Quick Fix Society |
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| Microwaves, Fast Food, Jiffy Lube, One-hour photo, Instyprints, U-check Out Lines, meal replacement shakes, Metabolite, gastric bypass surgery, spray-on tans; these are some of many quick fixes in our society. “The faster, the better” seems to be the message. In life, in health, in medicine and in mental health, people are looking for that same short-cut when, in fact, the short-cuts often create longer lasting problems. | ||
| I remember a time when I was in high school. A friend and I walked from her house to the high school. We took a dirt road that went for several miles. We came to a field off to the right of the road just opposite of the school. I suggested that we take a “short-cut.” If we cut through the field, we would be right at the school soccer fields and we could shave off about a half a mile going down the rest of the dirt road to get to the main road. So, off we went. What I did not see were the thorn bushes, the high weeds, the muck, the burrs and the wetland swampy area. While we were high-stepping over all kinds of hurdles, we were cut, scratched and jabbed by wild weeds, ricocheting twigs and other unknown assailants of nature. Our “short-cut” turned into a hazardous, laborious trek that lasted well over an hour. Had we taken the straight road, we would have been there in 15 minutes! | ||
| As a Psychologist and Life Coach, I see the same with people wanting to have quick fixes to their problems and habits. We all want the fastest solution and rapid results. The bottom line is that we have to do some work. Starvation diets make our bodies go into life-saving mode of slowing the metabolism way down. Bypass surgery for weight loss has merits in medical emergencies, but can also cause chronic mal-absorption problems if not treated properly, post-surgically. Well-meaning physicians often appease patients who have panic, anxiety and depression by prescribing medication without even having their patients enter therapy with a trained mental health professional who can help them improve significantly just by addressing their thinking and behaving. | ||
| Too often, prescriptions for Xanax, antidepressants, and sleep aids ad to the problems people have and result in over-medicating, drug interactions, side effects, sleep pattern alteration, and drug dependency. Even when people make gains in therapy by thinking differently, acting differently, they fear getting off antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication that were not absolutely needed. It is best to have a mental health professional assess the degree of problem before beginning medication. Medication is clearly necessitated at times. All too often, however, it is prescribed before appropriate assessment of true need can be made by the proper professional. | ||
| Good therapy will give a person hope right away. Secondly, having a supportive place to talk about problems and concerns allows for the problem to be clearly evaluated. Had I known that our “short-cut” had all kinds of complications, I would not have chosen that path. Similarly with medications, most people do not realize the complications and side effects. For example, sleep aids alter sleep patterns in time and create drug dependency. Antidepressants have their merit for sure for severe and chronic depression. Yet, dry mouth, constipation, sleep disruption, sexual dysfunction, drug-induced mania, over sedation, diarrhea, headache, nightmares, and agitation are some of the problems that medication can create. While Xanax is regularly prescribed as a drug of choice for treating the annoying physiological symptoms resulting from panic attacks, people do not realize that Xanax is very similar to Valium. More and more of the drug is needed over time to have the same effect, leading to dependency and addiction. Panic can often be very successfully overcome using the very symptoms of panic to address and resolve the underlying cause. Without the panic, it is hard to resolve the problem. Only the symptoms are treated and disappear; leaving the patient stuck on medication for life and fearful of ever getting off them. | ||
| If you suffer from panic, anxiety or depression, see your physician to rule out any medical conditions that can create those symptoms if you have any fear that you are suffering from a physical problem. Also, consult a mental health professional who is well-trained and skilled to know how to separate psychological from medical symptoms. Thyroid problems, heart conditions, electrolyte imbalances, Diabetes, Chronic Fatigue and other diseases can mimic emotional problems and vice versa. Work together with your physician and ask to see a psychologist so that you are not taking medication before you even assess whether or not your problems can be resolved without them. A very good Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Clinical Social Worker should be adept at determining when consultation with a Psychiatrist or your Physician is in order to add or evaluate medication needs. Trust them as a team before you agree to take medications for emotional problems. | ||
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This article was written by Dr. Laurel A. Sills, a Fully Licensed Clinical Psychologist (since 1987) and Life Coach. She provides direct, down-to-earth, short-term therapy with long-term results. She is passionate in her work and will help you stay motivated to change your life with regular commitment to changing habits in thinking and behaving. See her website at: www.DrLSills.com or www.BuildAStrongerYou.com |
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Copyright 2006© Laurel A. Sills, Psy.D. All rights reserved Back to Articles |