Have a headache? Take a pill. Are you treating the problem or the symptoms?

Are you treating the problem or the symptoms?

We live in a society where there is a pill for everything.

Everyone wants a quick fix.

I spoke about this with my mentor a few weeks back and it has really stuck with me, so I said, why not write about it?

I’ll probably hurt some feelings here and know that that is not my intention.

We, as a species, love a good label. It’s part of human nature. We like to put a label on everything – whether that is ‘tonsilitis’, ‘shin splints’, ‘anxiety’ – physical, mental, emotional.

I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN’T GO TO SEEK HELP – that is actually the opposite to what I am saying. We are very blessed to live in a society that we literally have someone to help you with every aspect of your life.

Food = Nutritionist

Health = Doctors

Exercise = Personal Trainers

Mental Health = Therapists

The list is endless and with the entire world at our fingertips, you are a google search away from finding someone to help you with anything.

But at some point or another you have to take responsibility for your own life and work hard to achieve the desired outcome.

NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU!

As someone who got hit with the anxiety mosquito (excuse the Big Mouth reference) a few years back, I was very much tempted by societies quick fix solutions.

But instead, I did a lot of HARD GRAFT to help it.

I did A LOT of meditating, a LOT of YOGA, I read books, I journaled the life out of my thoughts & emotions, I trained HARD and it took a LOT of time!

I am NOT saying this to make it sound like I am fantastic, look at me.

I NEED to do all these things regularly to make me feel good. But this all took at least a year of hard graft and self-exploration and I’m still only scratching the surface, but I feel so much better for it!

So what if I just went to the doctor? Took a pill?

I am not saying people do not need medication. Due to chemical imbalances, etc. some people genuinely do.

All I’m saying is with anything in life have you explored all your options?

Or do you just want the pill to take it all away?

Because then you have to ask – are you getting to the root of the problem or are you just masquerading a symptom?

Because the symptoms come back hard and fast if that is the case.

Johann Haris book – Lost Connections. Perfect example.

Have a headache?

Have you considered maybe you are dehydrated?

Maybe your screen time is too high?

Maybe you are stressed?

Before you reach for the box of painkillers, ask yourself – maybe my body is trying to tell me something and maybe I should listen.

I am a huge advocate for listening to the body and what it is trying to tell us. These incredible bodies that we are so lucky to have are the most complex and magnificent things. The amount of work your body does every second of everyday to keep you alive is astounding.

What the human body is capable of is proof of its magnificence.

However, YOU are the captain of this ship and IF you choose to pump the ship full of bad fuel and not take care of it, how can you expect it to function adequately?

Feed your body with a well-balanced diet, packed full of fruit & vegetables. Exercise and live an active lifestyle!

Look after your mind. Reduce your screen time, read a book, get out in nature, MEDITATE.

There is SO much we can do to help our bodies but in todays society with pills for everything (diet pills and skinny coffee), it is very tempting for us to buy into this.

Quick fixes don’t work.

They might work for a short period of time but the symptoms (whatever they may be) will come back.

I know it is a lot ‘easier’ to live off take-aways and watch Netflix all day, and maybe you get away with this while you are young, but this kind of lifestyle will always end up coming back to bite you in the bum!

EAT good FOOD.

GET good SLEEP.

LIVE an ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

Your body and mind will thank you.