3 ms·

because my (born 1991) parents' (born early 1960s) generation, at least (probably other generations too) was raised to unquestioningly believe in the infinite m

because my (born 1991) parents' (born early 1960s) generation, at least (probably other generations too) was raised to unquestioningly believe in the infinite miracles of the pharmaceutical industry such that any time there was any sort of "problem" with any of their children, they reached out to someone with a degree in something that would permit them to write a prescription for something, anything. they put me on all kinds of various antidepressants and amphetamines, trying to figure out the big mystery behind why the computer dork kid finds high school boring and feels sad all the time because he doesn't fit in because he's a computer dork. they put me on all kinds of shit that messed with my head in various ways—thank God I didn't kill myself—and I'm still on Adderall to this day. at some point I'll wean myself off of it but in the meantime I'm dependent on it and withdrawal is hell. I'm going to raise my children differently. we'll still get antibiotics when they catch a cold or whatever, but this "oh there's a magic pill that can solve your specific problem for you, we just need to try a dozen different ones, throwing shit at the wall until you either kill yourself or feel better" mindset is incomprehensibly insane to me.

pstuart 3y ago
"throwing shit at a wall" is kind of unavoidable because everybody responds differently and using educated guesses and iterating is a sensible approach. Virtually every medication has risks/issues, so responsible use requires understanding those risks and be prepared to change course as conditions warrent it. That said, medication should be one facet of many (behavioral modification, diet, exercise, meditation, etc). We're also all ultimately responsible for our own health so passively consuming pills without taking ownership is not license to blame your parents, "the system" or anything else.

pstuart 3y ago

"throwing shit at a wall" is kind of unavoidable because everybody responds differently and using educated guesses and iterating is a sensible approach. Virtually every medication has risks/issues, so responsible use requires understanding those risks and be prepared to change course as conditions warrent it. That said, medication should be one facet of many (behavioral modification, diet, exercise, meditation, etc). We're also all ultimately responsible for our own health so passively consuming pills without taking ownership is not license to blame your parents, "the system" or anything else.