“Media, the plural of mediocrity.” – Jimmy Breslin
Well the “chaos merchants” are at it again. Margaret has taken a pretty nice stab at the hub-bub. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care what it is if they can get serious results and relief. But what I really liked about Margaret’s article actually had little to do with the ecstasy research. I liked her links to her past postings and studies about the curative effect of cucurmin and depression.
“But even if the new drug does remain psychoactive, given the grueling side effects associated with most cancer treatment, having feelings of peacefulness and connection with others is unlikely to be objectionable. “You could have worse side effects,” Gordon notes wryly.”
I don’t care for the cavalier attitude of this researcher on altering the body, mind, spirit, with chemical concoctions. Of course, right now, we feel we need them to live, to survive, to kill the cancer, but I don’t take any of it as lightly as Dr. Gordon seems to. Some of us might not find this an acceptable QOL issue. Feeling numb, unemotional, artificially serene and disconnected from all that we know about who we are, worts and all. I just don’t care for the assumption, that’s all.
Anyway, go over and have a read and check out her other links.
By the way, if you ever want to really delve into the “other side” of the argument, I recommend reading any of the books by Dr. Peter Breggin. The problem is, as I see it, we are medicating for normal and appropriate emotions because they are undesirable. For instance, my mother and sister were drugged in 1971 at the death of my father because it was believed too stressful and painful for them to go through. I ran as fast as I could away from that (at 12 years old!) and I was very balanced in my grief and loss in life, and both of them became alcoholics and never got over the death of my father or any other subsequent loss. It’s anecdotal I realize, but to give people drugs for depression for instance, when they’ve lost a child? Really? Isn’t being depressed a fairly appropriate response at the death of a child? It’s the abnormal responses that the psyches used to be concerned with, now it has moved from any unwanted emotion regardless of whether it’s appropriate or not. I don’t think this is a wise course, but again, I can’t know how desperate some folks are to feel better, so while I may hold this view, I am very, very caring with others who view it differently in treating their own emotional distress. But I’m much less tolerant on those who are recommending it for others. Oh I could go on and on… 🙂 Anyway, just was annoyed with this guy’s flippant attitude about chemically induced euphoria being no big deal, when in fact it may be very unwanted. I get it though, it’s better some other horrible malady, right?
It happens more and more! I told Dave between his chemo brain and my menopause, we couldn’t even make a whole person! 🙂 We could “lie” like rugs and not be able to be totally sure. It’s gotten so comical that we have tears in our eyes laughing so hard.
arggggh – i was trying and trying to think of the word, “visits”, as surely they are! but it just wouldn’t come to me. bleck. i hate it when that happens. hugs, karen
Far be it for me to tell people how to handle those issues. I was just struck by how he was like, oh that’s not a bad side effect! I respectfully disagree!!! Anyway, thank you for your comments as always Karen!
and YES! 300,000 visits! Kinda of mind blowing. 🙂
hi lori
whoa – i DID have a read of margaret’s post and i got a little head ache just trying to connect the dots, still, found it very interesting. i think your comments about the foibles of mood altering meds as a panacea for spititual, mental, and emotional pain were helpful to give perspective. no one should have to suffer needlessly with chronic depression or anxiety that is debilitating; but these conditions addressed responsibly, with clinical support and monitoring, are a lot different than just popping mood altering substances. and that, therein, lie the rub. not just with our society gloming onto an easy fix, but also with the whole gammit of researchers, and big pharma concerns.
i noticed something pretty amazing – not in any of the articles – but right up top of your blog page. you’ve topped the three hundred thousand mark in hits to your blog! CONGRATULATIONS!!! love, karen