I am reminded everyday about the adversity that we face in our lives. We see it on TV, in the paper and on the streets around us. There is a seemingly endless amount of stress that is occurring within our daily lives that is overwhelming the majority of us. According to a report released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the rate of antidepressant use in this country among teens and adults (people ages 12 and older) increased by almost 400% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2008. This should be something to take note of. Why is this happening? It is due to the fact that our lives are becoming more stressful? You could argue that but I would concur that it is due to our inability to manage our stress in a appropriate fashion. You will never get away from stress or adversity in your life. The decision that you have to make is how do you manage that adversity?
The common tool we have been using, anti-feeling medications (anti-depressants and anti-anxiety) is creating a major catastrophe within our health care system. The repercussions that happen when a person goes on mood altering medications occur within the entire body. This sets up a polypharmacy phenomena where patients begin taking more medication to manage the side effects from the initial prescription.
These medications are not the answer to your problems. The answer lies within your ability to manage your life. You can change how you manage your life. How do you do this? You begin examining the impact of your choices around what you eat, what you take when you are sick, how you move, your relationship with yourself along with those around you. The answer is not found in the right type of “medicine”.
If you are on mood altering medications or you are dealing with anxiety or depression and want another direction to take, seek it out. There are options for you but you have to be willing to being participating in your health. When you do, things will change.
Dr.Buttler