And on to the new

I am happy to have heard from Val that everyone from Maine survived AUCD – and that it was a great conference. I am eager to hear the details. I feel badly about missing it, but I am able to breathe again at night and my lungs are clearing out. Back to teaching yesterday.

I’m watching CNN right now, on using Ecstasy to treat PTSD. Hmmm… will this be another situation like the use of marijuana for pain and glaucoma?

Which brings me to thoughts about psychiatric disabilities. So many of us have challenges that are extremely difficult for others to understand.  Like physical disabilities, things change. One week a person may be incapacitated for any number of complex reasons, another the same person may be at the top of their game, competent, engaged, active.

When psychiatric drugs are added to the mix, there is that “greying out” effect – which may make those with psychiatric disorders easier to relate to and manage, but has a tremendous effect on quality of life.

That is not to say that intervention isn’t important at times. 

But to be told that one must be on medication for the rest of one’s life, in order to manage a chronic and complex condition, and when that feels like a half-life, well…

More on this to come, as well.