“It is no sign of health to be well adjusted to a sick society.”- Krishnamurti
This is part II of my article regarding antidepressants and antianxiety medications.
In this part, let's talk about common real world problems which lead to people winding up on these medications.
First of all, let's throw out the term “drugs”. Have you ever noticed that if a medical substance is being presented in a positive light, it is referred to as a “medication” but if presented negatively, it is referred to as a “drug”? Stop that. You throw your own credibility out the window when you do that. You shut down discussion. You have illustrated clearly that your mind is closed and you are not open to any discussion. Stop it.
This part is going to mostly focus on what younger people today are facing but most of the issues addressed can apply to most adults as well. They are all stressors which we face in our general lives and do not even account for the stresses in our individual lives.
Put yourself in the position of young people today and the world we have given them. Imagine what they face.
Today our young people see news reports of school shootings on a near weekly basis. Most young people have the thought somewhere in their minds, “What if it happens in my school/church/mall?”
Meanwhile they see our government and part of the populace placing more importance on gun rights than on their right to live. They completely understand that the chances of a civilian with a gun stopping such an event is nearly nonexistent. They see the reports of armed teachers accidentally shooting themselves and, in one case this week, injuring three students in a gun mishap.
They see the fact that the debate skipped completely over any non-lethal suggestions and straight into arming teachers.
They see that their schools are under-funded yet we can discuss paying for guns.
Meanwhile, young people have grown up in a country which has been at war probably their entire lives. My own daughter has not known a time that this country was not at war. It began before she was born. They are in no way blind to our government not making any attempt to end any wars, instead trying to expand warfare to include nuclear powers with much larger armies and much better equipped.
They understand that this country is in debt. School budgets are being slashed and college assistance reduced or even eliminated. While our WAR department budget has reached the highest of any country in history. They know that they will be paying for the national debt for the rest of their lives.
They see the emotional conflict involved in our young people being hailed as heroes if they put on a uniform and kill children and families in other countries. Yet called demons if the same person shoots up a school in this country. What is the difference? The paycheck? Skin color? How does that make children of color feel?
They face debates about racism while most of them strive to accept each other across racial divides.
They face bathroom laws, while they are trying to figure out their own gender identities. Sometimes having to hide their gender identities from their families and/or alleged friends for fear of being rejected. All the while just hoping to someday be happy with themselves.
They see their parents struggling with finances, sometimes rarely seeing one or both parents because of long work hours. It's not like past generations when children could work with parents or even visit their parents at work.
They see their own futures in the economy today. That they have little hope of affording their own apartment, let alone a home.
They are told to get an adult education while they are exhausted from 12 years of school, homework, doing extracurricular activities less for enjoyment than to increase their chances to get into a better college or university. Possibly when they have not figured out what they want to do with their lives.
On that, they are pressured to figure out what direction their entire life is going to take before they have ever had their first date.
In socializing, they fear rape, assault, robbery, police abuse if they go out in public.
If they raise their voice in political protest, they fear being called fake, being arrested, being vilified. Mostly because they are standing up for basic human rights. Like feeling safe in school.
They are attacked for always being attached to their electronics, especially their cell phones. That phone is their lifeline in a connected world. If they do not acquire technological skills, they are at a disadvantage. Their phones are their connection to their friends and families. It is their reference for information. It is their entertainment, their diversions from stress. It helps them in school. Don't attack them for being attached to their electronics. Where are you viewing this article right now? How many young people see their parents always on a computer or cell phone?
Going back to expanding wars, they see how soldiers with PTSD are treated. What the effects are. Many have parents with PTSD. Think they want to go there?
They see the military recruiters coming to their schools, setting up displays in malls, trying to sell them on signing up. They probably understand that there is a very good chance that if we expand or even continue all of our conflicts, then the draft will be enacted. Some will sign up for military service because they see no hope for a future in their own communities.
They know about STD's, risk of sexual assault and harassment, various sexual choices. More than you think they do.
They face bullying, peer pressure and drug abuse.
That's the short list.
None of this is within their direct control. They face all of these pressures while also trying to learn enough to maintain good grades in school. Often while dealing with abusive conditions at home. So, is it any wonder that we have so many young people winding up on some form of antidepressants or antianxiety medications?
No, the medications will not help with real life problems.
What is really needed as a start is expanded access the therapy. I covered some of the problems associated with that in pt I. We have advanced the debate about universal healthcare enough that it may be a possibility in our lifetime but we cannot be sure of that in an overly capitalistic environment.
What is needed even more than that is for our society to address the very real problems. Roll up our sleeves, get down in the dirt and work together to fix things. Honestly, these young people are more likely to do that than the current “adult” (sic) generations. Because we have left them little else at the personal level to strive for. Because they are connected and they see each other. Because we have left them with nothing else BUT those connections.
And their medications.
No, I am not in favor of medicating toddlers. But it comes as no surprise to me that so many young people already are or will be on medications to deal with all of this. What the hell else have they been given?
I give them credit for being as self restrained as they are. For being as responsible as they are.
We can have the discussion on these medications AFTER we deal with the REAL problems. Not before.
