Sunday, June 24, 2007
The Memory Pill
Sixty Minutes last Sunday aired a story about a memory pill that one could take to lessen the pain of a traumatic event. The pill is being used to help those who experience post traumatic stress syndrome. Several people spoke of how much it helped them. One woman who had been raped raved about how it had helped her, even though the rape had happend years ago. The pill provided the only relief she had known.
My wife asked me if something like that had been available when my son Dennis took his life, would I have taken it? I think I might have. I would have certainly been tempted. I just remember this terrible, terrible, hurt that dogged me almost every moment of my life for several years. Some relief would have been nice.
However, I might have felt like I was trying to lessen the value of my son's life and loss, and not taken it. Another question is would I have come to learn all I know about suicide and grief if I had just popped a pill as a way of dealing with my pain, instead of individual and group therapy? I don't know.
The argument made my the proponet of the memory pill, is that we would not ask a person with several broken bones to suffer without some pain medicine, and this is the same concept. We have the means and so we should do all we can. I don't know if I agree or not, but I know I am who I am today because of what I have experienced. Some of those experiences I would have liked to have avoided, but it was not an option known to me.
What ever decision you make is okay with me. If you do take the memory pill and it helps, please let me know about it. Thanks---and Peace!
My wife asked me if something like that had been available when my son Dennis took his life, would I have taken it? I think I might have. I would have certainly been tempted. I just remember this terrible, terrible, hurt that dogged me almost every moment of my life for several years. Some relief would have been nice.
However, I might have felt like I was trying to lessen the value of my son's life and loss, and not taken it. Another question is would I have come to learn all I know about suicide and grief if I had just popped a pill as a way of dealing with my pain, instead of individual and group therapy? I don't know.
The argument made my the proponet of the memory pill, is that we would not ask a person with several broken bones to suffer without some pain medicine, and this is the same concept. We have the means and so we should do all we can. I don't know if I agree or not, but I know I am who I am today because of what I have experienced. Some of those experiences I would have liked to have avoided, but it was not an option known to me.
What ever decision you make is okay with me. If you do take the memory pill and it helps, please let me know about it. Thanks---and Peace!
# posted by survivors story @ 2:16 PM 
