Let Me Shove a Pill Down Your Throat

[Andara Bledin]

But my stance is this: Pills don't cure reality.

That depends entirely upon the problem.

Sure, there are a lot of things that won't be helped by throwing pills at them.

However, there are a lot off things where medication, even in the short-term, can suppress certain types of symptoms long enough that a person can properly deal with the root cause.

Mine was purely physiological, but I had an issue where the root cause was a strained muscle. The strain was actually healed by the time I went to the doctor, but the symptoms had developed a cycle where I'd stiffen up from the pain, which only made it keep on hurting. One round of medication broke the cycle for me.

It's usually not that easy, particularly when dealing with depression, but there are just certain situations where refusing medication would be as bad as blindly accepting it in cases where it's not needed.

^-.-^

[Evandril]

But my stance is this: Pills don't cure reality.

First off, I totally agree about pills not being the first thing you do, and I tend to avoid them whenever I can in any case. That being said, while pills can't cure reality (in your situation), they can bring reality down to a level you can deal with, depending on the problems.

My oldest is autistic, and when we first checked with the school about the problems he was having, they immediatly said to put him on meds...and we politely told them what to go do with themselves We moved, and checked with the people there...they studied my son for a year, and *then*, after trying various other options, suggested a different medication...and this time, we were willing to listen, because they weren't just tossing pills at the problem, they were giving my son what they felt he needed, after exausting all other options. It didn't change reality...but it calmed him down so reality wasn't as hard for him to deal with. That being said...I do not think that'd apply in your case, unless you want to be a zombie

[Boozy]

What I think NateSean is saying (and correct me if I'm wrong), is that he's having trouble coping with the real problems in his life, and his depression is merely a side effect of that inability to cope.

In that case, medication is unlikely to help long-term. Some basic cognitive-behavioural therapy IS likely to be far more effective for him. He needs some help learning what exactly he can do to improve his situation, as well as learning to accept the things that aren't likely to change.

Psychiatrists are prone to prescribing meds to get someone in the right frame of mind to start that process, especially if they've become so despondent about their situation that they can't get out of the funk long enough to do the hard work.

NateSean, I think you need to approach your mental health providers by saying, "I'm ready to make some changes. I'm feeling optimistic about my ability to do this. I just need the tools."

Of course, the easiest thing to do would be to find a counselor who can't legally prescribe anything. Your local mental health agency probably has some social workers on hand. They would be your best bet. I know from experience that they can be absolute miracle-workers in these situations. Especially because they have access to all sorts of government assistance programs, which could make a tangible difference for you.

Good luck.

[Sleepwalker]

So, instead of taking a pill, it is more reasonable to change reality?



You can't always change what pisses you off. Everything you do is a tradeoff. As I don't have the resources to change the world into something that doesn't stress me, I take meds, and am happy I have the option rather than guilting or raging over the fact that I am taking pills to help ME adapt the my environment- shit, I still have the option to make the environment adapt to me to the best of my abilities.

[NateSean]

I can't believe I'm even doing this.

So, I've agreed to possibly taking some antianxiety meds for a short time. Because while I don't believe they are the magical cure all that will land me a job, the way the staff at Lifebridge seem to believe, I have to accept the fact that as long as I'm at the shelter, I will have issues.

This is only a trial. If anything it's to prove to everyone who keeps trying to shove a pill down my throat that it's a useless gesture and the minute I'm not happy with how it's working out, the pills go down the toilet. No questions asked.

[telecom_goddess]

Good luck with that.

I ended up taking this approach -- I have started therapy again, with someone I'm already familiar with. I'm also going to try nytriptoline....which is used for a variety of things including depression. Low dose to start, but maybe it will help me of the funk I'm in so the therapy can work. And maybe it will help prevent the migraines that have taken over my life somewhat again due to the stress of the anxiety and depression I"m having.

[Racket_Man]

interesting article I came accross today

http://www.everydayhealth.com/depres..._lnk3%7C221057

but this just seems to continue a trend that started in the 1950's with "diet" pills and Valium being over perscribed to housewives and others. then is trickled down to young adults and children with all of the ADD pills in the 80's and 90's. great stuff there and we created a culture of pill popping along the way.

we seem to be a pill happy society. have a condition take a pill to solve it. the great American legal drug off.

BUT GOD forbid we useor ingest something that does not have Bristol/Myers/Squib or Johnson & Johnson stamped on it.

Yea Pharm parties for all.

[Boozy]

The reason we're "popping" so many pills is because modern medicine is a genuine miracle.

How many of us would be dead right now if we'd been born in the 1800's?

The article you link to doesn't even say that Americans are taking these pills inappropriately. They're just saying that that number of prescriptions have risen.

I'm sure there are people out there that are over-medicated. But what an insignificant problem that is compared to the number of Americans who are vastly under-medicated for very treatable conditions -- either because they can't afford the medicine, or they have some irrational distrust of Big Pharma.

Half the time, the people who refuse to take prescription meds are the same ones taking OTC herbs and vitamins because they're more "natural".

[Andara Bledin]

We live in a culture that is, many times, more interested in treating the symptoms than the cause. There's little money in actually curing people, but treating them forever is big business with billions of dollars at stake every month.

^-.-^

[Rageaholic]

I can understand where the OP is coming from. I don't think there's anything wrong with pills, but when you keep doing something and it doesn't work out only to get told to continue doing it. Well, that can become annoying.

[Sleepwalker]

Often, it makes more sense to treat the symptoms than the cause, since a 'cure' can involve drastic and dangerous interventions that make pill popping a much better option.

Speaking of cultural biases, how about the one about condition management vs The Cure(tm)?

[Racket_Man]

The reason we're "popping" so many pills is because modern medicine is a genuine miracle.

How many of us would be dead right now if we'd been born in the 1800's?

and I am not saying that modern medicine in not a "miracle" BUT with all of the man-made and synthectic chmeicals out there for virtually EVERYTHING coupled with IMO inadequate testing (look at how many of these drugs get pulled after more testing and a multitude of deaths or serious harm), plus the sheer power of the Pharma companies ( along with ALL of the advertising campains associated with each and every drug), and the williness of governments to just "go along" with "industry studies and research", not to mention that some of the side effects of these "helpfull" substances are more firghtening and sometimes deadly deadly than the actual condition they are supposed to treat.

The article you link to doesn't even say that Americans are taking these pills inappropriately. They're just saying that that number of prescriptions have risen.

I'm sure there are people out there that are over-medicated. But what an insignificant problem that is compared to the number of Americans who are vastly under-medicated for very treatable conditions -- either because they can't afford the medicine, or they have some irrational distrust of Big Pharma.

Half the time, the people who refuse to take prescription meds are the same ones taking OTC herbs and vitamins because they're more "natural".

again please note the large number of perscriptions for amphetamines and Valium in the 1950's and again with the Ritilin and its cousins in the 1990s and 2000s (look at Adiral these days). is your child being "normal" or do they have ADD/ADHD???? teachers did not want to deal with kids, send the parents to the general practioner doctor and get some pills for the kid. most children were NOT properly evaluated and diagnosed. just give a pill.

now the drug of "choise" is anti-depressiants. feel a little down, take a pill and be happy again.

another good example that burns me up is those non-prescription "Male Enhansement", what a load of manure. again have a problem, take a pill.

alll of those "fat burner" pills---- overweight (not because of a medical condition but laziness) but do not want to go to the gym or actaully take responcilibity for eating healthy and excersiing ----- take a pill be slim again

getting older well we have a non-prescription testosterone replacement to give you that ZING back in your life

have a "problem" get a pill shoved down your throat

[Gravekeeper]

I'm kind of surprised that dosage medication was the first go too for anxiety. One of my ex's had anxiety attacks in high stress situations. Her doctor perscribed emergency medication only. IE if you're having an attack, stick this under your tongue. So she only used it when she had too and thus wasn't popping pills every day.

If you just have the rare attack that seems far more logical.

[telecom_goddess]

Half the time, the people who refuse to take prescription meds are the same ones taking OTC herbs and vitamins because they're more "natural".

I do both....I take prescriptions AND I do a lot of vitamins/supplements/herbal remedies...cause I need the prescriptions but by the same token I think the others ARE more natural.

Or as natural as they can be without growing them myself.

[jackfaire]

I have ADD. Yes really. No I didn't self diagnose. Yes I am sure.

Sorry I get either "Oh my god I do too!!! Isn't it impossible to focus when there is construction outside" "Uhm yes isn't it distracting when your in a quiet room with no distractions and your at a desk working on your homework" "Uhm no why would it be?" "You don't have ADD"

or "Your making that up"

People love to assume that ADD is so easy to treat. I was one of the "here take pills" kid I hated it. Think about anytime you felt confined or trapped now imagine it's your own head in which you feel confined and trapped.

I know my brain races all over the place and that I get distracted really easily. It can take me hours sometimes to finish what I went on the internet to do. My stats at work sometimes suffer if I put a customer on hold because my mind suddenly wanders and 3 minutes go by before I come back to myself and realize Oh shit what was I doing.

Some days are better than others. That being said my dad worked with me to help develop not pill techniques by studying myself we learned ways to help. He used to watch me study so when he would see that faraway look on my face he would get my attention and then focus me back on my homework.

Another technique was if I catch myself about to follow a train of thought then write it down on a note pad so I can follow it later satisfying my brain's need to chase that thought down.

I am going back to school this year to get a degree and I am going to see my doctor about what non pill techniques he recommends for focusing on my schoolwork.

I used to hide under the banner of slacker but that just lead to missing out on great colleges now I want to make something of myself.