americans obsession with meds

or should i say doctors obsessions with drugs? and americans obsession with not asking second opinions. on a side note, i think we all need a course in the differences in doctors training. as a pyschology graduate and counselor, i am always surprised to find out that people do not know the difference bewteen a pyschologist and a psychiatrist. let alone counselors, therapists, and social workers! there are big differences. the reason i think people should inform themselves about these guys, is that if you go to see a pyschiatrist for anxiety, he will prescribe drugs. if you go to see a psychologist, or a counselor for anxiety, they will counsel you. pyschiatrists are medical doctors who go to med school and choose psychiatry as their specialty area, like a gynecologist would choose gynecology. so they dont have the counseling training that a psychologist does, nor do they believe they need it. most, but not all, of them believe that problems like anxiety and depression will be cured with meds. but let me ask you, if you take take meds for depression, what happens when you come off them? it's still there. and ive seen this happen- the drugs are covering up the problem, not solving it. and in addition, they are making matters worse with their side effects. i have watched more than one person in my own life go from being addicted to alcohol or whatever, to being addicted to anti-depressants b/c they had a hard time coping with coming off the previous substance. so when did everything have to be so easy? why are we so afraid to feel and put in a little effort? it builds character people! dont take credit for quitting smoking if you did it with pills- you didnt quit, you just exchanged one form of nicotine for another. how about a little hard work and being so proud of yourself b/c you did it on your own like a big girl? im always so hesitant to post what i feel about things, because i truly do not want to offend anyone. i know life is hard, and if something can help us through the rough times, who cares right? but i guess my point is just that we are stronger than we think. we dont need these crazy drugs that have a billion side effects and put you in a state of permanent spacy-ness! i am more scared of what the drugs do to you than feeling depressed or what it really feels like to get off nicotine for example. dont be afraid to feel! thats what lie is all about- feeling and experiencing. last year i had my 4th baby, and little did i know, had the worst year of my life. i went into a huge depression- hormonally induced, but very very real. my son is 16 months old, and i am just coming out of it. i barely remember the past year, it was so hard and tiring and sad. i could cry just thinking about it. but i fought and fought to get through it, and i knew i would, b/c i have faith in myself. not my doctor, not anti-depression meds, but myself. and i cant tell you how strong i feel for not giving up on myself. i kept working out, i ate healthy food, and i got sleep when i could. i kept in touch with friends and i cried a lot. i mean a lot! but i kept myself from falling deeper by keeping the faith. in myself. doing cardio releases "feel good" hormones in your brain that mimic a happy euphoric high. so i kept at it. day in day out, so many days i didnt want to get up and work out, but i made myself b/c i knew that was my ticket to feeling better.
we are responsible for our lives, for how we see the world, and how we feel the world. dont be afraid to feel your life. and i dont think we should be afraid to work hard and to battle things w/out the help of drugs. thats when we learn the most about ourselves.
on another side note! theres this amazing doctor, dr. weil. and his website is drweil.com btw....
he is a harvard trained MD. but he grew disappointed in the treatment minded medical system, and began focusing on prevention as opposed to treating his patients. he is very well known and in my opinion, an amazing guy who really has a grip on whats important and what it means to be healthy. he discusses exercise, our diet, and disease. he talks about how to heal from things w/out the typical drug cocktails. but most importantly, he feels like we need to put more emphasis on preventing illness, rather than treating it.
check him out! he just developed a food pyramid that we all should follow- throw out your ideas from the FDA and the ADA, and refer to his! it will literally, save your life :)