If you are talking about opiates --prescribed or not-- i agree 110%. However, in addition to internally-induced remedies like meditation, I am an avowed advocate for at least one externally-induced remedy: marijuana. No doubt, it can be abused and lead to problems (not the least of which can be with the Legal System), but unlike opiates (and many other drugs), it is not physically addictive, and has few physiological drawbacks.
Doctors are very quick to prescribe drugs to address a problem ...which all too often lead to more, or compounded problems in the long run. "Alternatives" like meditation or marijuana or (from what i have heard, but haven't yet tried) acupuncture, are off-radar for your typical MD, despite centuries of proven benefits. Hopefully, that and the attitude that "Doctors are all-knowing and never-to-be-questioned" is fading so non-snakeoil alternatives can be considered seriously. There's a lot of propaganda out there that promotes that which can harm you and bashes that which can help. Information is your best defense and doing *anything* without it is just begging for problems. At 11:23 AM 10/12/2009, [email protected] wrote: >I agree, but for a much different reason. Once you get your high, you still >have to come back down. Often with those types of drug usuage, one can lose >or forget their personal baseline or where "down to earth" is located. Many >long time users end up going from highs to the basement and below. Finding >ground level then becomes the challenge. Nothing wrong with going into the >"unknowns" of the forest, just make sure that you don't get lost and forget >your way back to where you began. > >Best Wishes > >In a message dated 10/12/2009 10:17:21 A.M. Central Daylight Time, >[email protected] writes: >No, meditation does NOT involve using drugs. Its akin to prayer, but >agnostic. It is self-hypnosis that strives to reach alpha-state. > >http://www.mind-energy.net/archives/184-Relaxation-Technique-6-Entering-alpha-state-of-mind-by-yourself.html > > >If you are serious about addressing your problem --which sounds psychological >rather than physiological-- you shouldn't dismiss and make fun of suggestions >without at least looking at them. > >At 11:39 PM 10/11/2009, Steve Crowder wrote: >>Good idea -- time to get stoned. Thanks! >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: <mailto:[email protected]>bob quinn >>To: <mailto:[email protected]>Steve Crowder ; >><mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] >>Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 4:25 AM >>Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] This Is Pretty Long -- Sorry >>It may sound simplistic, but to deal with your startle response it sounds >>like you need to learn how to relax. Have you tried meditation? It can have >>amazing, transformative results given a good teacher/guide and when practiced >>on a regular basis. >>At 04:26 AM 10/11/2009, Steve Crowder wrote: >> >>><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> >>>CRY FOR HELP FOR MY STARTLE RESPONSE >>> >>> >>> >>>I have a huge problem I need to throw out to you guys. Over the past six >>>years, I have developed a severe case of scoliosis, curvature of my spine. >>>The >>>curve of my spine, which used to have me shaped like a banana. Now I am even >>>more bent. It gets worse every time I sit in my wheelchair. >>> >>> >>> >>>If my body were allowed to assume its natural shape, >>>then it would be excruciatingly painful. So just about everything I do, from >>>lying in bed to sitting in my wheelchair, requires compensatory measures. In >>>bed, I have to roll over on one side of my body, and then back onto my back >>>and somebody takes really guides my legs and a. >>>When I sit in my wheelchair, as I am right about to sit down, I have to have >>>someone guide my hips into my seat, otherwise I sit down in a painful >>>position. So dealing with that is an issue in itself. >>> >>> >>> >>>Here's my problem. I've developed a startle response. I startle at >>>anything -- anything. The worst is when I'm out in public. Everything gets >>>me. The overhead loudspeaker at stores paging people announcing things, >>>every loud voice, which is almost every voice, children laughing, babies >>>crying, car horns and alarms honking, you name it -- I get to the point >>>where I live in a pain, but worse -- my head is turned almost sideways, >>>which kills my neck (I have a C/3-C/6 fusion) and my only way out is to get >>>out of my wheelchair >>> >>> >>> >>>Something is always getting me when I'm in bed, also. Every time it happens, >>>it puts me into the most horrible pain. The very worst case is when I jump. >>>By jump, I mean my body actually moves and my legs go up in the air. Like I >>>said, I'm very incomplete and am capable of standing and even taking some >>>steps with assistance. But, without going too deeply into the subject, >>>bit and I move enough to be placed in agonizing pain. So I need somebody to >>>help me work on my startle problem. I have people rolling me like crazy. >>> >>> >>> >>>A "roll" is when somebody rolls me onto my side and then back on my back. >>>a number of steps involved, and if I startle during one of the >>>steps, we have to start all over again, which happens extremely frequently. >>>I'm wearing everyone out. It happens throughout the night, and when I don't >>>get rolled, the pain is through the roof. I need to find solutions to the >>>following questions: >>> >>> >>> >>>What do I do to stop? Who should I go to? I have a stage IV pressure sore >>>that will require surgery very soon, and I'll go nuts in the hospital. >>>
