The phenomenon of common experience

Image filmed by Bob Seabold.

For me, talking about my project is easy, I’m passionate about it. What I forget is that I am basically disclosing to everyone that I talk to that I have been on an antidepressant for 10 years. Friends, neighbors, strangers…everyone! And it's not that bad. The thing that really blows me about this disclosure is that other people are sharing their stories with me. Unsolicited. We are creating dialogue about an issue that even I kept secret for all these years. It’s like, “if it’s okay for him to talk about it, maybe I won’t be judged for my experiences with antidepressants.” And rest assured, you won’t – because chances are the person you are talking to – has taken them or is taking them. If they aren’t, their wife, mother, husband, sister or brother are.

I think the more we talk openly about these drugs, the more we will learn and the more we will realize that we share common experiences and symptoms – and that’s valuable information that goes far beyond what we are told by the FDA or the Pharmaceutical companies. Let’s keep talking.