“Hope is hard to have, but what is your alternative?”

Share your stigma experience.

I’ve been demonized by friends & family. My brothers have yelled at me. My son screamed at me. Friends say, “Think positively; pray more; read your Bible; get more exercise; keep busy”, etc.
Do they think I really want to be like this? I used to be an outgoing, gregarious person; always on the go. After I took high dose prednisone for a sudden hearing loss, my life dramatically changed. No one believed me that steroids caused my depression. There are now actual studies proving, that high dose prednisone, should be used very cautiously in menopausal women. I wish I had known that 10 years ago. Depression shouldn’t define who I am. Try telling that to my friends & family.

How did you overcome this experience?

I haven’t overcome depression. I’ve taken many different antidepressants; ECT; DBT; CBT; TMS & Ketamine. Ketamine has been the only therapy that allows me to be in short remissions.

Help others by sharing a brief, positive message.

Keep looking for alternative treatment if what you are doing isn’t helping. Ask about TMS, Ketamine; new drug therapies. Change doctors if you feel your doctor isn’t meeting your needs or listening to you. Hope is hard to have, but what is your alternative?