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Originally Posted by daveT
What does that book have to do with curing anxiety and other phychiatric disorders, especially when it was written in the 1960s? I can understand something like this during the times of frontal labotomies, but now?
You seem to favor the administration of drugs, but also talk about cognitive therapy.
I think there is plenty of evidence that a lot of different things can contribute to anxiety and changing things in ones life, behaving differently etc etc can help improve things.
Drugs should be used as a last resort, not a first resort.
It is interesting that you compare that information to frontal lobotomies. I think the way drugs are distributed for mental disorders in 2009 is pretty much the frontal lobotomy of our time. We don't, with any precision or accuracy, understand how or why they are helping, and certainly can not document consistent results. It is especially difficult because any judging criteria is likely wholly subjective.
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There are plenty of things people who suffer from anxiety can potentially do to help ease their anxiety without taking pills. I don't know what is in that book, but because it was written in the 1960s does not negate that it might provide useful information to help someone with anxiety. Do you think the only viable treatments for anxiety have been uncovered since the 70s? Some people may require those more drastic steps, but it certainly should not be the first thing tried. Psychiatric meds are probably the least understood medications we use by a large amount.
I would be curious as to what the OP feels he is getting anxious about when he is out at the mall and movie theaters. Is it having to do with how he feels other people might be perceiving him? What are the common and likely repetitive thoughts you seem to be having in these situations that are building up your anxiety?