The following is an excerpt from Madisyn Taylor's new book,
"Unmedicated: The Four Pillars of Natural Wellness."
If you would like
to purchase the book, click here.
When we think of medication in the traditional sense, we think about
pills taken on a daily basis to provide relief from a specific ailment.
Our doctor writes us a prescription for what ails us and we begin the
regimen. Normally we accept the medication without question, because we
fully believe it will make us well and we trust our doctor with our
health. In many cases, this belief is warranted. In these situations,
the medication has a direct intent and use, and taken for a period of
time, it can give much-needed relief and healing.
Unmedicated offers an alternative, holistic path for people who
want to heal themselves from the crippling effects that excessive
reliance on medications such as antidepressants can create in the body,
mind, and spirit. I hear too often from my friends, colleagues, or those
who write to me through DailyOM, "I'm suffering on medication." This
book is for them and for you--for anyone who wants to be their
healthiest. I want to provide a new, gentle option--a guide based on the
assumption that you know best the roots of what debilitates you and
prevents you from living fully. I'm a big believer in taking your health
into your own hands, which really means taking your life into your own
hands.
You must advocate for your own health because nobody else is going to.
You must practice being inquisitive, informed, and proactive. At first
it may be challenging and maybe even intimidating to question your
doctor. I know firsthand because I had to learn to find the courage to
speak up. Now, whenever I am offered medication, I always ask these two
questions:
1. Is there a lifestyle change I can make first to avoid taking this medication?
2. Is there an underlying, root cause of the condition?
It isn't always possible to find the answers, but I always investigate
first, and being informed leaves me feeling empowered rather than
deflated. When you decide to really advocate for your own health, it
means having a conversation with your doctor and then researching on
your own. I check the website of the pharmaceutical company to read side
effects and studies, I check with friends to see if they have taken the
medication, and I look online for any negative feedback from other
people who have taken it.
I do the same thing when exploring an alternative: Is there an herbal or
homeopathic remedy? A lifestyle or dietary change I can make? For too
long we have given our power away to our doctors. If you are fortunate
enough to have a family doctor who has known you well and for a long
time, count yourself lucky. Most people have multiple doctors for
different ailments and have zero personal connection with their
caregivers. Because we often lack a relationship with our doctors, there
is a disconnect, and we simply take the prescription order and fill it;
we assume that is what is best for us. Maybe the prescription is best
for you, but you owe it to yourself to find out why.
There are other types of medication, though, besides
pharmaceuticals--the type we use to self-medicate, such as addictive
behaviors involving food, social media, work, sex, gambling, alcohol,
isolation, and illicit drugs. We tend to self-medicate to numb ourselves
of an emotional pain, past abuse, or trauma; we want to protect
ourselves from the deep pain we don't want to feel. I know this from
personal experience.
All of these types of behaviors throw a blanket over us so we no longer
have to feel our feelings or participate in life fully, with an open
heart. We are so brilliant as a human species that we have a built-in
protection system to keep us from harm, and each of us chooses what
seems to fit appropriately. Any behavior you engage in to make you not
feel your emotional pain could be considered self-medicating.
Slowly, over time, these behaviors take hold, become addictive, and take
over your existence, often without your recognizing it. We know about
the destructive habits of illicit drug use, but we may not notice how
the behavior of isolation can become detrimental to our well-being. When
isolation becomes a firmly rooted belief in your life, shielding
yourself from friendships and relationships, it can silently evolve into
a deep fear that prevents you from ever leaving your house. Because
there is no blood test needed for this, we pass it off as just wanting
to be alone.
Or maybe you enjoy your wine each day after work but don't realize when, at some point, it shifts into
needing
the wine each day rather than just enjoying it--the point where one
glass becomes two or three. Or perhaps you feel bored, which leads you
to spend countless hours online, surfing the internet with no real
purpose or value. You don't recognize that the boredom and isolation are
signs of depression; you don't recognize that getting tipsy or drunk
each day allows you to ignore feelings that desperately want to be
acknowledged.
All of these physical and emotional behaviors and actions derail you
from living your best and most fulfilled life. You don't mean to do it,
and you aren't a bad person or a failure for taking up these behaviors.
Like I shared in my own story, by continuing to ignore and numb my
feelings, these behaviors never went away but instead manifested as
debilitating illness, depression, and anxiety. Fortunately, all of my
self-medicating behaviors changed and I am healthy now, and you can do
the same thing if you take the time and dedicate yourself to improving
your wellness.
