Thread: Happy Pills

Originally Posted by matt321

Effexor and similar...My wife takes em. The women I worked with at the office take em. My wife's friend takes em. Sometimes I think I should too just to level the playing field!

I seriously believe that today's medicine is too quick and irresponsible with mind-altering substances. I think the brain can adapt and compensate but withdrawal and long-term changes in the brain aren't as much of a concern for the medical practitioner as they are for the patient. You get hooked, they get their money and in the long run... different meds can work, with varying degrees of success for different people but in the end.. it's your brain.

I've found the right kind of exercise, and particular for me, the blood-type diet (created by a naturopath, but based on science that the "regular" medical community generates) have done much for me and how I feel in my own brain/mind then medications could do. I'm most likely a celiac, plenty of disease names like IBS, auto-immune disorders and the like describe my experience of my own body (the audacity!). I talked to a doctor recently and she said it sounded "insane" that I think I can feel my own immune system. She thought my "opinions" about how I feel in my own body were unsubstantiated and that I needed to be tested before I jumped to the conclusion that I have major intolerance to gluten grains and dairy proteins and sugars. That kind of arrogance and denial of my own body is a huge indicator of lack of credibility, respect, and integrity. I will not trust the medical establishment. I suggest you do the same.

For anxiety and such, there are anxiolytics like some nootropics (sp?). I've experimented with them. Eh. Not really working (for me not anxiety but general mood and memory function). Exercise and diet, general attention to my thoughts and, as another poster wisely wrote, surrounding oneself with the activities that enrich are probably more important and effective than a chemical palliative. Somewhat analogous to traditional wetshaving vs. modern conveniences/contraptions. One takes more effort but is definitely more rewarding for people with a compatible mindset.

I wouldn't be so quick to suggest people should ignore or mistrust the medical community. Afterall if modern medicine disappeared most of us would not survive very long. Certainly there is a place for alternative methods and they have been used for ages but death rates back then were steep even with their use.

light exercise, meditation, sleeping(not too much or too little), positive thinking, varied diet of quality fresh food.

I do not believe there is any such thing.

For the purposes of stress, I tend to just relax, not take too much too seriously, if it stresses me I walk away and either go back when I've calmed down or let it sort itself, as for keeping healthy I find keeping active helps this, as does a reasonably good diet.

I as a general rule don't like taking drugs, never really have, I don't even like pain killers, so I'd rather just suck it up and deal with it. if there's something seriously wrong I'll go see a doctor, just to find out what it is I guess.

Geek

Originally Posted by TheGeek

For the purposes of stress, I tend to just relax, not take too much too seriously, if it stresses me I walk away and either go back when I've calmed down or let it sort itself, as for keeping healthy I find keeping active helps this, as does a reasonably good diet.

I as a general rule don't like taking drugs, never really have, I don't even like pain killers, so I'd rather just suck it up and deal with it. if there's something seriously wrong I'll go see a doctor, just to find out what it is I guess.

Geek

That's fine when your a young wippersnapper and you get ocassional bouts of pain but for most folks as the years progress you start getting chronic conditions and often times the suck it up mentality just means you'll be living with pain s a lifelong friend. Also pain has bad effects on your life in general both physical and mental.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's fine when your a young wippersnapper and you get ocassional bouts of pain but for most folks as the years progress you start getting chronic conditions and often times the suck it up mentality just means you'll be living with pain s a lifelong friend. Also pain has bad effects on your life in general both physical and mental.

I would love it if this was the case for me mr spendur, but alas it is not, I have went through my life with debilitating migraines, blackouts and fits, which couldn't be explained, and I was offered ****tails of drugs to dull the symptoms but nothing for the cause, whilst I do accept that the medical profession is valid I also believe they are rather quick to medicate, and I don't want it.

Additionally due to an accident I have severe pains in my hip knee and shoulder, I live with it, not because it's macho or because of some sentimental drug dislike, but because the painkillers did odd things to me lol, and the ones that didn't barely numbed the pain.

I also suffered for years in agony as I am photophobic and suffer a great deal of pain in bright lights and it was never accepted by a number of optitians here as a true medical complaint, glady now it has become a more common occurence and I can take advantage of spectacle advances to deal with it.

Geek

As a nurse, I am always saddened when people believe they need a pill to solve their problems.

Now I dont' meant to imply that the pills don't work, but they should be perscribed by a physician, not someone without knowlege of pathologies and pharmacology.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I wouldn't be so quick to suggest people should ignore or mistrust the medical community. Afterall if modern medicine disappeared most of us would not survive very long. Certainly there is a place for alternative methods and they have been used for ages but death rates back then were steep even with their use.

+1

If you have an issue see a doctor.
Be an active participant in your own health.

It may be that all you need is a balanced diet and
modest exercise as we all should.... but some issues
do require intervention.

Golly it is almost lunch time... I'm off to get a Super deluxe
tipple cheese burger with extra cheese and some slices of
pizza as a side my joints are a bit tight and the grease
should help them. Now where are my car keys.....