tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962052530692148862.post214115783736993542..comments2023-07-03T06:33:46.282-07:00Comments on Bravo Charlie Sierra: Random status updateBrieCShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09759011454975638181noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962052530692148862.post-89273164830894969432013-01-15T08:55:06.199-08:002013-01-15T08:55:06.199-08:00See, it doesn't quite work that way with menta...See, it doesn't quite work that way with mental health - at least not chemical imbalance. My bipolar disorder is primarily chemical imbalance. Like, there are certain things that trigger the depression, but for the most part, it's completely based on the chemical and electrical impulses in my brain. So medication may seem like it's masking, but it's not - it's actually adjusting the chemicals and impulses in my brain. It's literally a temporary fix (there is no cure for bipolar - you cannot "get over" it, except with some cases of electro-shock therapy which is SERIOUSLY dangerous), which is why some people stay on it for life. <br /><br />Anxiety disorders often have a emotional component and are based on long-term-influence on your brain, so your initial responses are emotional, but when it continues for long periods it changes your brain's chemistry. Typically a combination of medication and therapy is best - therapy to change behaviors so eventually you might reverse the chemical imbalance (not always possible) and medication to help reduce the stress in the interim. <br /><br />Not all medicine masks a problem. Especially not with mental health, since so much of mental health is based on your brain changing, and so much of medicine is based on helping to reverse or simply ease that damage. It's much different than a physical injury. Although, physical injuries can be fixed by medicine, too - a lot of medicine just eases the healing, or for chronic problems makes it easier to live with. I take pain medicine for my fibromyalgia because it's unable to be healed - if I didn't sometimes take pain medicine, not only would it damage my immune system and cause problems with my mental health, but it can lead to physical complications, too. When I am in a lot of pain, I tense up, and the tense muscles can get damaged (micro-tears in my muscles) or strained. My calves are both damaged from long-term muscle strain and muscle tears that were the result of cramping + physical activity. The pain medicine and muscle relaxers that I have taken make me less tense, reducing the risk of more tears. But, they are meant for helping, not a cure. Physical therapy can help, but it's not much different in efficacy than the medicines (and I've had lousy luck with physical therapy). <br /><br />It's pretty complicated. The best thing is therapy to change behaviors and ensure that any emotional problems are rooted out with medication to help ease the transition and help recover damage to brain chemistry.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371081290350211755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962052530692148862.post-20045132095199657152013-01-15T08:54:24.472-08:002013-01-15T08:54:24.472-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371081290350211755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8962052530692148862.post-25693026203950417922013-01-14T21:44:23.235-08:002013-01-14T21:44:23.235-08:00I think I like the idea of therapy better than med...I think I like the idea of therapy better than medicine. I think medicines masks a problem. Even if it is for a sore knee, medicine masks the problem and you might trick yourself into thinking you are better. I'd rather have the physical therapy there. I don't have any real decisions just injury type stuff.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04690377414823039284noreply@blogger.com