOBODY'S place to tell someone they don't know that "you don't need this". She doesn't know that. Yes, anti-depressants are overprescribed. However, this person sounds like somebody who should seriously consider it.