Posted by Willful on May 11, 2013, at 17:42:37
In reply to Re: feeling disempowered, posted by Dr. Bob on May 11, 2013, at 12:42:36
Obviously we all have noticed that Bob seems very invested in trying to focus us on the idea that we all have something, or perhaps various things, in common with Lou.
But I wonder why this is such an issue. Even if I have something, say a fear of some terrible effect from taking anti-depressants and that some poster also has a fear that ADs cause terrible effects. This has some rationality-- ADs can in rare cases cause very destructive side effects--but it can also take on an irrational quality, which is itself destructive-- and to a degree that it would even terrify me into refusing a drug that would help.
The initial insight might make me open to realizing how much I share with this poster-- and therefore to feeling a sense of community with him or her. But the form these fears take, and the actions that the other person undertakes in response to the fears may be in fact very harmful to me. In fact, someone with similar fears to oneself can present a danger, if their fears are irrational or if they believe that giving voice to the worst fears and indeed adumbrating them is the best way to cope.
So I suppose I might have a fear of taking dangerous drugs, and a conflicting fear of not taking a drug that I desperately need. The only hope I have I guess is to believe that I am capable of some sort of insight-- or of seeing through these unbalancing hopes and fears to a best judgment.So maybe what Bob is saying is that the push and pull of the community gives voice to posters' tangle of emotions-- and that Lou represents the fears while others of us represent the hopes-- or the hard-fought judgments we've come to through the conflict of these. And as such, perhaps we should tolerate his invective against drugs-- since dangers do exist.
Of course it would be more comfortable if Lou had what I suppose I consider sound judgment--something closer to a moderate view-- even if he were more wary of drugs or more pessimistic about their usefulness. But also, we can't order up our opposing views---
I don't know. I think we can all understand how hard is for us to hear Lou's comments-- because we've fought our way through fears, disappointments, etc about drugs-- and find his animadversions disturbing, depressing reminders of something in ourselves.
And we all might therefore question our own reactions to him-- and our fears (or my fear anyway) that he will harm other posters-- or drive away potential fellow sufferers in a community where we are a bit forlorn.
And yet--- well--- is there any possibility that he could frighten people who might be considering taking drugs? Is someone on a message board that powerful in the face of other voices?-- when it's really the internal struggle in each of us that leads to our ultimate judgments?
well anyway-- sorry for rambling. I suppose I understand Bob's point-- but perhaps, one doesn't know-- if he has never gone through this process of struggle about taking drugs-- does he really understand ours?
Emsam.
Abilify
Provigil
Rilutek
poster:Willful
thread:1042981
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130109/msgs/1043522.html