These days, readers are finding Storied Mind posts by many different routes. You don’t have to visit the blog at all if you can read a post in Facebook, email or an RSS reader.
Or you may get to the site by following a link on Twitter, LinkedIn, Health Central, Psych Central or another website.
I want to spend as much time as possible producing good posts, but I also want to make sure that I’m reaching everyone who might be interested in finding them.
That means showing up online in places I haven’t used much in the past, and it takes a lot of time to do each one right.
By taking this brief poll, you can help me understand which methods of finding the posts are most convenient for you.
And it’s you I want to hear from. I’m guessing that if you take the time to answer these questions, you are one of the readers I most want to reach.
You can check two or write in a method that’s not listed.
Thanks so much for helping.
[polldaddy poll=5828619]
I would like to hear from any other who have come off antidepressants after long term use. I have been on them 40 years approx. and have had psychotherapy too at various times. Am interested in hearing how people adapt to their drug free world ( not withdrawal symptoms) – their insights on past treatments, and how they learn what “normal” is. At first I got scared whenever I was emotional, fearing I’d go down again. Anyone else out there in my boat? In the end, antidepressants were an addiction for me and really not serving a useful purpose. I’m hoping that I now have enough resources and internal knowledge (picked up over all these years), to stay drug free.
Love to hear from anyone on this. Thankyou.
Hi, Gail –
I’ve started coming off the two drugs I’ve taken for the past few years and do not intend to use any others. I’ve been on antidepressants and supplementary drugs without a break since 1996, and in isolated periods well before that. For years I followed the magical thinking that, even though they weren’t doing anything, things would be even worse if I stopped. It will be a while before I know how well I do without them, but I’m quite sure that I won’t feel very different. The important thing is to follow all the other strategies of therapy, stress-reduction, mindfulness, writing, physical work and walking, etc.
Keep us posted on the methods and resources you find most helpful.
John
i voted – but in the beginning i found it through psych central, and now i just have it in my bookmarks 🙂
Noch NOch
Dear John
I hope to write more fully about my response to storied mind. Usually when I read it I have too many feelings to be articulate. Some of the things you say about reclamation and cost have touched a pulse in me and made me realize how much of my life energy is spent concealing the ravages of depression on my life. I really value what you are doing and it is lucid and potent. Thank you so much for touching the part of me I am always trying to hide.
Hi, Helen –
Holding back the feelings and the losses of depression sounds familiar. I’ve spent most of my life doing just that. It’s only in the last five years that I’ve been able to free myself up enough to write about all this. Getting the feelings down in writing has been a powerful form of healing and a good way for someone who keeps a lid on feelings to start letting them out.
Thanks for your kind words about the site. I wish you well in dealing with your depression.
John