Posted by syringachalet on January 3, 2003, at 11:24:39
In reply to Re: BENZODIAZEPINES ARE NOT THE ANSWER » micky301, posted by viridis on January 3, 2003, at 1:16:39
It seems that a lot of people here have had
many different experiences with the use of benzodiazepines.When I talk with my patients to whom have had a benzo or any other medication prescribed for them by either their reg MD or their PDOC, I ask them,
What do YOU expect these meds to do??
Will taking the meds make your family or friends nicer to you?
Do you think it is a 'magic bullet' that can 'fix' whatever is causing frustration or sadness in your life?
Do you think that denial or pretending the problem doesnt exist will make it go away?If you think so, you are setting
yourself to fail.Meds are a simply tools to help you help
yourself. No different than therapy, reading
self-help books, or hyponosis...BOTTOM LINE = only YOU can heal YOU....
What I tell my patients is that these 'tools' are there to help the emotional part of your brain slow down and your computer part of your brain catch up. With both parts of your brain working at the same slower speed...and maybe you can make some sense of your life.
I have seen hundreds of people whose lives were made better by taking the benzos, often in combo with othersmeds and thearpy.
Maybe they will never be what they once thought they could aspite to be.
Maybe they wont be exactly their parents hoped they would be. But they are still alive and sharing their lives with those whom care about them.
And most have a better grip on what is
realistic for them and their futures.Mental illness is a chronic illness and yes, it is similar to diabetes. You live with it 24/7.
Its there...in your face...and it isnt going away
no matter how much you wish it would.
so I guess what we all have to decide is...Who is going to be in control.. you or your illness???
With that control comes responsiblity and accountability for ones actions.
Having control over your illness and the
freedoms to do some of those things in your
life that are important have to be balanced
with responsible behaviors that do no harm
to you or others.When I have to help with a psych unit admission, the patient asks me, "When am I getting out of this place?" I tell them when you can prove to the doc that you can handle BOTH the freedom and the responsibility of your own actions/behaviors.
In a sense, I am trying to empower them to help them help heal themselves..to take back that control/responsibility..and function independently as much as their capacitites and safety will allow.
In summary, benzos dont do anything more than
what their chemical components allow them to.When someone is ready to start the job of
taking back the control of his life, the meds will be in the 'tool box'...just dont use the pliers as a hammer... they dont like that much and dont work worth a damm...
syringachalet
poster:syringachalet
thread:133201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134300.html