I ran out of my prescription the other day and went to Rite Aid to refill it. I had one refill remaining, so life was good. Right?

Wrong.

For the first time ever, I was told my prescription was on backorder. I called around. Everyone was out of it. They tried to explain to me that they had it in a different strength and I could take two, but I needed it now, not in a few days. By the time I got to my doctor, I'd be a few days without it.

So I went without it. Note that my medication is for anxiety. Venlafaxine, otherwise known as Effexor, has been a recent addition to my medication regimen. I struggle with anxiety and depression, and this medication is supposed to help with panic attacks and other symptoms of anxiety.

Whoever manufactures my pills, I want you to know that missing them is more than an inconvenience. I'm lucky I'm relatively stable and can live without it. But some can't. Some people really fall apart. That's not their fault, it's yours.

My brain has a chemical imbalance. Guess what? Depression is not made up. It is a disease. It's a big deal for me to miss a dose (I missed two!), and I tried to be normal without it, but I couldn't. I felt normal for about a day. The next day, I found myself crying for no reason. I found myself wanting to go back to my old ways of coping with stress. This isn't okay. It's dangerous for someone who is in an awful situation.

I don't take these pills just because they make me feel better. I take these pills to stay healthy and safe. I take these pills to keep my disease under control.

Do better.