hello everyone! I have a question for you all. In recent months, I have discovered that several friends who I have had for many years are taking Prozac, or some other SSRI. Nearly all say that they merely requested the drug or showed some type of depressive symptoms which, IMO, every single human goes through at SOME time or another.
Here's my question: Have any of you noticed changes in your personal aquaintances (friends, patients, etc) that seemed to almost cancel out their real personalities?
I doubt that I am being clear. Let me give an example. A close friend of mine, dating back to elementary school (!) was also kind of the "leader" amongst the group of girls I hung out with. Stayed in contact with this girl for the past 20 years, could always count on her as someone who really "listened," and always broke everyone up with her phenomenal sense of humor. She was "wise beyond her years," as each memeber of our clique went through love, divorce, death. Sadly enough, the first death we dealt with was HER recently ex-husbands. (she was 24, and had three kids, he was 26 and was murdered. Two of the kids, both under 5, were his) MY friend (I'll call her Deb) was stoic, and offered her usual brand of humor and mysticim to make everyone feel better during the months surrounding his death. Hmmm. Funny. Looking back I see what a selfless person she was. Wanting us all to be happy. That was our Deb though. Oh, she was also the very first one to tell you when you had made a mistake, and call you an a-hole--in the next breath pointing out just what it is about you that makes you an amazing person, and destined for greatness. How, she would add, could you not be? After all, you were HER friend, were you not?
I bet alot of you had very supportive friends growing up. Friends who seemed to be your "teenaged rock." The one person who would ALWAYS be the lone voice of reason, the person who could crack a joke at the most appropriate time, and could end weeks of sorrow with a snarky glance. At the time you may not have realized it, but this person may have been more than a best friend, this person actually got you through the years when you were at your most vulnerable. You'l love em forever, and if youve lost touch, call them tonight. :kiss
But what if youve stayed in touch, and you notice something different....
and then your realize that the very vitality, the ability to joke, laugh, love, and the fundamental ability to CARE is missing... and you notice the same from other friends taking prozac, et al. you start to wonder about these "wonder drugs."
It's not my intention to belittle the usefulness of these drugs, but if they are altering personalities, then, IMO, they need to be re-evaluated like NOW, and not prescribed at a whim.
Has anyone else her got similar concerns? Do your friends no longer laugh as much or as deeply? Do they seem far away, and rarely convey the deep thoughts they once did? This is what I notice from my friends. Your thoughts/observations?
