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Are we forced to self medicate?

B

BritishLad

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
265
Location
England
Or at least find our own medication through use and "abuse", or even just reading up online. I'm 20 years old and have been to a few doctors as an adult, and one main one that shall remain nameless not because I don't want to be identified. But because he was a useless quack that all he did was listen to what I said and decided to up my dosage, and not listen to my problems or anxiety. Or anything like that, so my thoughts are. Are we forced into a world were we have to risk our lives using substances of the street or other places, to find what will help us or make our lives livable? I'm speaking to everyone not just those with anxiety issues but those with any mental or even phsyical problems. If we go to a GP whatever they are or if your lucky a psychiatrist, they seem to generalize you and not really listen.

I've had only one Doctor that took an active interest in me, and he later left (without me being informed) the practise for unknown reasons. Which to me says a lot, not about him but how he would leave somewhere without giving a reason when he was a good, and a GP that listened.

Is this the way it's always going to be, or do you think sometime soon they'll be more attention and help given to people with anxiety and other mental disorders. Instead of just ignoring them classing them as weird until there to grown up and fucked up to trust anyone?
 
im sorry that u have had a bad experience w doctors. I have too. I don't trust them and also feel abandoned by them as well.

Seems like when I had money to pay for private psychiatrists, they gave me the time and took an active interest, but when I saw them as part of a state treatment program, in 3 minutes, they would classify me as bi-polar and prescribe me high doses of effexor and abilify (just one of many examples).
 
I think that it's true that the Western medical system fails a lot of people, but that does not mean your only other option is to self-medicate with illicit drugs. Illicit drug use does not cure mental illness. Nor does prescription drug use. They merely mask (some of) the symptoms temporarily. I think that we need to take responsibility for our own health and mental health and not expect a doctor or a drug to magically fix us. There are many other things we can do work on our health/mental health. They are not easy and they take time, but they do exist. A lot more people are turning to self-help methods, changing their way of thinking, and seeking out alternative and traditional medicines once we realize that Western doctors can't solve our problems or don't listen to us and that the pharmaceutical industry's biggest priority is profits and not wellness.

There are good Western doctors out there, who take a more personalized holistic approach, but they often take a lot of work to find.
 
I had completely given up on life and hope until I decided to try JUST ONE more pain clinic, and they've been so compassionate. My self medicating has been reduced by over 50%
 
Well psychiatrists are essentially formed to treat PHYSICAL problems, and this is usually done through medication. However, many people see psychiatrists who maybe shouldn't because in truth they mostly just need to talk, etc. If that's what you want, psychologists really are much more appropriate, plus, not being doctors, they can't even prescribe you anything anyway.

(On an unrelated topic though, I think we tend to force ourselves to self-medicate)
 
Swimmingdancer I completely agree with you, all self medicating does is dull or mask the real problem temporarily and British Lad, I feel your'e pain mate as I too have had a problem with anxiety aswell as members of my immediate family and also found, like you that seeing a psychiatrist or GP was mostly useless as all they do is prescribe you more drugs when in fact that is probably the last thing you need at the time. (I was prescribed Valium which I mixed with alcohol with disastrous consequences) - but that is another story.

What I found really helpful was to seek the advice of a good naturopath who can run tests aswell as looking at samples of your'e blood to see what you're body is lacking and diagnose why your'e body is sending out these distress signals that lead to anxiety.
I also found that they are alot more compassionate and have seen it all before , people like you and me who have tried the mainstream medical system and it had failed them so as a last resort tried natural therapies.

It worked for me and my sister as we have both recovered completely from our anxiety. Excercise is also great aswell, I work as a plasterer which is a very physical job so I find that therapeutic also.
I really hope you find some peace within yourself soon bro, and take care <3
 
GP's are pretty useless for anxiety; they aren't there to sit down and figure out what's really wrong. I just go to mine for valium, I ask for it, he prescribes it and i'm done. What you are looking for is a psychologist or therapist that you can work with to figure out the source of your anxiety and better ways to deal with it. This has been the only thing that has actually helped me, i have started to completely change my life and my anxiety is fading. The whole diet/exercise thing doesn't make a huge difference for me but actually sorting through my thoughts, figuring out why i feel this way, how anxiety works and gaining insight into my anxiety has helped tremendously. I hated the idea of therapy at first as i just wanted medication but it worked for me.

if you're looking for some simple tips to change the way you think about anxiety you can pm me for some suggestions.
 
you can't say medication is masking the symptoms in all situations. If someones problem is a lack of density in GABA receptor expression that's causing anxiety then gabaergenic(sp?) drugs would be treating the problem and not simply masking the symptoms. In people that anxiety is caused by fucked up situations in life this would only be a mask though. Different situations require different approaches.
 
^that. and no not at all i don't think. i've had quite a bit of experience with the NHS's mental health system. yea can take a while, but i've been able to see good psychiatrists and psychologists over a long period, been in, out, emergency referrals, really good. find out what mental health services are around you and ask your GP for a referral to them.
 
Hey Britishlad,
I have found myself in your situation and feel for you. One thing about the NHS is that they will not prescribe benzos for anxiety, only SSRIs. Now I know that benzos are not the answer but I would like to hear from someone for whom SSRIs have worked for anxiety problems (the reason GPs are reluctant to give out benzos, is that GPs got blamed for gettig housewives hooked in the 1970s 'mummy's little helpers'). Anyway I suggest CBT or similar type counselling to get to root cause of problem. It would help I knew what meds they upped but I'm guessing it wasn't benzos.
My final rant against UK GPs is that my one didn't follow the Hippocratic oath. I told him that I'd been gettig xanax off the internet but the site had been busted. He laughed and said that it will teach me an important lesson. didn't prescribe me anything. I quit cold turkey and would have had a fit if I didn't start drinking. Being a chronic alcoholic was't ideal but my GP was a swine (I reported him to the BMC). PM me if you want as GPs are a topic close to my heart.
Keep going but to answer your question, then yes, we are forced to medicate ourselves due to government restrictions o what GPs ca prescribe
 
Good to see a good convo going, my SRRIs have worked very well. They are some what starting to wear off, I've found myself able to deal with reality easier. And not be so fearful of confrontation such as standing up for myself. But it isn't a magic medication like any, it's about the mind with it. So in my opinion a drink now and again, stimulants etc keep me happy. With just medication I would become bored with lack of a rush. Even if I had a carrer, kids and a wife. Guess I'm just one of those people.
 
Just some news guys, going to see a head doctor soon. Not a GP, as well as continuing with my one on one sessions with a metal health lady.
 
I think that a lot of us are forced to self medicate. You only have to read Bluelight to see the amount of posts about folk in constant pain or suffering with anxiety etc that get little or no help from their doctors and therefore are forced to buy the drugs they need illegally off the street or the internet.
Such a shame that some doctors don't really listen to or care about their patients wellbeing
 
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