Would you ever take anti anxiety medication?

[Mermaid]

Benzodiazipines are not opiates.

But anyway, sertraline relieved my paralyzing anxiety almost immediately. My only regret is not trying it sooner, as I was reluctant to take anything. It could have saved me a ton of heartache and nearly losing my job and ruining a 25+ year career.

[Rhondazvous]

How do these meds make the symptoms bearable? A cast is on the outside of my body, but meds are inside changing the way my body works.

You could just as easily ask "how does this cast make my broken leg bearable? It's on the outside of my body, but the bones are inside. Similar to the way a painkiller masks a headache, or period pains, by relieving the person of the distress of the symptoms, the body can then get on with the task of sorting itself out. In the case of anti-anxiety medication, that sorting out might come in the form of therapy.

Make no mistake: were it not for my medication and therapy at the time I had them, I would most definitely have continued my suicide attempts until - well, I don't have to spell it out.

No, dear love. You know it's not the same. the cast isn't a chemical in my body. It just holds the leg in place.

Painkillers are addictive. If I have a headache, I ride it out or sleep it off. I don't even have aspirin in my house. This doctor said she's amazed at me because I'm not on any medication. When I asked her why that was amazing, she said she doesn't know anybody who's not on some kind of medication. That's a wake up call to me.

I admit, the American medical system is fucked up. The insurance company won't even pay for diagnostic tests until I first se an over the counter drug to see if the symptoms will go away. I asked one doctor how he could prescribe medicine when he didn't even know what was causing my pain. He said he was just guessing. Please forgive me if I don't trust these fuckers. My body let's me know when some medicine is keeping it from healing itself.

[Cyberman]

I never said that a plaster cast works the same way chemically as medication. I know that. The analogy works in that both are intended to alleviate the stress of whatever condition is occurring, supporting the body while repairs are made. I could have used the analogy of a bandaid protecting a wound and tried to get the same message going.

I'm going to bow out of this thread now, because I don't want to end up coming over like I'm attacking anybody I have regard for; which I seriously don't want to do. The only thing I respectfully ask is that you and others respond to what I actually write, not what I don't.

[Losty]

I'm nearly certain that people who are happy with the way their mind is working don't seek out these drugs or treatments.  More power to you, and more power to them.

I'm nearly certain those who like the way their minds work don't seek out the treatment because they don't need the treatment.

[brewer]

Painkillers are addictive. If I have a headache, I ride it out or sleep it off. I don't even have aspirin in my house. This doctor said she's amazed at me because I'm not on any medication. When I asked her why that was amazing, she said she doesn't know anybody who's not on some kind of medication. That's a wake up call to me.

I admit, the American medical system is fucked up. The insurance company won't even pay for diagnostic tests until I first se an over the counter drug to see if the symptoms will go away. I asked one doctor how he could prescribe medicine when he didn't even know what was causing my pain. He said he was just guessing. Please forgive me if I don't trust these fuckers. My body let's me know when some medicine is keeping it from healing itself.

Hi Rhonda.

I'm very glad that you currently do not require medication. I also, for the most part, am medication free. However, the day may come when medical intervention is needed (for either of us) and that intervention may be in the form of medication. If that time comes I hope that your past experience does not completely cloud your judgement and you refuse medication treatment.

You might want to take a look at this web site. Please note that a majority of the conditions described are treated (and sometimes prevented) with medication.

http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/popula...black.html

PS: You may want to check your insurance coverage. Most preventative care is now covered in part or in whole.

[MentalGiant]

@ mh.brewer- Are you a doctor, nurse or otherwise involved somehow in the medical profession? Not attacking you over it or anything, just many of your posts have kind of led me to believe you might be involved with westernized medicine somehow

[rexbeccarox]

@ mh.brewer- Are you a doctor, nurse or otherwise involved somehow in the medical profession? Not attacking you over it or anything, just many of your posts have kind of led me to believe you might be involved with westernized medicine somehow

What is "westernized" medicine, exactly?

[MentalGiant]

@ mh.brewer- Are you a doctor, nurse or otherwise involved somehow in the medical profession? Not attacking you over it or anything, just many of your posts have kind of led me to believe you might be involved with westernized medicine somehow

What is "westernized" medicine, exactly?

• Western medicine  (WES-tern MEH-dih-sin)A system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. Also called allopathic medicine, biomedicine, conventional medicine, mainstream medicine, and orthodox medicine.
  http://www.cancer.gov/publications/dicti...rid=454743

• the type of medical treatment that is the most popular in North America and Western European countries, based on the use of drugs and surgery to treat symptoms (=signs of illness). In such countries, other types of medical treatment are called alternative medicine or complementary .
  

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/western-medicine

I think that my definition falls somewhere between these 2- more focus on surgery and pharmaceuticals to treat symptoms and generally preferred in Westernized nations. 

[Losty]

So....actual medical practice then?

[MentalGiant]

So....actual medical practice then?

Naturopathic medicine and homeopathic remedies are actual medical practices too, as are certain practices like acupuncture. It's not that western medicine doesn't have it's place or provide benefit to some people, but it is amusing how people such as yourself completely discredit anything short of getting hacked up and filling yourself with chemicals as "not legitimate medical practice". Why do people assume all non-westernized medical practices involve some kind of rubbing crystals under your armpits while humming under the full moon kind of nonsense?