Totally agree with this. But while supplements might hurt your pocketbook but they are unlikely to actually harm your health ( while they may not help it either). Many of potions of conventional medicine are way more expensive, and way more dangerous. I am talking about anti depressants, statins for everyone over 40, excessive vaccination (No I am not anti-vaxx - unless asking question is anti-vaxx). I dont think children need flu and covid shots every year and I dont think the lipid nanoparticle mrna covid vaccine was safe and effective.
So its great to call out the wellness nonsense. But please acknowledge that the pharmaceutical products people put in their bodies ( which are chemicals, btw) are not all safe and effective either. And once again, I will say, I am not "anti-medication" or " anti-vaxx". Antibiotics when needed save lives. But people are on way too many prescribed chemicals. The worst of it is that so called "experts", usually on the payroll of pharma companies, are pushing all these pharma products.
I have to say this: I deeply love several people on anti-depressants. One person tried to go off of them. She did everything right - exercise, therapy, healthy food. She ended up in the hospital. And furthermore, felt like a failure because of this insistence by many that anti depressants aren’t necessary. Are some medicines overprescribed? Yes. Could we improve a lot of Americans’ health if we removed the profit motive from healthcare and housing, and regulated the food industry more? Also yes.
Everyone’s journey is both unique, and also a result of systems. I’ve learned to be supportive of what people are using to stay alive and functional today, in this world, while being skeptical of unregulated, for-profit solutions.
Also, supplements can be harmful. They can be adulterated, or lead to people getting too much of a nutrient.
It’s a difficult world to navigate. I hope it someday gets better.
Absolutely true about antidepressants. There is now research that confirms exactly what your friend experienced, they are very difficult to get off of. They need to be tapered off over months or years. People can end up with terrible effects if they go off cold turkey. ( Same with benzos like xanax).
The lack of informed consent is the problem, false marketing by pharma companies etc. I highly recommend the documentary " Medicating Normal" or the new book out by Laura Delano, Unshrunk. And absolutely patients should never be shamed or blamed. They are just doing what advertisements, culture and doctors tell them, which is " talk to your doctor" ( and get a pill). The lack of efficacy for antidepressants is another problem, they only work for about 30% of people. There is a huge evidence base on this and on the side effects such as sexual dysfunction ( 40% of people who take antidepressants!). Lots of books on this too.
Well that just rocked me, in a good way. Thanks for writing this post. Speaks to me so deeply. Gives me pause about how it’s all running my life. Joy kill!
Totally agree with this. But while supplements might hurt your pocketbook but they are unlikely to actually harm your health ( while they may not help it either). Many of potions of conventional medicine are way more expensive, and way more dangerous. I am talking about anti depressants, statins for everyone over 40, excessive vaccination (No I am not anti-vaxx - unless asking question is anti-vaxx). I dont think children need flu and covid shots every year and I dont think the lipid nanoparticle mrna covid vaccine was safe and effective.
So its great to call out the wellness nonsense. But please acknowledge that the pharmaceutical products people put in their bodies ( which are chemicals, btw) are not all safe and effective either. And once again, I will say, I am not "anti-medication" or " anti-vaxx". Antibiotics when needed save lives. But people are on way too many prescribed chemicals. The worst of it is that so called "experts", usually on the payroll of pharma companies, are pushing all these pharma products.
I have to say this: I deeply love several people on anti-depressants. One person tried to go off of them. She did everything right - exercise, therapy, healthy food. She ended up in the hospital. And furthermore, felt like a failure because of this insistence by many that anti depressants aren’t necessary. Are some medicines overprescribed? Yes. Could we improve a lot of Americans’ health if we removed the profit motive from healthcare and housing, and regulated the food industry more? Also yes.
Everyone’s journey is both unique, and also a result of systems. I’ve learned to be supportive of what people are using to stay alive and functional today, in this world, while being skeptical of unregulated, for-profit solutions.
Also, supplements can be harmful. They can be adulterated, or lead to people getting too much of a nutrient.
It’s a difficult world to navigate. I hope it someday gets better.
By chance , NY Times just reported on this issue of horrific withdrawal from antidepressants,
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/opinion/antidepressants-withdrawal-rfk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ek8.uLX1.Wg6cctUXXuGz&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Absolutely true about antidepressants. There is now research that confirms exactly what your friend experienced, they are very difficult to get off of. They need to be tapered off over months or years. People can end up with terrible effects if they go off cold turkey. ( Same with benzos like xanax).
The lack of informed consent is the problem, false marketing by pharma companies etc. I highly recommend the documentary " Medicating Normal" or the new book out by Laura Delano, Unshrunk. And absolutely patients should never be shamed or blamed. They are just doing what advertisements, culture and doctors tell them, which is " talk to your doctor" ( and get a pill). The lack of efficacy for antidepressants is another problem, they only work for about 30% of people. There is a huge evidence base on this and on the side effects such as sexual dysfunction ( 40% of people who take antidepressants!). Lots of books on this too.
Well that just rocked me, in a good way. Thanks for writing this post. Speaks to me so deeply. Gives me pause about how it’s all running my life. Joy kill!