Once Upon a Time…twenty years ago, an invisible force invaded my mind. It wiggled its way into my life like a worm infested apple, changing it forever. Mental illness was not prepared for me.
When I was a teenager, I faced my psychiatric disorder with every ounce of my strength, and fought to keep it at bay. I lived every day with the knowledge that I was different. I was obsessed with my search for answers, and spent a good portion of my days keeping up with mood journals and reading biographies. I studied and learned, then helped others by sharing my story. Silence can have devastating consequences.
Despite my mental illness, I graduated high school (while juggling Algebra and Geometry simultaneously). I was captain of my high school cross country team, and ran varsity in college. I did not run away from my problems, but toward them. Running eased my mind. I graduated from college, where I was taught the many ways of art, and how to express myself.
In 2013, I suffered from psychosis for six months in several psychiatric hospitals, fighting for my life. Mental illness almost killed me, but my desire to live and love outweighed that outcome.
Throughout my life, there has been a tipping scale in need of stability. Therapy, research, and medicine have balanced this requirement. Trial and error have been a lifetime challenge in my relationship with medication. I have heard that after a “new” medication has been in circulation for a while and has become an “older” drug it would be less expensive. I am grateful that my medications are performing successfully, but after twenty years, my prime drug has not lowered its price. Until today…
Today, I will fill a prescription for Geodon that has cost me nearly $130 a month for twenty years. This prescription will cost me absolutely ZERO dollars. It’s about time.
–SJB
I am happy for you and everyone else who will benefit from the cost reduction – it is PAST time!