by Dan Stelter

Created on: April 19, 2009

The topic of medication is always a controversy in our
modern age. American society, most of all the Western
nations, wants everything done immediately, and medication
sometimes appears to be a viable shortcut. But, is
medication necessarily a good choice for you?
The first thing to determine is whether one needs it or
not, and many factors need consideration. Doctors,

counselors, and psychiatrists are more than willing and
happy to help clients find the medication that he or she
"needs." However, I would contend that most people do not
need the high dosages professionals claim they do, while
many others do not need medication at all. Experts, while
more knowledgeable than the average person, are not
necessarily aware of all the effects medication has; no one
is. The other thing to be wary of when reading about
medications is who is being paid to promote them, and who is
paying the promoter. It is no coincidence that drug
companies find that their drug is the most effective, far
more so than competitors. Try to find independently
conducted empirical research for reliable data. The best
thing to do is to discuss your medication with others who
are taking the same medication, personally judge what
changes are brought about via the drug and whether those
positive changes outweigh the negative ones. Finally, also
consult your counselor, psychiatrist, or doctor, but do so
with caution.
And here is some advice on professionals: the first thing
to remember when seeing a counselor, psychiatrist, or doctor
about medication is that you are the expert on yourself. A
good professional will give you his advice about the drug,
and then let you make the choice. In an ideal world, this
would always happen; unfortunately it often does not. If a
professional continues to claim that a certain medication
will work or is helping, but you feel very differently, then
it is probably time to find a new doctor, counselor, or
psychiatrist. If a doctor, counselor, or psychiatrist makes
finding the right medication difficult in any way, then by
all means you have the right to fire them and go see someone
else. Perhaps that person is receiving commissions from
drug companies or perhaps that person simply does not know
what he or she is doing, or perhaps it is an honest mistake.
Whatever the reason, remember the "experts" make mistakes,
sometimes purposely so.
Drugs are most effective when you engage in a multi-faceted
approach to recovering from anxiety. When you engage in
anxiety-reducing activities like regular exercise, making
new

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