DarkPoetry -|- Lipstick Whore -|- Prozac Nation

Prozac Nation

when i was a child
A.D.D had yet to be discovered
we were called
precocious and energetic
and considered a handful
acknowledged as bright
but scattered
parents and teachers
worked together
to channel such children
in multiple directions
sagely knowing
their chosen path
was neither singular nor straight
never discouraged
always encouraged
to look before we leap
we learned to govern
busy minds and busy feet
how did the natural exuberance of children
and their innate curiousity for the world
become labeled a disorder
now viewed as a disability
we drug our children
with prescribed conformity
pharmaceutically repressing
energetic bodies
and acrobatic minds
parenting in a pill
is easier to swallow
than devoting time and attention
and teaching coping skills
dosed with depressants
we should not be surprised
that our Ritalin based children
have grown into a Prozac nation
after all
we made depression their way of life

**Author's Note: I'd just like to say that I recognize there are children who legitimately have serious attention disorder problems and for whom medical intervention is a necessity. This work is in response to what I see as a current trend to label far too many kids A.D.D and drug them because it's easy. I have two nephews who are on these drugs and probably shouldn't be--because they have lazy parents who would rather play online games than play with their children.

If I have in any way offended anyone, I apologize as that was not my intention.

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Comments on Prozac Nation

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On Sunday August 10th, 2008, Adaml (242) writes:

Agree! Far too true.

On Friday July 4th, 2008, heroineyes (140) writes:

i loved it...i agree...alanarchy's comment is great...our world has changed...think about just the amount human interaction has gone down...we don't need to walk across the office to give joe so-and-so a memo, we can just email them that...it's all goign in the same direction

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, the-rapist (362) writes:

good thoughts here. There is a book by that name, pretty good read (although way too long for us ADD folk).

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Theappleofyoureye (455) writes:

fucking great. :)

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, carlosjackal (1714) writes:

I have to say this is a fantastic write :) "that our Ritalin based children have grown into a Prozac nation" I would say that I think that it's the Prozac Nation that's resorted to Ritalin for children. I suppose the question is, will the ritalin children become a second/third generation Prozac Nation or the next Junkie Nation? Super thought-provoking especially as I have a 2 year old daughter. Excellent stuff :) -Carl

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Alanarchy (1685) writes:

Well how else is our government supposed to keep us docile. Nice and pliant. Hook em early.

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Nadir (618) writes:

Glad to have the author's Note. I am a teacher and a daycare worker in Denmark. Been working with adhd and add children for the past 3 years. With the adhd children my experience is that they can be without medicine if they get private teaching/attention 1 to 1. This is not only in the school but also in any play or sports. It is impossible for them to be around too many people without conflict. They can be guided through much of the day, but in the end adhd wins(usualy by smacking or kicking someone or running away yelling and screaming throwing stuff around). Now these kids gets challenged alot on there weak points in the Danish school system even in a special institution. They are faced with social challenges that are often rare in there own homes. So sometimes no medicine is a great idea at home but a very bad idea around lots of people .. In anyway I think the Danish medicine system works from what I have seen(a fraction). Ohh and I do not support giving drugs to add children(never seen it either). Not from what I have seen. I agree totaly on the lazy parent and teacher part there. Great write and I am glad to see this topic up.

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Sketso (531) writes:

BRAVO! Whatever happened to keeping our children busy, playing outside, reading books, hot wheels, barbies, bikes... (I could go on forever). I recently spent a whole Saturday introducing my son to the wonderful world of destruction. We set up little green army men, faced off on opposite ends of the driveway, and launched rocks at each other's forces until one (him, darnit!!!) side won! Not once did he display the ADD the doctor has diagnosed him with, and without the medication we refuse to give him. Instead, I witnessed a typical 8 year old boy full of love for life and the excitement of getting to live it!

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Sketso (531) writes:

Isn't it amazing how children attack life with gusto, just like we used to do? To take a twist off of a line made famous by some guy in a cornfield... "If you engage them, they will grow."

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Lipstick Whore (413) writes:

Kudos to you for being engaged with your child-tis a rare thing this day! Even more kudos that you refuse to drug your child out his natural enthusiasm for life.

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Velvet_Raventon (690) writes:

I completely agree with you, people are over diagnosed. I personally think that a very high percentage of people could get cured with a change in their diet and some exercise. Of course, there will always be people for whom this does not work, but to me, they are a small minority.

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Lipstick Whore (413) writes:

Thank you and I agree with you. Good nutrition and a healthy body are likely the cure and prevention of many modern ailments.

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Nadir (618) writes:

Totaly agree. No products made out of wheat and sugar and there is list of E numbers that are bad also. Seen it work wonders

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Velvet_Raventon (690) writes:

I don't know how things are in Denmark, but in the US, it's is almost impossible to find ready made food that doesn't have either wheat, sugar, HFCS, or soy. Another reason why I want to be a stay at home mom, I want my child to eat good nutritious food :)

On Thursday July 3rd, 2008, Nadir (618) writes:

Yes as far as ready made food goes it is near impossible here aswell :( .. Have also begun cooking alot at work in the afternoon myself. Our parents encouraged it after I started changing the diet. It is hard to find things in the begining but it gets easier. Been adding alot to it lately :)

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