There's a helluva lot of commercials for medications...both prescribed and over the counter.
In fact? I counted no less than 4 commercials in during one break. 4! Now mind you not every break had that many but every commercial break had at least two and no less than one medication advertised. There was even one commercial break when a medication advertisement was repeated twice in the same break. Considering how many commercials there are during an hour of television...that's a lot of advertising dollars being spent by big pharma.
And I noticed too that the commercials during the wee hours of the morning are different than those during the daytime. Have you ever noticed that?
I also noticed that there was not one commercial break that did not contain a medication advertisment. Not one!
It's a pill propaganda I tell ya! and way too many people get sucked into thinking their only option is to "pop a pill"...it's not though.
Medication advertisements are geared to those who need them most...so for those who can't sleep at night...you may notice that there are more ads for sleeping aids or even for pain relief. If you're watching during a sporting event...you may notice there are more ads for erectile dysfunction, heart and blood pressure medications. And their overall message? Take our pill and your life will improve.
The "benefits" of their products are shared openly, yet the cautions are rushed through by the speaker or shared in such fine print that you can't read it...yet their message remains the same...take our pill and your life will improve. But that's not always the case though is it? no...it's not.
If you're up late at night or at all hours of the day...watch the commercials and see for yourself how many are being advertised. Pay close attention to the warnings shared too okay? Are you taking any of the advertised medications?
Sometimes these ads catch us at our lowest moments, when we're struggling and feeling our pain hard. They count on us being "weak", thinking we can't do this, wanting it to just stop hurting. They're counting on you feeling your pain so you'll buy their product.
Big pharma is spending an awful lot of money trying to show you how your life can be improved by taking a pill. I for one will argue that it's not our only option. You won't see those other options advertised or even promoted by Big Pharma, but we do have options! Explore those too okay?
- Do you have a counselor to talk to? Have you explored Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?
- Do you use alternative treatments like massage therapy, chiropractor, physio therapy, visualization for relaxation, meditation, acupuncture, hydro therapy...there are even more too! yep..we have options!
- Gentle aerobics, Tai-Chi, Yoga are other good gentle exercise options...and swimming, and walking...see? even more options to get us moving again
The point to my rant is to say that our options go beyond a pill bottle...explore them!
If your choice is to take medications as a part of your pain treatment plan....talk to your doctor about the meds you're taking, the side effects you're experiencing (if any) and always have an open line of communication with your treatment team. Your doctors will only prescribe a medication when the benefits out weigh the risks...but...you're the one living with it and if the side effects are just too much for you...talk to your doctor. Please?
take good care of you
Tammy