It seems to me that life should be better and more comfortable for us, but then, where would we be able to get the things that make us want to climb more and more mountains, try to keep trying. Trying and being able to achieve things in even hard circumstances make us go on and live on.

Karebare, you are such an honest woman. All you have to do is look into your face and know that.

The Italians as well as many others love a wonderful glass of red wine. It helps the heart, the digestion and gives you some joy.

Some people don't react well to meds. That doesn't mean everyone should stop taking them.

However, my first advice is ALWAYS to talk to someone. Therapy first. A properly trained psychiatrist will never consider medicating first. My psychology teacher was a great psychologist; he always thoroughly examined his patients before deciding what course of therapy was best for them. If they needed medication before starting, he'd get them the prescription.

Some people DO NEED medication because their brains are actually imbalanced. No amount of happy thinking can change broken valves.

Oh by the way, it's been discovered that whatever it is that's in red wine and tomatoes and all that.... doesn't actually help prevent heart disease. Lypozene or something.

Of people who indeed enjoy their red wine, their tomatoes, fresh vegetables. Go there, and you seldom see obese people. And, of course, they have a diet based on grains.

I'm not saying Italians don't eat healthy, I am saying research proves that wine does NOT prevent heart disease. Being a proper weight, however, DOES.

There are "fads" in diagnoses.
There is certainly the heavy influence of pharmaceutical companies.
There are of course legitmate needs for meds.

It's important to balance needs for meds with possible negatives side effects.

I haI had anxiety attack a few years ago.. and my doctor put me on lexapro. I noticed nothing.. and then she put me on Wilburtin.. She said one helps the other.. "right" My heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest. I quit talking them.. and I gave up caffeine.. No more attacks..

My hubby has vividen<----sp... he takes for his back. When he takes it he is in la la land. I hurt my back once and took one and felt nothing..

All that stuff just doesn't seem to effect me.. Now red wine.. a couple glass of that and I'm fine..
d anxity attack a few years ago.. and my doctor put me on lexapro. I noticed nothing.. and then she put me on wellbrutin.. She said one helps the other.. My heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest. I quit talking them.. and I gave up caffine.. No more attacks..

My hubby has vikiden<----sp... he takes for his back. When he takes it he is in la la land. I hurt my back once and took one and felt nothing..

All that stuff just doesn't seem to effect me.. Now red wine.. a couple glass of that and I'm fine..

A few comments-

Some people really NEED medication, and it's a lifesaver for them.

But for some people, it's not the best option.

Most people see a regular doctor instead of a psychologist for ADHD/anxiety/depression. Regular docs aren't knowledgeable enough to do anything except prescribe meds, so that's what they do.

Most people want a quick fix and not to spend time (and money) in therapy to fix a problem, or to make real changes in their life.

Pharmaceutical companies make people think that the only way to get better is medication, and influence doctors to prescribe it, even if it might not be the best option.

LOL Georgia, when I first looked at your new avatar.. I thought it was a turkey!
It's pretty! Glad it's not a turkey

lol

Love your ballerina.

I agree with what Georgia stated above. Often people who go the anti-depressant route neglect to do the selfwork that got them into the place they are in to begin with. From my own experience, issues that aren't dealt with may continue to surface throughout one's life until properly dealt with and put away for good. I think anti-depressants or anti-anxiolytics are good tools to use to help an individual work through the core of their troubles, but all too often they are used as a bandaid for the soul, which is what really needs to be healed. (I wish it were as easy as just taking meds) I personally don't tolerate many medications. After I had Nanni and was having a lot of anxiety they put me on Zoloft which caused me to hallucinate and end up in the ER practically stuck to the ceiling with my eyes as big as soup plates. So I am very cautious when someone suggests new medications. It makes me nervous. I'd rather just be healthy but that takes a lot of hard work and facing some skeletons....

aren't you tired of hearing "talk to your doctor"? you can't just confide in a friend anymore without hearing, "oh go see the doctor and he will fix you up with something". and now people don't just feel anxious about something or have a crappy day, they have anxiety attacks or panic attacks. we just adopt the vocabulary and the mindset from the commercials and the "news" media without any thought or discretion. it's no longer normal to have ups and downs. everyone's in debt up the ying yang trying to find happiness in stuff and having panic attacks about it that they want to shut off by using a pill. you know, maybe the panic attacks are trying to tell you it's time for a change.

We knew a depressed young man once. We did as much as friends are physically capable of doing. We even helped him move out of his parents' house and live with us over the summer so he could get his life on track, since he said his parents were always putting him down. He never got a job. He never paid any of us a single cent. He acted depressed, sat around, never bathed, and used us and our sympathy. Finally, we kicked him out again. We were all sick of his games. He needed HELP from a doctor. He said he'd been in a clinic once after trying to commit suicide and that they didn't help him at all. We're pretty sure he refused to help himself.

I visited a friend yesterday who brought up the idea that in the current state of the econiomy, politics, global disaster looming, commercialism, debt, distraction, only the people paying attention are having anxiety attacks. And they should be. I don't know if I agree with that, but its pretty interesting.

I visited a friend yesterday who brought up the idea that in the current state of the econiomy, politics, global disaster looming, commercialism, debt, distraction, only the people paying attention are having anxiety attacks. And they should be. I don't know if I agree with that, but its pretty interesting.

I think we all should have a joint, smoke some wine, eat some junk food, giggle and go to bed,,

Just kidding.. I know a lot of people that have anxiety attacks and the meds help..

Smoke some wine? Marty, You've been drinking before noon again, haven't you????

Smoke some wine? Marty, You've been drinking before noon again, haven't you????