ugh.
I just spent a longish and agonising while replying to an email from a member of my immediate family, which they sent me almost a month ago.
(Edit: In my not-especially-kind paraphrasing, their email basically said “although I have no real idea about what’s going on with you, and I’m basing this almost entirely on things you say on Twitter, I think you should take antidepressants.”)
In my reply, I tried really hard to strike a balance between explaining my reaction, explaining why they were wrong, and not giving in to the implied requirement that I justify myself and disclose my private business and medical details.
(Yeah, my actual diagnosed chronic illness probably doesn’t exist. I’m probably “just depressed”. I probably have no real understanding of what’s going on with myself. Ugh.)
I closed it out with links to The Gorilla in Your House and Cure Evangelism, Again, two great articles I’d saved thinking I might need to ask someone to read them and hoping I wouldn’t.
I don’t really have a good sense of how my email will be received but it will be good not to have it hanging over my head anymore. And I guess if its reception isn’t great I can grit my teeth and become more of a hardass about not accepting any unacceptable treatment.
I don’t feel great right now.
Second update: Got a reply back, and it was pretty much the ideal reply. Feeling much better now.
