Prescription for Sickness

Posted on March 13, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized |

Yesterday I had the pleasure, or not, of visiting a psychiatrist in order to extend my maternity leave. Due to the circumstances of my son’s birth, they offer additional time for mothers who may have more adjustments to make. Seeing a psychiatrist is a part of the approval process.

Now, just a little of my background: I received a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology a year ago, which means I know a little about the field. Spiritual Psychology offers a different option from that of the medical field. The spiritual part means directing clients/patients to find, search, excavate for answers to their challenges through prayer, mediation, and deep soul examination. We encourage and assist clients in taking responsibility for their feelings, thoughts, actions, history and desires.

So yesterday I stepped into the doctor’s office and was asked a list of questions. Are you eating? Somewhat. Are you sleeping? Not with a five week old. How are your organization skills? As bad as they ever were. Are you hopeless? No. Are you thinking of hurting your self? Not any time soon.

Based upon these questions and few more about my parents’ addictions and early deaths I was diagnosed as depressed and prescribed Prozac and Valium. He also instructed me to stop breast feeding my son.

Now, having studied this just a little bit, I understand that drugs are a resort. A final action after therapy and behavior adjustment tools are not working. It is always best to assist the client in realizing they have every thing they need within them to come through life’s challenges. And when more is needed, green light the medication.

I sat there shocked by his prescriptions. I sat there quietly blessing him and saying no thank you, God’s idea of me is greater than your idea of me and I choose God. I then shared with him how I had been taking care of myself and my son. I told him about my amazing support system and my daily plan which has been working. All things which may have changed his mind about adding chemicals to my body and disrupting my plan to breast feed for a year. At some point, I just surrendered and shut up.

Thank God I know myself, thank God I know God. Thank God I have people who are awake and live all around me who support my healing and my growth.

Before leaving the office, the doctor suggested that I take two weeks before transitioning onto the drugs and weening my son. He thought Zion may need just a little more bonding. I thanked him, politely, and rushed home to feed my little chicken noodle . . . now that’s true therapy for my soul.

Peace and blessings

Monique Ruffin-James