Overprescribing Mental Health Pills
More people were using Prozac in the 1990’s than aspirin. It was the pop drug of choice for millions of mental health caregivers. Was all that prescribing warranted? We found that Prozac caused suicides and a set of other mental health impairments that were just as bad as depression if not worse. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Prozac is a bad drug or even a dangerous drug. What I am saying is that we were abusing it as a society and some might argue it’s even worse now in the 2000’s. You see these cure-alls all over the place and some of them are effective but not much as they say (like for example colon cleanser for weight loss.)
So what about our drug these days? What are we using as a cure-all? The answer is: Xanax. Xanax shows up in my spam box about 100 times a day along with the other spam. We all get them and if you’re like me, delete them in the bulk folder of your email program. So why is Xanax so alluring? Simple … it’s a powerful tranquilizer that knocks you out. If your doctor has prescribed you Xanax, I am sure he/she had good reason but before you start popping pills to chill yourself out, consider the fact that it IS habit forming and you could get addicted. It can be possible to find calm and happiness without medication (though at time meds are the only way).
While I am a proponent of medication to balance ones brain chemicals, I feel strongly these drugs are over prescribed. To protect yourself you need to learn what makes you happy and what you enjoy. Those should be the first line of defense against anxiety. Your doctor should tell you that, but most pdocs do not. Unfortunately you have to do your own research on how to quell your anxiety before you visit the pdoc. It wouldn’t hurt to give them the benefit of the doubt and see them before you explore natural ways of calm, but rest assured, Xanax is only a short term cure for anxiety. When your body builds up a tolerance, then what?
*caveat: J has reminded us that Xanax is likely not addictive when prescribed in the correct way and dosage. I was referring to people who abuse it with or without a prescription. Even pdocs make mistakes so do what is right for you after getting educaated on what you put into your delicate brain chemistry. Thanks J.
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Tags: anger, anxiety, balance, brain, brain chemicals, depression, drugs, Health, mental health, pdoc, pdocs, popping pills, prozac, suicides, tranquilizer, xanax
I'm Damien Riley, author and teacher. Here you'll find "think outside the box" posts on psychology and inspiration. 
I’m completely torn on this issue. While I do believe somewhat that these drugs are over prescribed, I’ve also seen them give lives back to many people, including me.
I never had any luck with Prozac or the earlier anti-depressants because of the side effects. To me, I felt worse on them than without them, but that changed for me with Cymbalta. I have no side effects at all with Cymbalta and my depression symptoms have almost completely ceased, I’d say.
As you point out, that med is different than a tranquilizer like Xanax. I’ve also taken Xanax for years now. When they started me on the med, I was taking it three times a day. I also sought therapy at the same time and learned many relaxation techniques as was able to make Xanax “as needed” Now, depending on my anxiety levels that may be three times a day to many, many weeks without taking it at all.
There’s research that indicates that people with anxiety disorders do not get “addicted” to Xanax in the way that other people might because they are not misusing the drug and it doesn’t have the same effect on severe anxiety patients as it does on others.
I don’t take it unless I’m severely anxious and that anxiety keeps me from doing something, like leaving the house. At those times, Xanax does not knock me out. It just returns me to “normal” and stops the panic so I can continue going about my day.
Dependency is another issue. Some people are dependent on high blood pressure medication, others on insulin, etc. I believe that people with anxiety disorders might be dependent on Xanax or other tranquilizers in a similar way.
Am I dependent on Xanax? Yes, at times, I believe that I am. I don’t believe for one second that I am addicted to the drug though. I think they are two different things.
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Thank you for that clarification about Xanax and its properties. I was referring to people who abuse the drug, not people who are properly using it under the care of a doctor. You gave a great comment there and maybe I should go back and put up a rebuttal to the part about Xanax being addictive. Best.
Thanks Damien. I didn’t mean to diminish the advice in your post because what you wrote is true! Xanax, if misused, is terribly addictive and through the right kinds of therapy, you can learn a lot of ways to ease anxiety. I’ve done it and it works and that is my method of choice over any medication.
I rely on them yet I do believe 100% that a lot of people may think of these meds as an instant fix and they aren’t. They don’t solve any problems, they just give some people who already have brain chemistry problems the ability to better cope with things like normal people. Whatever that means! LOL
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