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It Takes More Than a Pill
When they visit their doctor, most individuals expect to get a prescription to alleviate their pain or particular ailment at the moment. With the advances in modern medicine, we’re very fortunate that there are so many medications and treatments available to us today, but it’s important to remember that other things can also help us manage our health and maintain a good quality of life.
Take, for example, high blood pressure. There are many medications that can help control blood pressure, especially for those individuals who inherit this condition, but there are other ways to keep those numbers in check: stop smoking, lose weight, reduce your salt intake and alcohol consumption, get more exercise, and get rid of unnecessary stress.
That last bit of advice is sometimes easier said than done, especially if those stressors face you at work. Many people are walking away from irritating and impossible work situations, opting for a simpler life that often generates less income but offers peace-of-mind and better health.
Sometimes a job can take over a person’s every thinking moment. All some people do is work and think about work. I remember reading about a dedicated young police officer with a long list of health problems, including very high blood pressure and migraine headaches. She literally took her work home, worrying about the people she encountered on patrol, especially the children. Dealing with life-threatening situations everyday was taking a toll on her.
After a thorough exam, her doctor sat down with her and wrote out a prescription that seemed a bit odd: “Start a collection. Pick something you like and add to that collection wherever you might be—on your day off, in the evening, weekends and on vacation.”
Wise Decision
The doctor’s advice was more than simply about getting a hobby. He knew his patient well, realizing she needed something to focus on besides work. The young woman went home to think about what she might collect, calling the next morning with newfound enthusiasm and energy—for frogs.
So instead of plopping down on the couch watching TV and worrying about work, she ventured out to local flea markets, thrift shops and garage sales to search for little frog figurines. Her tables and shelves are now full, which is sending some of her collection outside. This has developed into another interest—container gardening on the patio.
Today her blood pressure is normal and those headaches are gone. Her weight has dropped eight pounds from all that weekend walking and gardening, and she’s having fun scouring secondhand stores looking for gardening books. She’s also coping better with things at work, recently attending a series of optional in-service sessions on job-related stress.
Her doctor made a wise decision. How convenient it would have been to jot down a prescription for some pills and send her on her way, but instead he took the time to listen and realize what was best for his patient. Her symptoms weren’t going to vanish with a trip to the pharmacy.
Natural Process
Not all prescriptions are for pills. I’ve written many that include massage therapy, biofeedback sessions, pet adoptions and volunteering. It’s important to listen to your patient, seeing beyond the aches and pains. I’m certainly not against medications, but there’s a lot more to medicine than a bottle of pills.
Something else about medications: Many times when we face certain hurdles in life, especially grieving over the loss of a loved one, doctors and families are quick to suggest a tranquilizer. Naturally, everyone is different, so it’s best to weigh the circumstances with each individual and situation before making any decisions, but usually I don’t prescribe drugs. Grieving is a natural process that’s part of life, and we should be allowed to cry and feel those emotions from within. Taking pills only disrupts and delays the process, masking our ability to function normally.
Today’s world may be spinning at lightning speed, but we don’t always have to move that quickly. Take time to appreciate each moment, and listen to your body along the way. Sometimes a pill might be just what the doctor ordered. Other times a walk in the garden or visiting with a friend might be the best medicine. Be open to each suggestion.