The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by spacewaitress:

Getting up out of bed in the morning seemed to be a supreme effort. I dragged myself to the computer -- I work from home -- and found it difficult to concentrate. I wasn't reading books anymore. I was even finding some TV shows to be too much effort. I was getting slow, lethargic and stupid. Some of this was stuff I didn't notice, other parts of it I attrivbuted to being, well, over 40 now and when you're over 40 you're not 22 anymore.

So now I feel great. I don't exactly spring out of bed in the morning -- never have been a morning person -- but when I do get out of bed I'm wide awake and ready to go 10 minutes later. My concentration is keener, I'm getting more done and enjoying life more. Why, just this past Saturday I realized I had to run a short errand by noon, and I got up, had some breakfast, did a little web surfing and work and was out of my office and in my car and had my errand done with time to spare. That sort of simple Saturday-morning event would've been horrendously difficult two months ago.

I had to read your post through twice; I thought you were describing an experience with depression and SSRIs, then I realized that no, you were describing diabetes and what a difference treatment is making in your life.

I gather that you were trying to demonstrate the similarities between two chronic illnesses, diabetes and depression, and how treatment can help one live a normal life. Your description of the effects of diabetes (sluggishness, stupor), and the benefits of treatment (alacrity, vitality), exactly mirrors my experience with depression and the nothing-short-of-miraculous recovery I am experiencing as a result of going on medication.

I still have issues that I need to work on, but I am convinced that there was something chemically wrong with my brain. The emotional issues are separate from the sluggishness and leadenness that had taken over my brain. There should be absolutely no shame whatsoever in taking medication for depression.

Yes, I feel sorry for lots of working single mothers with few resources and a hard road. But my mother, who worked for very little money for years, would never have let me soil myself without doing SOMETHING besides nag me to take a shower.

Elizabeth, with all due respect, you just don't get it. It sounds like your mother was an exceptional, heroic parent, for which you were fortunate, and for which I am sure you are grateful. However, I suggest you go back and re-read the original post, the linked articles, and all the comments. Daniel Scruggs wasn't bullied because he defecated in his pants. He defecated in his pants in order to try to escape the bullying.

It's naive to think that clean clothes and perfect hygiene would have prevented the bullying. Bullies pick on kids who are perceived to be weak or different. It could be not being "properly socialized," but what do you mean by that? In the brutal world of junior high, being anything but a lockstep conformist is enough to make you a target.

Try having a little empathy for this woman and her son. Again, I suggest you re-read the original post and the comments here.

My favorite scripture passage is the one in Matthew where Jesus tells people they shouldn't pray loudly in the streets and make a big show of their piety, but rather should pray in a closet.

I also like the one that begins, "observe the lilies of the field..."

I really need to learn my Bible. My religious beliefs are pretty unformed, but every time I am reminded of how basic to our culture and language the Bible is, I feel like I need to read it.

And yes, it does provide great ammo for arguing with fundamentalists.

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