In Reply to: Re: Interesting & funny take on pharmaceuticals and problems of living posted by susie on April 05, 2007 at 02:47:03:
I take medication for major depression, and it's not because I want to have it all--it's because I want to stay employed, reduce and control intrusive, self-destructive thoughts, and stabilize mood swings. I don't take anti-depressant medication in order to feel happy, content, serene, or at peace.
I posted this link because I hoped it might provoke discussion on exactly the point you made. There's a world of difference between treating mental illness with medication and taking a pill for problems of living and wanting to "have it all." I know a lot of misinformed people like to call anti-depressant medication "happy pills." And there probably are people who take anti-depressants who are trying to fix something that is essentially a spiritual problem with a pill.
I thought the non-existent diagnosis for which Havidol is prescribed was particularly interesting. As best as I can tell, Havidol is being touted as a cure for culturally-based spiritual condition that amounts to psychic emptiness, ennui, existential angst--whatever you want to name it, with "it" being the need to find your spiritual center in a materialistic culture that solves all problems through some form of consumption, be it a pill or a shopping spree. The fact that many people don't understand the difference between treatment of brain disease and existential problems of living is one of the reasons I found the website so interesting. The person who showed it to me told me that some folks don't realize it's a total spoof.