Ever wish you could just ask a bunch of girlfriends really quick their opinion on a doctor or who to use to repair your A/C?
That's exactly what Mamasource is... I love this place. Mom's sharing their lessons, opinions and advice. I have had several wonderful leads through this place.
No, I have nothing to gain from my little "commercial" I just think everyone should know about it.
Have fun!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
In which I climb upon my soap box...
My mom had 9 children. All of them without any kind of pain killer. One of them in the “comfort” of her own bed.
You know, 30 or 40 years ago, there may not have been a lot of safe options for pain free childbirth. And somehow, because women have been doing it for years, a Badge of Courage has been attached to a “natural” child birth. (little caveat here: couldn’t ALL child birth be deemed natural since the natural result is getting the baby OUT?) Anyhoo, I entered my child-bearing-years ready to earn this invisible Badge of Courage.
And I did pretty good too. Until I hit .5 centimeters… Then I was BEGGING for something. Anything. PLEASE take the pain away and to heck with the Badge of Courage.
I had the option, and I opted.
And guess what?
Once the medicine kicked in, I relaxed. Enjoyed the process. Even took a nap. For every baby, I have had medicine to numb the pain. And every baby, I have been able to enjoy the process.
Interesting, huh? Once you take away the thing that is hurting you, you can actually enjoy the process…
People use the argument to “justify” epidurals (as if they need justification), “You wouldn’t get a root canal without being numbed first, would you?” Well, actually my dad used to do that. Cavities, root canals – no Novocain. So that never really helped me any. I just had to come to terms that I was the kind of girl that didn’t enjoy pain and could have a much more healthy delivery WITH medication.
Now, despite what you may believe thus far, this is not a post about epidurals. Or Novocain.
It’s about medicine. Specifically psychotropic medicines (anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, ADHD, etc)
I will be the first to admit that doctors can over-diagnose and people can over-medicate. I will agree that medicine is not a replacement for sincere effort to overcome an issue, physical or emotional. Exercise, healthy eating, and spiritual steadiness – all these will help the entire body and mind.
But the truth of the matter is, there are some things – some very significant things – for which a person should be medicated.
My husband, in his similar post, mentions this very thing.
Someone with the debilitating chains of anxiety, the darkness of depression or the cloud of ADHD can actually receive help. Rid themselves of the pain. Enjoy the experience of life.
People mistakenly think that Psychotropic medication “numbs” you. That it turns you into a different person. It doesn’t. When you have the right one, it does the opposite. So many people I know tell me it helps them be the person they really are.
But, just like a person who takes medicine for Diabetes must follow a strict diet to maintain good health, there are things for a person being medicated for emotional issues must do to maintain good health. Exercise, therapy, good diet, etc.
Why do we at a society look at psychotropic medicine with judging glance? Because one person is able to pull themselves from the depths of depression through exercise, are we to expect everyone should respond the same way?
If there is a way, legally and with minimal side effects, to relieve both physical and emotional pain, who are we to say someone shouldn’t receive the help they need? Of course I am not talking about doping up every time a problem arises. But I am also not going to tell my friend, who has been crying for days and curled in a ball on the floor, that she doesn’t need an antidepressant. I am not going to tell the little boy who can’t focus that he doesn’t need ADHD medicine. And I am not going to tell the person who lives in constant anxiety to “suck it up and just get over it”.
There is help out there. It isn’t bad. It isn’t against God’s plan. And it can help a person enjoy the experience of life.
(personal side note: I was formulating this post while, without my knowledge, my hubby was writitng virtually the same thing...I guess we have both been thinking about the same thing. :))
You know, 30 or 40 years ago, there may not have been a lot of safe options for pain free childbirth. And somehow, because women have been doing it for years, a Badge of Courage has been attached to a “natural” child birth. (little caveat here: couldn’t ALL child birth be deemed natural since the natural result is getting the baby OUT?) Anyhoo, I entered my child-bearing-years ready to earn this invisible Badge of Courage.
And I did pretty good too. Until I hit .5 centimeters… Then I was BEGGING for something. Anything. PLEASE take the pain away and to heck with the Badge of Courage.
I had the option, and I opted.
And guess what?
Once the medicine kicked in, I relaxed. Enjoyed the process. Even took a nap. For every baby, I have had medicine to numb the pain. And every baby, I have been able to enjoy the process.
Interesting, huh? Once you take away the thing that is hurting you, you can actually enjoy the process…
People use the argument to “justify” epidurals (as if they need justification), “You wouldn’t get a root canal without being numbed first, would you?” Well, actually my dad used to do that. Cavities, root canals – no Novocain. So that never really helped me any. I just had to come to terms that I was the kind of girl that didn’t enjoy pain and could have a much more healthy delivery WITH medication.
Now, despite what you may believe thus far, this is not a post about epidurals. Or Novocain.
It’s about medicine. Specifically psychotropic medicines (anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, ADHD, etc)
I will be the first to admit that doctors can over-diagnose and people can over-medicate. I will agree that medicine is not a replacement for sincere effort to overcome an issue, physical or emotional. Exercise, healthy eating, and spiritual steadiness – all these will help the entire body and mind.
But the truth of the matter is, there are some things – some very significant things – for which a person should be medicated.
My husband, in his similar post, mentions this very thing.
Someone with the debilitating chains of anxiety, the darkness of depression or the cloud of ADHD can actually receive help. Rid themselves of the pain. Enjoy the experience of life.
People mistakenly think that Psychotropic medication “numbs” you. That it turns you into a different person. It doesn’t. When you have the right one, it does the opposite. So many people I know tell me it helps them be the person they really are.
But, just like a person who takes medicine for Diabetes must follow a strict diet to maintain good health, there are things for a person being medicated for emotional issues must do to maintain good health. Exercise, therapy, good diet, etc.
Why do we at a society look at psychotropic medicine with judging glance? Because one person is able to pull themselves from the depths of depression through exercise, are we to expect everyone should respond the same way?
If there is a way, legally and with minimal side effects, to relieve both physical and emotional pain, who are we to say someone shouldn’t receive the help they need? Of course I am not talking about doping up every time a problem arises. But I am also not going to tell my friend, who has been crying for days and curled in a ball on the floor, that she doesn’t need an antidepressant. I am not going to tell the little boy who can’t focus that he doesn’t need ADHD medicine. And I am not going to tell the person who lives in constant anxiety to “suck it up and just get over it”.
There is help out there. It isn’t bad. It isn’t against God’s plan. And it can help a person enjoy the experience of life.
(personal side note: I was formulating this post while, without my knowledge, my hubby was writitng virtually the same thing...I guess we have both been thinking about the same thing. :))
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Snapshots of our Vacation
We wanted to show the kiddos how wonderful Hawaii is...
here are just a few shots of our vacation.
Shortly after putting this lei on B, she got all splotchy and hot. We still don't know if it was the Plumarias or not. Just to be safe, no more lei's for her!
(some of us are happier than we look)
That's all for now!!
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