Friend's fundy husband convinced her she doesn't need to take to take anti-depressants (read on)

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

OK, I have to vent about this...

I received an email from "Sally" last week (she and I grew up together; went to the same elementary through high schools), but I haven't seen her in years and I receive an occasional email from her (usually when something's wrong or she has news; whatever).

She emailed me, as she said she's been really depressed, has been yelling at her kids and her husband, etc. She said she's been like this "for a few years." She decided to talk to her ob/gyn about it, and the doctor prescribed Lexapro for her to try. "Sally" had been on an antidepressant some years ago when she was having difficulty at a job, and she said it seemed to help her.

Well, her husband (a fundy who used to write hateful letters bashing homosexuals, for instance, to our local paper (when they still lived in our hometown)), got her all freaked out about trying the medication. He started reading up about all the side effects of stopping cold turkey, etc.

I emailed her back and tried to be really supportive. I told her that you should take the medication while under a doctor's care, and if you were to go off of it, you would be withdrawn from it gradually (I've been on several SSRIs in the past, which is why she wrote me to begin with). I also told her that talk therapy in addition to medication is key. I said that once you're feeling better, the rest will fall into place.

I didn't hear from her for a few days.

I emailed her today to see how she was doing. I suspected her husband was going to convince her that only "crazy people" take antidepressants and that if she only goes to church and relies on him, she'll be fine. Boy, did I nail it on the head.

He told her that "there's nothing going on now that is causing you stress." In other words, it's all in your mind. She said she realized she didn't need medication when she lost a parent, and that it was through the love of her husband and being involved in her church that got her through.

I emailed her back, "Good luck."

[mopinko]

1. egad

speechless.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. Pretty much. After I responded with "Good luck," I never heard back

from her. Not surprised there, either.

[sakabatou]

3. I was on that med (Lexapro)

before I was diagnosed with Asperger's. I hope she's doing well.