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You’ve Been Warned

July 27, 2024 13 Comments

By Peggy Gerber

When Maggie tore open her package of anti-anxiety medication, the accompanying sheet of drug facts floated to the ground.

She picked it up and read: ‘This medication is used to treat panic attacks. If you take this medication, you might become addicted and die. If you take this medication, you might have seizures and die. Even if you take this medication exactly as prescribed, you still might die.’

Maggie began hyperventilating as she contemplated the warnings, her condition blossoming into a full-blown panic attack.

Feeling like she might die, she popped a pill and shredded the paper into a million pieces.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dart humeston says

    July 27, 2024 at 6:55 am

    I almost had a panic attack reading this. Truthful and a good story.

    Reply
    • Haley says

      July 31, 2024 at 10:08 am

      So true, funny, and also poignant!

      Reply
  2. Joan Mach says

    July 27, 2024 at 9:08 am

    Another gem from a gifted writer

    Reply
    • Lisa H. Owens says

      July 31, 2024 at 8:54 am

      Truth! Therein lies the conundrum. Well done!

      Reply
      • Jeri Kadison says

        August 1, 2024 at 12:48 pm

        Peggy is such a nimble writer . She is so talented that in few words she captures the reader’s attention, builds momentum & the reader feels the emotions.
        So well done !

        Reply
  3. Johnette D Loefgren says

    July 27, 2024 at 11:10 am

    Wow! You really can pack a lot of emotion in a small package.I felt that. Gotta go take my Buspirone, lol.

    Reply
  4. Marie Johnson Ladson says

    July 27, 2024 at 11:51 pm

    So true, it gives you a panic attack just reading the side affects and what can happen to you. Another amazing story!

    Reply
  5. julie turland says

    July 31, 2024 at 6:42 am

    Very good and so true you read the packaging it’s enough to give you anxiety x

    Reply
  6. Dan Graves says

    July 31, 2024 at 7:18 am

    wonderful title

    Reply
  7. RC says

    July 31, 2024 at 7:10 pm

    This is hilarious and refreshing! Thanks for giving us something different.

    Reply
  8. Yehudis Shaps says

    August 2, 2024 at 11:15 am

    Once again, I am amazed at how an entire story can be told so concisely. I always wondered if anyone else had a question with the warnings on anxiety and depression meds.

    Reply
  9. Toni M Roucka says

    August 2, 2024 at 10:39 pm

    Oh, this is so good! Those darn drug warnings are scarier than the diseases the drugs are meant to treat! Great job!

    Reply
  10. Zoe Blacksin says

    August 7, 2024 at 4:32 pm

    A gem of a commentary on the absurdities of psychiatry. Thank you Peggy.

    Reply

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