By HD Silversmith
I'm not so sure about that one.
Truthfully, I never am. Who likes losing an hour from one's weekend? And yeah, I know we get it back when we fall back in the autumn, but that doesn't help me right now.
Not when I'm facing writing deadlines, falling behind with grading, and sensing that the meds need a little tweaking.
(I've been clinically depressed since the age of four, but with lots of therapy and the intervention of modern pharmaceuticals, I've led a useful and rewarding life since my late 30s. And I'm so grateful for that.)
Occasional meds tweaks are Standard Operating Procedure every two to three years for me. Their effectiveness just wears out after a while, and that's where I'm at right now. It's okay because I know that sooner rather than later a tweak will work and I'll be restored to my usual self.
But let's just say that, in the meantime, it can be difficult to get out of bed.
Or adhere to a writing schedule.
Or any other kind of schedule.
So today I'm not exactly springing in any direction, forward or otherwise. But my husband and I have changed the clocks, I'm sipping my morning coffee and eating my protein bar, and I'm going about my day to the best of my ability.
And, fortunately, one of my oldest friends whom I met in college also struggles with depression and meds (actually, she's more given to anxiety, but it's six of one and a half dozen of another, really, to coin a worn-out phrase), and she and I have each other when we're experiencing difficulty.
As always, when I find myself at this stage of dealing with chronic depression, I'm profoundly grateful that I live now, in an era of modern pharmaceuticals. Say what you will about big pharma (and believe me, I've had plenty of unpleasant things to say about it as a business), it's saved my life.
(Since I've elected to write more personally about myself here for a while, in relation to my writing, I'm taking down my photo for the present. I don't blog under my real name, but if I feel better not posting my photo just now, so be it. In its place, I'll endeavor to pick a seasonally appropriate image for each month. ;) )
