To the Woman Who Wanted a 'Quick Fix' for Depression

I know exactly what you wanted when you messaged my Facebook page. You wanted the key to being better. You wanted the doorway out of being chronically depressed. You wanted a quick fix and how to get it. I could not give this to you.

Here’s why:

1. There isn’t a quick-fix in existence.

I told you to take the time to find the right therapist and the right medication. Here’s a fact about me: I have an awesome mental health team. A wonderful therapist and an experienced psychiatrist. My therapist helps me work on the “here and now” of my illnesses and works with me to find ways to be better tomorrow than I am today. My psychiatrist works hard to help me find the right balance of medication to stave off my symptoms enough to allow the therapy to become effective. It took 25 different therapists over the course of 10 years to find the right one for me. In order to get where I am now, I had to start at the starting line. I wrote down a list of questions – and the right answers – for my therapists. Questions like: “How much experience do you have with PDD-NOS – a form of autism?” I needed an experienced therapist who could work with all my parts. “What is your approach to the LGBTQQA community?” The answer I was looking for: “I am LGBT+ friendly.” Those are just two examples, but they made finding the right therapist easier and smoother for me. Then I had to do the same for my prescriber. It took small steps to get going. And by the way, hun, I don’t have the right med combo yet either.

2. If I tried to come up with a quick fix, I would only be hurting you.

I am honored you thought I was experienced enough to help you, but truth be told – I am not. Plenty of non-depressed people will try to sell you on yoga, green tea, veganism, fish oil and many, many more “fixes.” And when they do not fix it, you are disappointed and hurt by the failure. I am helping you most by telling you how to start the healing process. So no, I don’t have all the answers and I am sorry for that.

My only real advice for you is to take the first steps first. The only way I’ve found to get better is to commit to the work it takes to do just that. I am sorry I could not give you what you wanted from me. I hope you get the help you need.

Peace, Love and Bulletproof Marshmallows

You can follow this journey at The Little Tea Lady or on Facebook.

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