Drugs (legal ones)

Recently, I've quit both coffee and alcohol. 3 drinks in the last 5 weeks; no coffee for 40 days (and nights) ; no, we're not talking about Lent here!

I find coffee, even 1 decaf per day overly stimulating. I find alcohol to be a depressant that makes me go to sleep. So why was I paying people for this combination of "legal uppers and Alexanders (downers)?" what was the nutritional value in either?

What's pissed me off re the alcohol are the people who say "you don't drink because you have a control issue. You're afraid if you drink too much you won't be in control." Having given my reason, I find their comments rude and insulting. We all have different metabolisms, we're all different.

The third drug is called anti-depressants (ADs). First of all, don't do anything re this without consulting your health professional. But I believe in the idea that ADs are over-prescribed:
1. They are most likely over-advertised to health professionals(as proposed by Healthy Skepticism)
2. They are prescribed too quickly by docs and psychs who are too busy/unable to listen.
3. People are left on them for too long without counselling on what is causing the alleged need for the AD.
4. The difficulty in getting off them is well documented.

I think solutions lie in:
1, Docs and psychs always need to outline an initial counselling program at the same time as prescribing ADs.
2. There needs to be constant checking in re the need for continuing use.
3. There needs to be allowance by docs, psychs and employers to ensure sick leave and medical certificates are available for people to have time to come off ADs.
4. People need to be allowed to have someone attend appointments to advocate for them without question.

Here's to health (that's a toast with a glass of filtered water!)