The severity of drug withdrawal does not differentiate between street drugs versus medical drugs
So…don’t reach for the tranquillizers yet! Other choices that may serve you better in the long run. That’s a comment from experience – not a text book. Naturally, I took the harder road first.
Of course, there is a place for drug intervention and times to be grateful for drug options. But, as an initial solution for stress, tranquillizer dependency is an issue long overdue inspection… if not by doctors then by any individual seeking better health. It’s important to distinguish the difference between stress and anxiety. While stress can lead to anxiety, stress in itself is not necessarily bad. At least, not initially.
In its positive form as a catalyst, stress often initiates action. It can result in our efforts to find a more suitable job or to be well-prepared for an upcoming event. It may lead us to seek new skills or encourage us to change our perceptions. Stress and its more annoying form as anxiety is very much linked to our attitude, to listening and acting upon our inner signals. That can be a challenge for a society so heavily dependent upon external stimulus. With our preoccupation of ‘busy’, denial can creep in without us noticing that we are ignoring inner signals about the need for change.
In that content, it makes sense that stress only becomes detrimental when we don’t listen to the inner clues that all is not well. When we continue to push ahead through adversity regardless of how we feel, our health is often adversely impacted. It may result in a nervous stomach and indigestion or headaches. When not heeded with a lifestyle adjustment, stress may turn into anxiety that translates into poor sleep patterns – and that soon reflects into everything.
We all cope with varying levels of stress but the tendency continues for doctors to prescribe a tranquillizer or antidepressant for just about anything we label as stress. We could say that thirty-five years ago doctors didn’t realize how addictive these medical drugs were, but what would the excuse be today? Apparently we really are getting a dose of ‘learn to think for yourself’, as in question everything offered regardless of the degree on the wall.
Fact #1: No one has your best interest at heart as much as you. The evidence? No one lives with the results but you. Think of healthcare as a business. Inspect suggestions as you would any business proposal unless you have a confirmed chemical imbalance that requires drug intervention to function.
This is to emphasize that medical training targets health through drug therapy or surgery. While a doctor’s suggestions are well-meaning, the question is – are you at that stage of disease? Is a drug really the healthiest option?
It seems apparent that human physiology and chemical interactions are not studied in-depth within medical training compared to the extensive study of drug therapy and surgery. An elevated cholesterol level is met with suggestion of a drug without questioning which organ is not functioning efficiently and why. A similar example is the quick prescription given for a calcium drug once osteopenia is diagnosed, often without first testing to see where Vitamin D levels are. Without sufficient Vitamin D for uptake, the prescription is a waste of money and effort. Has anyone not yet noticed the one to two pages of cautions that accompany the simplest of drug prescriptions? That takes us back to the topic of tranquillizer options given to those in a medical office seeking help for stress.
With Ativan being a tranquillizer of choice in the early 1980’s that was not recognized as addictive by physicians, it is surprising that it is still used today when Ativan is now well-known as an addictive drug. That should be cause for questions. New drugs appear. But it doesn’t matter if the name is Ativan, Paxel, Zoloft or the latest on the market … people usually relate a similar story of higher anxiety when they try to wean off the drug. Unfortunately, many say they simply cannot do it. The long-term effects of medical drugs prescribed for anxiety and depression have not been studied to determine if the increase in neurological impairments as people age are linked to the common use of prescriptions for neurological symptoms.
The severity of drug withdrawal does not differentiate between street drugs versus medical drugs. Initial months will slowly clear residual from body tissues but additional therapeutic work is needed to access unhealthy mental and emotional patterns and the accompanying repressed emotional responses from the resulting chemical imbalance. That aftermath is well-documented but not well-publicized. For those already on tranquillizers the effort of going through the clearing process permits you to reclaim your life. It’s a process that must be done gradually with the safest outcome being under the guidance of a doctor in agreement or an experienced natural practitioner.
Regardless of your choice to cope with stress or anxiety, an overly-stressed state first begins when our system is either physically or emotionally overloaded. Improvement is so noticeable after we cleanse our metabolism to allow more efficient function of all body systems that inner cleansing and high nutrient provision become an easy initial option to provide a strong foundation for whatever additional methods you then choose.
There are many therapies to help cope with emotional and mental patterns that sabotage wellness. These are safer options for more lasting results than taking a tranquillizer to subdue habitual responses you find unacceptable.
Changing your lifestyle not an overnight process, but neither is drug withdrawal. It is important to note that those with recognized chemical imbalances such as bipolar cannot suddenly stop medication because in some cases it is the drug that enables balanced function. Even in these cases, however, much improvement can be gained by incorporating natural health promoters, including systemic cleansing, under proper guidance.
Comments here, however, are primarily aimed at early anxiety treatment before natural options have been considered rather than those who are tested as having metabolic chemical imbalance. Having said that, it is well-worth researching the improvement children with ADD and autism have been reported to experience from guidance to change dietary habits and to detoxify, in particular, for heavy metal overload which impairs neurological responses.
Options to Explore for Reduction of Stress:
- detoxification: systemic first, eventually followed by guidance for metal detoxification which should only be undertaken with an experienced practitioner
- improved diet to nurture the nervous system, the immune system and the digestive system which reflect into all body function
- exercise: oxygenates all tissues, improves brain function, helps flush chemicals from your system via faster circulation and lymphatic flow
- new hobbies: keep yourself busy with new, fun activities and meeting different people
- social groups, support groups
- adequate sleep: whether 7 hours or 10, sleep according to your body needs to permit rejuvenation of all body systems
- participate in volunteer activities
- access counselling
- meditation: walking can be a form of meditation when done without an iPod. Meditation helps you master your mind habits. There are many forms to help clear mental chaos while returning you to your core values and inner wisdom
- yoga: there are many forms of yoga. Ask which focus on breath and body movement versus holding postures. Respiration and muscular activity enhance lymphatic flow which is part of systemic waste removal
- mantra is ancient prayer in song form that releases tension from the brain and nervous system through use of sound. This is a non-religious, universal format for health and vitality
- drumming: an ancient worldwide sound form for balance and release through rhythm and pattern. Consider that grains of sand in a crystal bowl line up in patterns when the bowl is played, from vibration alone. Imagine how vibration can re-pattern your form and mind thoughts to an original and peaceful state. Such is the power of harmonious sound and music!
- herbs can assist neurological function when done with a practitioner’s guidance to match your requirements and your system
- various therapies can assist with lifestyle changes and emotional balance: including psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, polarity therapy and lifestyle coaching. Read about these forms to see what attracts you
- minimize alcohol consumption which is a stimulant; eliminate obvious pollutants like cigarettes and packaged fast-food
- be open to accepting guidance, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Others have walked the same path
This may sound like a handy list and you may think you don’t have the time nor interest. Keep in mind that periods of high stress and anxiety appear in our life when the patterns we are repeating no longer work well for us. A drug merely suppresses the responses to something that is not supportive or healthy, whether alcohol or a tranquillizer. There are many options when you are ready to do the work.
Wishing you the best of health and of life,
