A few thoughts about the importance of not relying solely on drugs to achieve mental health. All drugs need to be carefully evaluated and none, yes none, not even the supposedly simple ones such as those we are allowed to buy freely over the counter. They all have side effects, or some effect that changes the normal way the body is supposed to act. In other words, treat them all with respect and by all means don't go overboard with their use.
Why are drugs important? They stop pain, prevent illnesses, cure illnesses, but often there's a price to pay. Sure, those in severe pain need pain killers, no one argues with that, but ask yourself does every little ache need medication. Pain is a symptom, not a disease. It is the body's way of alerting that something is wrong. As an example, if your shoes are too tight, you are going to experience pain and discomfort, maybe a blister, or reddened toes. Common sense will tell us to change shoes, not take a pill to relieve the discomfort, maybe foot soaking will help. Another example, perhaps you have discomfort from having slept with your head on a wrong pillow during the night, or in some cramped position. Rather than grab a pain pill, you massage your neck, put up the slight discomfort and be sure to correct the wrong sleeping arrangements. All this is just common sense; in fact a lot of facts about medicine is just common sense and is learned often by simply living.
But drug addiction is escalating and now everyone wants to know why, wants to do something about it and in fact many look around to see what or who is at fault. How come society has allowed this to happen? While drug addiction is not new, it has been around for centuries, but why now does it take over most of the front sections of newspapers? Why are the statistics so alarming? Surely something is not being done right. What can we do, what can I do, and on and on goes the questioning. There is no simple answers only precautions:
1. Understand all medication, even supplements are potentially dangerous. Even a simple aspirin can cause hemorrhaging in some situations and can lead to ulcers, but yes, it has even a greater use, that of preventing heart attacks. (Discuss this matter with your doctor). All medicine need to be thought through carefully before it is taken.
2. Everyone has pain, physical or physical, at some time and much of this discomfort will disappear with insight as to why it is happening. It is normal to be down and somewhat depressed sometimes, to be otherwise cheerful and having not a care in the world is not possible, not in today's world, possibly never. It is these feeling that tell us something is not exactly right and it is up to us to understand, or to try to understand their cause. However if the situation gets worse, help is available and hopefully much of it can be overcome without a lot of drugs.
3. Understand the role of the doctor who prescribes the pain medicine. Take as observed. But you as a patient will need to know that possibly, where pain medicine is concerned, you may not need as much as you have been given. In other words, say you have had surgery and you leave the hospital or clinic with a prescription for pain medicine. Depending on the surgery and the amount of pain, you may need less than prescribed. Only you will know this. No two people are alike and the medical person overseeing your need will not be privileged to your pain level thus they have standard levels to go by. But you know your level of pain and it will be to your credit to take only the amount needed. Perhaps, you may not need an addictive drug, your surgery was minor and a simple over-the-counter pain killer works well. You tried this first and to your credit, and your foresight, you did not ever get the prescription filled. Of course good mental health also assumes you know not to take more of the drug than is necessary. You've noticed the pain medicine lasts longer than the prescribed four hours, but the instruction say every four hours. Maybe you need stretch the time out, or maybe even take a lesser amount, if possible, split the tablet in half. It's all up to you. In other words it's up to you to prevent addiction.
4. Your doctor needs your help in your care. They will welcome your comments and your observations about your drug needs. They will be especially happy if you can do with less because, if they are honorable and most are, they are not out to cause addiction and in order to do this they need your help.
Whatever, everyone who is concerned with mental health as opposed to mental illness, or illness of any sort, need to get in the habit of learning how to treat themselves better. Yes, a person is the largest share holder of his own health, and it behooves any of us to sabotage that by drug addiction.
Why are drugs important? They stop pain, prevent illnesses, cure illnesses, but often there's a price to pay. Sure, those in severe pain need pain killers, no one argues with that, but ask yourself does every little ache need medication. Pain is a symptom, not a disease. It is the body's way of alerting that something is wrong. As an example, if your shoes are too tight, you are going to experience pain and discomfort, maybe a blister, or reddened toes. Common sense will tell us to change shoes, not take a pill to relieve the discomfort, maybe foot soaking will help. Another example, perhaps you have discomfort from having slept with your head on a wrong pillow during the night, or in some cramped position. Rather than grab a pain pill, you massage your neck, put up the slight discomfort and be sure to correct the wrong sleeping arrangements. All this is just common sense; in fact a lot of facts about medicine is just common sense and is learned often by simply living.
But drug addiction is escalating and now everyone wants to know why, wants to do something about it and in fact many look around to see what or who is at fault. How come society has allowed this to happen? While drug addiction is not new, it has been around for centuries, but why now does it take over most of the front sections of newspapers? Why are the statistics so alarming? Surely something is not being done right. What can we do, what can I do, and on and on goes the questioning. There is no simple answers only precautions:
1. Understand all medication, even supplements are potentially dangerous. Even a simple aspirin can cause hemorrhaging in some situations and can lead to ulcers, but yes, it has even a greater use, that of preventing heart attacks. (Discuss this matter with your doctor). All medicine need to be thought through carefully before it is taken.
2. Everyone has pain, physical or physical, at some time and much of this discomfort will disappear with insight as to why it is happening. It is normal to be down and somewhat depressed sometimes, to be otherwise cheerful and having not a care in the world is not possible, not in today's world, possibly never. It is these feeling that tell us something is not exactly right and it is up to us to understand, or to try to understand their cause. However if the situation gets worse, help is available and hopefully much of it can be overcome without a lot of drugs.
3. Understand the role of the doctor who prescribes the pain medicine. Take as observed. But you as a patient will need to know that possibly, where pain medicine is concerned, you may not need as much as you have been given. In other words, say you have had surgery and you leave the hospital or clinic with a prescription for pain medicine. Depending on the surgery and the amount of pain, you may need less than prescribed. Only you will know this. No two people are alike and the medical person overseeing your need will not be privileged to your pain level thus they have standard levels to go by. But you know your level of pain and it will be to your credit to take only the amount needed. Perhaps, you may not need an addictive drug, your surgery was minor and a simple over-the-counter pain killer works well. You tried this first and to your credit, and your foresight, you did not ever get the prescription filled. Of course good mental health also assumes you know not to take more of the drug than is necessary. You've noticed the pain medicine lasts longer than the prescribed four hours, but the instruction say every four hours. Maybe you need stretch the time out, or maybe even take a lesser amount, if possible, split the tablet in half. It's all up to you. In other words it's up to you to prevent addiction.
4. Your doctor needs your help in your care. They will welcome your comments and your observations about your drug needs. They will be especially happy if you can do with less because, if they are honorable and most are, they are not out to cause addiction and in order to do this they need your help.
Whatever, everyone who is concerned with mental health as opposed to mental illness, or illness of any sort, need to get in the habit of learning how to treat themselves better. Yes, a person is the largest share holder of his own health, and it behooves any of us to sabotage that by drug addiction.
