Legato said:
@Satori: That's exactly why I'm skeptic when it comes to health in the US, here the custom is not to produce when there is a need but to create the need and then worry about production. This is all the more true in the pharmaceutical market where it's easy to point at a common behavior and say: here, here take a pill and you'll be fine! Good examples...
However I would like to move away from that drug business which is obviously abusive, so what about disorders for which there are no drugs? For example social anxiety, which I'm supposedely suffering for, there are no drugs, no treatments, the only solution seems to be to see a psychologist, in that case is it the same kind of abuse that we see with drugs except that you are directed toward a psychologist? Isn't such a disorder something that has always existed among societies and will always exists? I guess my point here is to see whethere we move toward the kind of world described in "Brave New World" where everyone takes drugs to feel good or are we justified in our approach of these new discoveries of the human behavior?
I think there are some diseases and phobias that may need medication--at least, temporarily if the symptoms are too severe while exploring the cause. However, not all diseases and phobias need to be medicated. In fact, in my opinion most do not. I am a strong believer in cause-and-effect. Once you recognize the effects, you need to search for and eliminate the cause. Unfortunately, most meds basically provide a band-aid effect, which doesn't solve the underlying problem. Also, some diseases are misdiagnosed quite often. For example, bipolar cases (formerly referred to as manic-depressive) are often undiagnosed thyroid problems. In my opinion, these days too many therapists are inclined to prescribe medication for problems that could otherwise be treated by self-examination through therapy or one's own efforts.
As far as social anxiety is concerned, I suppose I fit that category with respect to public speaking and stage fright. However, I've spent years working on this issue, so most of it would no longer apply (such as speaking up in large groups), but I would have to say that it is still an ongoing problem for me in terms of getting up in front of people on a stage or on T.V. The trick is to find the source of these fears. They usually stem from negative childhood experiences, such as intense judgment, criticism, etc. that you may have received as a child. For me, I grew up in an entire household that judged and criticized, so in order to survive as a child, I denied the fact that my family wasn't a loving and supportive family and convinced myself that the rest of the world was judgmental and critical. Denial is a powerful survival tool when the truth is too painful to face. Eventually, you reach a point where denial no longer works and the truth is the only thing that can set you free.
And I believe most people are at that point when they begin to recognize that something is wrong in their lives, such as irrational fears like society anxiety, etc. Once I faced the truth that my family members were the ones who were judgmental and critical of me (and each other, really) and not the rest of the world, I no longer feared the intense judgment and criticism from the public at large, which I believe is the main cause of stage fright and other fears like it. In fact, there's a whole world out there that is open to loving and approving of you if you open yourself up to it. But you have to learn to love and support yourself first by learning not to judge and criticize yourself, so that you will no longer attract judgment and criticism from others and, instead, attract love and support. Also, it's important to recognize that when you are afraid of what other people are thinking about you, you are giving your power away to them and to the situation to determine your worth. The question to ask yourself is: Why is their opinion more important than your own? Answering that question will help you take your power back and internalize that it's really what you think that matters and not what others think. Easier said than done, I know, but that is the goal. It takes a lot of work and tremendous courage to work through such deeply held fears, but it's the only way to get past it.
With respect to your questions about possible solutions to social anxiety, I don't know if you have read the information on this site:
What is social anxiety?
http://www.socialphobia.org/whatis.html#whatis1
According to the above site, any type of psychotherapy for social anxiety would be very short-term. The only time I have heard of someone who might not be a good candidate for therapy would be with respect to those who do not show any aptitude for self-reflection and introspection. Those are the most difficult patients. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if those types of patients would opt for drugs to mask their problems so that they wouldn't have to face their issues. Of course, that would never solve their problems.
Kirei is correct about the dangers of Paxil. From what I have read, it is apparently a very dangerous drug. It's shocking how dangerous these drugs can be and yet how freely they are distributed to patients in this country, as well as around the world. Here are a couple of links to some rather interesting articles on both Prozac and Paxil:
Prozac, Suicide and Dr. Healy:
http://www.counterpunch.org/prozacsuicide.html
Dr. David Dunner:
Paxil's Friendly Ghostwriter?
http://www.counterpunch.org/giombettipaxil.html
These pharmaceutical companies are giants that are out of control, IMO. I remember seeing the list of companies that back Partnership for a Drug-Free America, and almost all of the supporters were pharmaceutical companies. They want to keep illegal drugs, such as marijuana, illegal and out of the hands of Americans, so that people will be forced to buy their drugs where a prescription is necessary instead. And they are making a fortune off of that arrangement! Yet as many researchers have discovered, marijuana is not only beneficial in treating the effects of glaucoma, cancer, AIDS, etc., but also some mental disorders such as depression and bipolar disease. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical companies are doing all they can to prevent the use of natural drugs in favor of forcing their particular drugs, with their terrible side-effects, on an unsuspecting public. That is not to say that pharmaceutical companies don't provide very good and effect medications either. But my objection is to their abuse in the particular area we are discussing here in this thread--creating drugs for problems that don't need to be medicated.
