September 2000
An alt.polyamory poster mentioned a work associate of theirs who had said that they would never ever take any medications to attenuate their moods, since it is the heights and depths of one's passions that give live its depth and texture, and it is passion that makes one successful in life. I used this comment as a springboard for a little rant-ette of my own on the subject.
I would hazard a guess and say that your boss may be able to say that because he's never had a problem of a sort that would be treated by said medication?
I have found that it is very easy for folk who don't have difficulties to quote their own lack of difficulties as either a reason why nobody else should have difficulties either, or as evidence of their moral superiority or strength of character. I'm not saying that's necessarily what your boss is doing; but his words remind me of folk who I've seen doing that very explicitly.
Fercryingoutloud - if one can revel in one's emotional range and enjoy it, this is a good thing... but it doesn't say a thing about the experiences of someone with clinical depression. The depressed person's experiences are a whole different ballgame, and not easily understood by someone who hasn't experienced a similar thing (as I have discovered when dealing with a depressed relative).
This whole concept of psychoactive meds as a crutch, and strong people not needing them (blah blah blah etc etc) does a great disservice to those who are really suffering from conditions that said meds can help. My mother won't take antidepressants (despite suffering from clinical depression and anxiety disorders) due to the perceived stigma of doing so. She thinks she "should" be able to cope without the meds, despite the clear evidence to the contrary provided by stopping taking the meds.
Through observing her experiences, and the experiences of others I know in similar positions, I have developed a real annoyance when folk quote their own mental health as a sign of strength of character. I wish they'd think a little more about that before bragging. It makes no more sense to me than someone who is phyiscally very fit bragging about fact that they don't wear glasses or use a walking stick as a triumph of their own strength of character.