Angst in Iowa

When you’re a kid, you think everyone’s home and family is like yours. This changes when you “spend the night” at your friend’s house and realize that she doesn’t eat kimchi and rice. And her family goes bowling on weekends. And her parents don’t make her do extra math problems after completing her homework.

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It took me a long time to discover that anxiety and depression are not normal – that, in fact – they are states of suffering. It took me a long time to learn this because there was so much disquietude and tension everywhere: in my house, in her house…

It is everywhere:

“Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the U.S. They affect over 40 million adults (18 and older) or nearly 20% of the entire population every year.”(ADAA)*

AND…

“Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.” (ADAA)*

I know that all kinds of people have all kinds of disorders and that medication might be the only solution for a small percentage of the population. But I also believe that far too many of us want a quick fix in the form of a pill.

Anti-anxiety drugs, or “anxiolytics,” are powerful central nervous system (CNS) depressants that can slow normal brain function. They are often prescribed to reduce feelings of tension and anxiety, and/or to bring about sleep. Anti-anxiety medications are among the most abused drugs in the United States, obtained both legally, via prescription, and illegally, through the black market. These drugs are also known as sedatives. (Mind Disorders)**

Before considering drugs, let us try all the other options:

  • exercise
  • meditation
  • cognitive behavior therapy
  • getting more sleep
  • a better diet

…just to name a few natural alternatives!

 

 

Citations:

*Anxiety and Depression Association of America (https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics)

** Read more: http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Anti-anxiety-drugs-and-abuse.html#ixzz4zZvioxv3

 

 

4 thoughts on “Angst in Iowa”

  3. well said – well said – before drugs let’s try all those things you mentioned.
    I esp. agree with the sleep one you mentioned…
    and believe that some GAD is a direct result of going and going and going.
    sleep is cut short too much and some of us need a couple of ten-hour nights.
    I once heard someone say that some folks need to take off a week from work and then sleep. but we can’t d that – can we? we have wanderlust and after adventure we swing right back into work.
    oh and
    some folks need to maybe scale back (down size the house or drive a lesser vehicle) to take away certain work pressure – either to maintain a certain salary or they just do a job that is taxing them too much –
    and….
    we never here this scolding wisdom at the doctor’s office – “Are you biting off more than you can chew? “Did you buy too much house and now you cannot take time off to decompress or travel?”

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