| The topic of medication is always a controversy | | | | afterthought. These companies want to make us |
| in our modern age. American society, most of all | | | | dependent on their drug. Why? Because they |
| the Western nations, wants everything done | | | | have billions of dollars at stake, and if people |
| immediately, and medication sometimes appears | | | | become healthier, they will lose big money. So, of |
| to be a viable shortcut. But, is medication | | | | course, drug companies will do all they can to |
| necessarily a good choice for you? | | | | keep their power and make it appear that their |
| The first thing to determine is whether one needs | | | | drug greatly benefits your life. This may mean |
| it or not, and many factors need consideration. | | | | that they pay off private research firms to find |
| Doctors, counselors, and psychiatrists are more | | | | "evidence" that their drug is effective and safe; |
| than willing and happy to help clients find the | | | | they may also bribe Food and Drug Administration |
| medication that he or she "needs." However, I | | | | (FDA) officials; finally, they can make legal bribes, |
| would contend that most people do not need the | | | | called "campaign contributions," to politicians. If a |
| high dosages professionals claim they do, while | | | | politician receives millions in donations from a drug |
| many others do not need medication at all. | | | | company, are they going be pushing for increased |
| Experts, while more knowledgeable than the | | | | regulation of the drug industry? |
| average person, are not necessarily aware of all | | | | Why should you exercise such caution when |
| the effects medication has; no one is. The other | | | | selecting a drug? Simple, because of all the |
| thing to be wary of when reading about | | | | aforementioned reasons, but also because people |
| medications is who is being paid to promote them, | | | | are not aware of the long-term effects of |
| and who is paying the promoter. It is no | | | | different drugs. Many anxiety-reducers have only |
| coincidence that drug companies find that their | | | | been around for ten or twenty years, and many |
| drug is the most effective, far more so than | | | | times (this goes for any drug), research finds that |
| competitors. Try to find independently conducted | | | | a drug previously believed to be safe now causes |
| empirical research for reliable data. The best thing | | | | birth defects or increases likelihood of cancer. |
| to do is to discuss your medication with others | | | | The general rule that I like to keep in mind about |
| who are taking the same medication, personally | | | | medication is to take the minimum amount |
| judge what changes are brought about via the | | | | possible that is helpful to your life, with the ideal |
| drug and whether those positive changes | | | | being to not be on any medication at all. |
| outweigh the negative ones. Finally, also consult | | | | Medication, for many of us, including myself, is |
| your counselor, psychiatrist, or doctor, but do so | | | | sometimes necessary just to function halfway |
| with caution. | | | | effectively at different places and situations such |
| And here is some advice on professionals: the | | | | as work, school, or day-to-day life. Currently, I |
| first thing to remember when seeing a counselor, | | | | take a ten- milligram dose of Lexapro, with the |
| psychiatrist, or doctor about medication is that | | | | upper range of available dosages running in the |
| you are the expert on yourself. A good | | | | thirty-to-forty milligram range. I have been able to |
| professional will give you his advice about the | | | | function very effectively with this dosage, and |
| drug, and then let you make the choice. In an | | | | just a few days after taking the medication, I |
| ideal world, this would always happen; | | | | could already notice it was making a positive |
| unfortunately it often does not. If a professional | | | | impact. I believe that it has enabled me to make |
| continues to claim that a certain medication will | | | | much quicker progress as part of an overall |
| work or is helping, but you feel very differently, | | | | program of anxiety management, and my |
| then it is probably time to find a new doctor, | | | | long-term goal is to be completely off of it and |
| counselor, or psychiatrist. If a doctor, counselor, | | | | functioning at the same level. |
| or psychiatrist makes finding the right medication | | | | Finally, bear in mind also that any good |
| difficult in any way, then by all means you have | | | | professional, or person with experience, will tell |
| the right to fire them and go see someone else. | | | | you that medication simply reduces the |
| Perhaps that person is receiving commissions | | | | symptoms; it very rarely cures the condition as in |
| from drug companies or perhaps that person | | | | ceasing its effect on one's life. (On a side note, it |
| simply does not know what he or she is doing, or | | | | is interesting to note that some people have |
| perhaps it is an honest mistake. Whatever the | | | | completely recovered from severe depression |
| reason, remember the "experts" make mistakes, | | | | and other mental disorders by taking placebos; |
| sometimes purposely so. | | | | this is, however, a very rare exception, rather |
| Drugs are most effective when you engage in a | | | | than the rule. Search around in reliable resources |
| multi-faceted approach to recovering from | | | | and you will be able to find research detailing this). |
| anxiety. When you engage in anxiety-reducing | | | | Rather, it reduces the shakiness in your hands, |
| activities like regular exercise, making new friends, | | | | tingling in your shoulders, and rapid heart beat, or |
| asking questions on the forum, and talking to a | | | | whatever it is that you may experience. |
| counselor your anxiety-level is greatly reduced. | | | | Medication simply makes the situation more |
| Then, add to that the medication piece of the | | | | bearable so that you can gain skill at managing |
| puzzle, and suddenly you will find yourself with | | | | and reducing your anxiety level. |
| very little anxiety at all. Compare this to a | | | | In sum, medication can be a successful part of a |
| hypothetical example where you ignore all other | | | | multi-faceted approach to managing anxiety, but |
| approaches and simply take medication. Now, you | | | | taking medication needs to be done in a wise and |
| will "need" a high dose in order to reduce your | | | | thoughtful manner. Just remember that you are |
| anxiety level to a similar level like that of the first | | | | the expert on yourself; do not let anyone else tell |
| approach. | | | | you anything different, and if something in your |
| Another issue with drugs is that drug companies | | | | gut says that this is not quite right, it's probably a |
| want to provide fast and effective treatment, | | | | good idea to follow that feeling. |
| and your personal health is generally a distant | | | | |