Would you ever take anti anxiety medication?

[DespondentFishdeathMasochismo]

I would trust drug companies a little more if they actually took chemical scans of your body and tested them with the drugs that they're using on you.

For the most part, there are no "scans/tests" that can be run for mental health issues. The diagnosis and treatment is based on history and symptoms.

I'm sorry that both of you (MG and DF) have such distrust and disdain for the mainstream (allopathic) medical community. If these feelings are true, there are other options that are available.

They are true feelings. I know that there's no scans or tests that can be done. I was stating what an alternative to the current method would look like, in my mind. We don't currently have the technology for that though, which is something I acknowledge and I never assumed otherwise. I know that this is very cynical, but we are not very advanced in terms of medicine. I see that there's a lot of people who are untreatable, we still haven't discovered ways of altering the degeneration of DNA molecules that results in aging. We don't even seem to be interested in working towards ways to prevent illness. All that modern medicine does is treat the illnesses we inevitably get from the degeneration of our cells. There is no dying of natural causes, something fails and we get sick one way or another. I refuse to call what we have today advanced or a treatment when that's not really what it is.

[brewer]

For the most part, there are no "scans/tests" that can be run for mental health issues. The diagnosis and treatment is based on history and symptoms.

I'm sorry that both of you (MG and DF) have such distrust and disdain for the mainstream (allopathic) medical community. If these feelings are true, there are other options that are available.

They are true feelings. I know that there's no scans or tests that can be done. I was stating what an alternative to the current method would look like, in my mind. We don't currently have the technology for that though, which is something I acknowledge and I never assumed otherwise. I know that this is very cynical, but we are not very advanced in terms of medicine. I see that there's a lot of people who are untreatable, we still haven't discovered ways of altering the degeneration of DNA molecules that results in aging. We don't even seem to be interested in working towards ways to prevent illness. All that modern medicine does is treat the illnesses we inevitably get from the degeneration of our cells. There is no dying of natural causes, something fails and we get sick one way or another. I refuse to call what we have today advanced or a treatment when that's not really what it is.

Not interested in ways of preventing illness? All modern medicine does is treat illness? No dying from natural causes?

You need to do a lot more research, maybe grow up, or both.

Again, if you don't like modern medicine you can always opt out. Or, if you choose, work to improve it.

[DespondentFishdeathMasochismo]

They are true feelings. I know that there's no scans or tests that can be done. I was stating what an alternative to the current method would look like, in my mind. We don't currently have the technology for that though, which is something I acknowledge and I never assumed otherwise. I know that this is very cynical, but we are not very advanced in terms of medicine. I see that there's a lot of people who are untreatable, we still haven't discovered ways of altering the degeneration of DNA molecules that results in aging. We don't even seem to be interested in working towards ways to prevent illness. All that modern medicine does is treat the illnesses we inevitably get from the degeneration of our cells. There is no dying of natural causes, something fails and we get sick one way or another. I refuse to call what we have today advanced or a treatment when that's not really what it is.

Not interested in ways of preventing illness? All modern medicine does is treat illness? No dying from natural causes?

You need to do a lot more research, maybe grow up, or both.

Again, if you don't like modern medicine you can always opt out. Or, if you choose, work to improve it.

Alright, you can choose to believe that hereditary, or developed cell malfunction isn't the cause of these problems. You can keep putting drugs into your body and acting like that's fixing anything. I'll be over here trying to "grow up" while you have a fun time sucking big pharma's dick.

Gene therapy is the future of medicine.

---

And yeah, there is no dying from natural causes. If you die, it's because of some sort of illness. Aging is an illness, it's the degeneration of cells. That's besides the point, because if there's a malfunction in the brain, then that's a cellular malfunction too. We just don't have the technology to treat these things.

[brewer]

Alright, you can choose to believe that hereditary, or developed cell malfunction isn't the cause of these problems. You can keep putting drugs into your body and acting like that's fixing anything. I'll be over here trying to "grow up" while you have a fun time sucking big pharma's dick.

Gene therapy is the future of medicine.

---

And yeah, there is no dying from natural causes. If you die, it's because of some sort of illness. Aging is an illness, it's the degeneration of cells. That's besides the point, because if there's a malfunction in the brain, then that's a cellular malfunction too. We just don't have the technology to treat these things.

Bold mine.

And just who do you believe is developing gene therapy? When you figure it out be sure to tell me how you got the dick out of your mouth.

Natural cause? Please describe in detail just exactly you believe a "natural cause" is. How exactly is aging not natural?

My god, you're such a child.

[DespondentFishdeathMasochismo]

Alright, you can choose to believe that hereditary, or developed cell malfunction isn't the cause of these problems. You can keep putting drugs into your body and acting like that's fixing anything. I'll be over here trying to "grow up" while you have a fun time sucking big pharma's dick.

Gene therapy is the future of medicine.

---

And yeah, there is no dying from natural causes. If you die, it's because of some sort of illness. Aging is an illness, it's the degeneration of cells. That's besides the point, because if there's a malfunction in the brain, then that's a cellular malfunction too. We just don't have the technology to treat these things.

Bold mine.

And just who do you believe is developing gene therapy? When you figure it out be sure to tell me how you got the dick out of your mouth.

Natural cause? Please describe in detail just exactly you believe a "natural cause" is. How exactly is aging not natural?

My god, you're such a child.

You're extremely butthurt. I must have struck a nerve. Just who is developing gene therapy? Scientists. BOOM, HEAD SHOT! 360 NO SCOPE SNIPER! No really though, I've seen a documentary on it. It tickles me, to see just how little you know. Also, it's really, really ironic, that you call me childish and then joke about dicks 

[MentalGiant]

I do have some defense of psychologists though. I have found that having someone to talk to can be helpful. Going in and having a place to talk about what's on your mind, is something that isn't easy to come by if it's not with a psychologist. Most people don't care and a psychologist can sit down with you and won't say anything judgmental to you about what you have to say. It can be a good place to go in with some thoughts that have been bothering you, then lay them out and look at them in a way that's not difficult to deal with. 

I look at this as more of a differing opinion as individuals, as it is helpful for some people to see psychiatrists/psychologists/therapists. I am not one of them though. Personally, I cannot stand the thought of paying someone to essentially pretend to care. Nor am I fond of the flowery PC bullshit they spew back at you in response to everything as not to seem 'judgmental' or 'offensive'. I just don't find it helpful or insightful. I do find it pretty irritating if not outright insulting to be coddled for a hefty fee. 

As far as means of trying to naturally fix the issues. I try to eat the healthiest diet that is even conceivably available to man. I only buy foods that I research and discover have a very high amount of beneficial nutrition. I don't eat anything bad. Has that really helped me? Well it has in many ways, but it hasn't really gotten rid of the issue of anxiety that still sometimes comes up.

I strongly agree here. I find a healthy diet and lifestyle more makes anxiety easier to deal with when it does crop up. When you feel like shit, have no energy and you start feeling anxious and panicky, that'll put you in a really bad spot where it's harder to cope. When your feeling good, energized, 'lively' and you start feeling the anxiety come up, it's just easier to take a deep breath, do some calming mental checklists (or at least I find that very helpful personally) and bring it back under control. I think a lot of people who feel anxiety and depression would benefit greatly from a healthier diet and lifestyle (especially more b-vitamin rich foods and more sun exposure/D3 supplements, of which a great many people are lacking).

I find that when I am at my happiest is when I am not really talking to anyone, not really engaging in any discussions online. Sometimes I will wake up in the middle of the night and I will have people writing replies to me in my sleep and it wakes me up. That's probably because I spend so much time on the internet. I always imagined that if I had some people to spend time with then that would alleviate so much of my stress. I always just wanted to have some friends that I could love and make me feel loved and accepted. I just find people hard to deal with in general though.

I perceive in the illogical part of my brain that I "should" have lots of "friends" NOT because I genuinely crave social interaction with numerous people I find to be little more than warm bodies, rather that society tells me I should want a large social group. It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact it's OK not to be a hyper-social person no matter how much society says you should. I don't do anything harmful, bothersome or illegal by being a bit of a loner. I just don't feel I am interested in the same things as most other people, I don't share many of the same opinions, I don't feel inclined to act/speak/dress in certain ways or to conform to many societal 'norms'. Social situations really just make me guilt ridden and anxious for not forcing myself to be someone I'm not. I have, over time, learned to accept and love myself as I am and that I don't need others to validate me as a person nor my actions. If you like me for me, maybe we can be friends. If not, fuck off. To me, relationships are about quality, not quantity and I'm not going to lie or act different so some person accepts me. You have know yourself and accept yourself for who you are before you can find others who genuinely love and accept you (and it'll help weed out the ones are just looking to get something out of you).

[DespondentFishdeathMasochismo]

Well put MentalGiant. I read what you wrote, I have nothing to add.

[MentalGiant]

I would trust drug companies a little more if they actually took chemical scans of your body and tested them with the drugs that they're using on you.

I'm sorry that both of you (MG and DF) have such distrust and disdain for the mainstream (allopathic) medical community. If these feelings are true, there are other options that are available.

My 'disdain' is based of a lifetime of negative experiences with the mainstream medical community and pharmaceutical drugs and I have found positive results seeking alternatives to mainstream westernize medicine.

[DespondentFishdeathMasochismo]

Here's the lecture about gene therapy btw, mh.brewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87OUb8TBwX0

[Aroura]

I was treated for anxiety for 17 years with various meds before another doctor determined my anxiety was a symptom of something else, and resistant to medication as a treatment.

Benzo's will ease any anxiety (including mine), but be careful with them. Some doctors will prescribe them, and you can easily become dependent on them.  Then you'll find most doctors won't prescribe them, and get to go through hell 10x worse than your normal anxiety, withdrawals.

Make sure you have a good diagnosis before you get treatment. And don't dismiss therapy (CBT, or other behavioral).  Therapy is more work, but it is more effective if you can stick with it, and you won't be on pills forever.  I would view pills as a crutch to help you succeed at therapy, not a fix in and of themselves.

Then again, I'm no doctor, so you should ask your doctor for sure. Actually, ask a few different doctors if you can.

P.S. Also good luck.  It seems almost everyone nowadays suffers from some mental illness, anxiety or depression in particular.  It really has started to make me wonder.