Avoid Antidepressants

Many of us have heard of the dangers of using antidepressants. Often they have a paradoxical side effect which can cause suicidal thoughts in users. I ask if they are even necessary. Recent studies suggest that they may not be.

We've all seen the copious number of youngsters on antidepressants. But psycho-science has led to a new and possibly more effective cure. MBCT Mindfullness based cognitive therapy, which identifies unhealthy thought processes and helps one address and correct them, is a new treatment replacing antidepressants. It has shown to be more effective than antidepressants especially in preventing a relapse.

Headaches

Todays world is a stressful environment. Stress can lead to chronic headaches, which is an illness that many Americans complain of having. But, like back pain, chronic headaches are typically brought on by the habits of the sufferer. One such habit is the abuse of painkiller medications such as tylenol or advil. These lead to a physical cycle of pain.
Instead try sleeping more. 8 hours a night is the amount most often recommended.

Many people complain of back pain, particularly in the lower back. This leads many to turn to medications, aspirin, tylenol, etc. In worse cases, back pain leads to use and dependence on harder pain meds such as oxy- or hydrocodone.
What many people don't know is that they are the orchestrators of their own demise. One of the leading causes of back pain is incorrect posture. Luckily there is a simple,solution to this common struggle.
Take out your list, and add another health benefit to the many that yoga can already claim. Yoga has been shown to consistently reduce chronic back pain. Particularly a type of yoga called viniyoga. Perform it just once a week and feel the difference.

Relieve your cough

Cough syrup contains the dangerous and deadly chemical dextromethorphan (DMX). Though this substance does help relieve your cough, it is also taken recreationally to get high, and often induces hallucinations. Even in small doses, it can make one feel dizzy and weak.
One of the main reasons cough syrup is used is to coat sore throats and relieve irritation from coughing. For this reason, honey is a good substitute for cough syrup. A recent pediatric study found that honey worked better than Robitussin at relieving a childs cough.

We are Generation RX

I recently read an article that described my generation (I am 19) as Generation RX. The reason being that we are the first generation being raised on and experimenting with manufactured drugs such as painkillers, amphetamines, and other substances.

But can we be blamed? The media constantly bombards us with advertisements for pharmaceuticals to treat any number of "illnesses." And doctors are "identifying" and "diagnosing" more mental and physical illnesses than ever. It seems that the only solution many psychiatrists even offer is a prescription. I may seem to be extremely one-sided on the subject, but with so many friends of mine, and friends of friends, becoming addicted to medications they were once prescribed by a doctor.

I'm not exactly sure of the specific goal or purpose of this blog. I'm not even sure exactly what I can accomplish with just a blog. But I hope to, at the very least, provide some information to others and help steer them away from treating themselves with drugs. At most, I hope this blog will incite conversation, debate, and action on what I consider to be our over-medicated country.