| There
has been recent debate in the medical community
about defining and prescribing medication for
such “disorders” as social anxiety
disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and
post traumatic stress disorder. American society
is plagued by self-induced stress. Should this
be something we pop pills for? Retrospectively,
society accepts the unhealthiness of prior forms
of medicated stress relief. It is generally
accepted that smoking, for example, causes more
problems than it relieves. Why does America
swallow anti-anxiety medication so freely, without
worrying about harmful side effects? These are
powerful drugs that target chemicals in the
brain. Medication should be the last resort
in any anti-anxiety therapy. First, people who
suffer anxiety should be proactive and try to
resolve their concerns.
One example of a disorder that is suddenly
widely prescribed is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD). PTSD was first recognized as a serious
problem among veterans returning from war. These
men suffered cold sweats, panic attacks, nightmares,
and compulsive behavior as a result of near
death experiences and the mental anguish of
war. Some doctors are now claiming that this
same level of shock is regularly induced in
car accidents, they cite numbers as high as
9% of car accident victims suffer “significant
post-traumatic stress symptoms”.
A few years ago, I was in a rather serious
car accident, and I experienced symptoms like
these medical journals described. I would often
upset myself by dwelling on the accident. I
displayed obsessive behavior in that I avoided
left turns wherever possible, even on deserted
streets. I could not manage this out on country
roads, but in the city grid I was careful to
take three right turns instead of making just
one left. Riding in a car that slams on its
breaks still causes me to spin around and look
behind for the car that always seems to be on
the verge of collision. Was this Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder? As annoying as these symptoms
were, I find it would take a rather presumptuous
hypochondriac to insist that these small neuroses
could rival the intense stress of a veteran
returning from the horrors of war. Perhaps I
was stressed and absorbed by my experience,
but I certainly never needed medication.
What I did need to do was to be proactive.
I worked with the insurance companies to work
out the claims. I spoke with my lawyer and found
someone who wanted to buy and rebuild my totaled
car so I did not have to consign it to a junkyard.
I took responsibility for the situation and
did not let it take control of me. It did hurt
to think about my car for months, but I don’t
obsess about it anymore. If you feel overwhelmed
by a car accident experience and all of your
real medical needs are met, you do not need
a doctor. Talk to a lawyer about your situation
and be proactive about filing papers and taking
action. I felt overwhelmed after my car accident,
but talking to an experienced car accident attorney
helped me to answer my questions, address my
doubts, and quell my anxiety. No pills required.
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