You Can Pry My Antidepressants From My Cold, Dead Hands

Someday, someone, maybe me, will write volumes about how the lack of empathy on the right is one of the biggest, if not the biggest problem that’s divided our country and shredded our democracy. Sure, there’s tons of other issues, money, education, racism, bigotry, xenophobia and the rise and acceptance of fascism. But at the core of it all is a lack of empathy that drives all the rest of these issues.

Today, I’m focused on one aspect of the absolute horror show we are collectively living through, the war on health.

Presented of course as Make America Healthy Again, the right’s attack on health in America has been planned for a long time. Set aside the fact that our country is dangerously unhealthy. Ignore the fact that we are the only developed nation that does not provide universal healthcare. Those things, are bad, sure, but what’s worse is as a nation we’ve decided under the new fascist regime to actively deny science, dismantle preventative healthcare, and keep America as sick as possible. That’s always the conservative agenda, to keep some group down, while shrouding those true initiatives under the guise of freedom.

TFG’s appointment of RFKJR and his subsequent confirmation has accelerated the right’s assault on health and put everyone in the country on notice and in danger.

One specific front which they have quickly made a priority is mental health. In general the right’s approach to mental health is that it isn’t really real. A “suck it up” buttercup approach to “snowflakes” who are “hysterical” best defines how many on the right feel about mental health. Science, research, and lived experience tells us mental health is as important as physical health, that there are real, debilitating mental health diseases, and that those diseases are diagnosable and treatable.

Mental health can be managed, improved, and treated by therapy, exercise, and medication. 76 million Americans are on some type of psychiatric drugs, about half of those Americans including myself are on an antidepressant.

I was prescribed an antidepressant after suffering PTSD and depression following an accident which paralyzed me in 2024. Previously I’d addressed childhood trauma through therapy.

My medication has made a discernible, positive impact on my life. When I miss taking it, there is a noticeable dip in my mood.

During the 2024 presidential election cycle, RFKJR threatened to take people on antidepressants and force them into labor camps without their meds and without access to the internet. Now, he’s been given the power of the position of as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the full support of TFG, a madman with virtually unlimited, unchecked power. And he’s taking that threat and turning it into action and policy.

I’d be willing to bet that of the 76 million people on antidepressants that some of them are republicans. Some of them may even be fervent supporters of TFG. Now, like me, a “radical leftist” they are in danger of losing access to life saving medicine and are at risk of being placed in a labor camp. I am not real happy about this very real prospect. I’d hope NO ONE is. The problem is however that a rampant lack of empathy on the right means they quite frankly don’t give a shit what happens to me, they don’t give a shit what happens to anyone. As long as their cult figurehead has power and is wielding that power to own the libs, they are not only willing to sell me out, but will happily line up themselves into these forced labor camps.

I’m terrified for the eventuality that I will no longer be allowed to access to medicine that makes life bearable for me to live. For MILLIONS of others those medicines are life saving. But TFG, RFKJR, and their supporters don’t care. Conversely, I’ll do everything in my power to fight for my right to keep my meds and my freedoms while also fighting for THEIR right to do the same. All while they continue to hate me and worship a rapist.

Dangerous times ahead. Times where psychiatric medications will be more important than ever. And we are on the precipice of losing it all.