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January Ask the Expert


12 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I think that we forget that the brain is a far different organ than all the rest. We will take stuff for sore muscles or a sore stomach and a tooth ache will get us running for help but the brain. That one is out of bounds except for a couple of aspirin. Their safe right? After all they are probably the most advertised medicine. The brain is a computer run on electrical impulses carried by chemicals. It is extremely fast but has built in regulators so that when it doesn't have to be it isn't. Till it gets out of whack. There are two ways to control it when it does this. Modify the electrical impulses by changing the triggers or limiting them with CBT. Or. Change the chemical aspect with medication. Both work. CBT works better and some times both need to be done for a while. So if Pepto Bismol, Tylenol, Aspirin, and cold medications don't bother you why do meds for the brain? Because you take them for a long time? What about Diabetes? Arthritis? Some of the meds for arthritis are more addictive, have worse side effects and will kill you quicker than any SSRI or other med for the brain. Is it misinformation or lack of information. More likely the latter. Who are you getting your information from? Are they informed? Might not be you know. It is up to you to get all the information you can on any drug recommended. For peace of mind and so it is at least the right thing. I learned that with Arthritis. There are lots of choices. No need to be taking the wrong thing. But like meds for the brain, all meds work best when they are tailored for you. And that part is up to you. Just like CBT is up to you.

Davit.
12 years ago 0 4027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Ashley,
I was biased in my first year of university against believing in meds.  A teaching assistant stated using meds to change the brain function was like ramming a telephone pole into a computer.  The teacher was likeninig a computer to a braining in that psychology course.
 
Dr. F gave a more elegant explanation which supports people's trust of meds, since they've come a long way and its such a specialized field
12 years ago 0 11210 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
There is a new Ask the Expert posted.

This month Dr. Farvolden discusses medications and how they can help with anxiety.

Have a read and post your thoughts here.

Ashley, Health Educator

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