I wanted to publish this comment by Jennifer about my post “My Holistic Approach to Depression” because:
1) She’s right about my holistic approach. If fish-oil capsules is all you need to think more clearly and love more deeply, then by all means, go move to the Arctic and overdose on the Cod liver oil there. I wish that was enough for me BUT IT ISN’T.
2) For those that need more than exercise, therapy, cognitive work, gratitude journals, yoga, medication, prayer, vitamins, light therapy, support groups (all of which I do by the way), then take the drugs. And don’t feel bad about it. God invented them, or created the people who invented them, for a reason. They are our friends, not our enemies.
3) I don’t think people necessarily agree with everything I say. I think they have felt the same type of discrimination and are responding from their hurt places, as well. I’m just voicing what many of them would like to say to their bosses, cousins, sisters, co-workers.
With that said, Cleo, I do appreciate your sticking up for me to the woman who makes no mistakes and said my apology about my Heath error would never be enough. All I have to say there is that I’m so glad that she hasn’t seen my house or tasted my meals. Because you guys see the better part of me. Ask Eric.

Cleo, I don’t think Therese disregards the holistic approach. I’ve not
interpreted her posts as saying: use meds to solve your problems or else.
She personally found that she could work as hard as possible and still need
the stability that she finds through medication.
I think Therese in particular is upset with folks she knows who want her to
“think positively and be rewarded.” I’m sure you would agree that for some
of us, that mindset alone would not help us get through the day. I’d hate
for you to think we are blindly supporting Therese. Many of us have become
friendly with Therese, and when my friend hurts, I hurt.

I used to feel differently about medication- I couldn’t understand why
anyone would need to use drugs to be themselves. Then I found that no
matter how much therapy I had, no matter how hard I tried, I needed some
help getting the mental space to learn new behaviors, and make new pathways
in my brain. I needed the room that the medicine gave me in order to learn
new reactions. I also believed that I’d be on them only a short time; now I
feel I may be on them for life- but my mind is open. I do hope there comes
a day when I can wean or reduce my meds, but if that day doesn’t come then
I am content to do what I need to do, medically and holistically, to live
my best life. And now, I’m going to go exercise : )