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| | Notices | Welcome to PTSD Forum. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a life threatening, debilitating disorder that can break down a sufferer’s body through anxiety and stress. Further it poses a significant suicide risk resulting from the brains neurological imbalance and chemical depression. Sufferers often live in denial, thus this community is aimed at helping PTSD sufferers help themselves through others experiences, guidance and education. We are here for the sufferer, spouse and families surrounding PTSD. Spouses and family are too often forgotten in this equation, and often they receive all the worst that PTSD has to offer. If you're involved in any way with PTSD, get registered and help yourself now. Non-active members will eventually be deleted. If you are not a sufferer, carer or someone within the mental health industry, and active, then there is little reason for you to be a member of this forum. Non-active members with zero posts are deleted periodically during the year. |  | 
24-08-2007, 01:17 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oregon
Posts: 9
| |  Is There Such a Thing as Healthy Self-medication?
I know that self-medicating can sound negative at least to me? Is it possible? Or is that just an excuse to medicate? I don't know?  |
24-08-2007, 01:28 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newfoundland & Labrador
Posts: 1,830
| |
I believe it depends largely on what you are using to self-medicate, and whether you use it in moderation, or use it to excess. |
24-08-2007, 08:11 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ma
Posts: 2,617
| |
Fatherof3,
In my opinion....No. Self medicating, is self medicating. It all comes down to the same thing. Escaping, drowning out the feelings, emotions, & thoughts. Covering up what is trying to come out. It doesn't matter if it's with Illegal drugs, prescription, or booze...If they are abused it's self medication.
JMO
Wendy |
24-08-2007, 11:59 PM
| | | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: UK
Posts: 687
| |
Hello, I think there is. Its working out a healthy lifestyle which includes healthy eating and regular physical exercise. So, a fairly strict, healthy routine is my form of self medication now. It gives me the best chance to have a healthy life and remain sane while working on the mental/emotional problems. |
25-08-2007, 12:24 AM
| | | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Newfoundland & Labrador
Posts: 1,830
| |
I agree Claire. Perhaps I should clarify my first answer, it was rather rushed and brief. I include in self-medication not only drugs and alcohol, but anything a person may use to relieve stress or make themselves feel better in some way. So, eating, sex, watching television, exercise, playing video games and so on... those can all be forms of self-medication in my opinion. Used in moderation none of those are wrong. For example, Evie is not on any anxiety medication. When she becomes anxious, she will often spend an hour playing Nintendo, which calms her. Were she to play all day long, that would be a problem, however I don't see the harm in one hour. People cannot be dealing with their emotional issues head on 24/7, everyone requires some break or outlet. |
25-08-2007, 06:51 AM
| | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ma
Posts: 2,617
| |
I too agree with the healthy stuff as self medicating.....But as far as the rest no.....Just to clarify.
Wendy |
25-08-2007, 07:06 AM
|  | | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 796
| | self medicating
Yes, I agree with both of your answers. I initially thought that self medicating was a bad idea because I would never do that by myself, without a professional supervising me, because I can't trust myself because I am weak with PTSD and depression. I see now that you both are correct and my assumption was too narrow of a view. |
26-08-2007, 03:31 PM
|  | Administrative Editor PTSD | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,283
| |
Yep, use, abuse and dependence. To be perfectly honest, people have asked for my opinion on smoking pot. Now lets face it, its a drug and illegal in most parts of the world. The medical arena scientifically show that in small amounts the drug provides immense relief to those who suffer stress / anxiety disorders and some other issues. Again, its like cigarettes. Apparently a study found that one (1) cigarette per day is actually healthy for you due to the substances within it, the body actually uses small amounts of those for good purposes. The moment you become addicted to them though, then you abuse / depend upon them, which defeats the purpose. Same with alcohol, one drink a day is actually found to be healthy for the body, with two days fee per week, though people abuse that feeling they get from it / become addicted to the substance and the feeling.
The secret is simply Use a substance, DO NOT Abuse it or allow yourself to become Dependent upon it.
If you have an addictive personality, meaning you know you become easily addicted to things, DON'T use them in the first place.  | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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