The medicated generation?

[+ Pensant]

I had a tall and hung 21 yo over for a session on Saturday night. During our introductory chat over a glass of wine, he mentioned that he was on a number of prescription meds. An earlier experience with another young guy revealed a similar situation. I know many members of Gen Z suffer from anxiety and other conditions, but I find the number of prescriptions some are on to be surprising. Fortunately, I’ve never been in that situation, although I do take supplements and vitamins. Have others noticed this phenomenon?

[KeepItReal]

47 minutes ago, Pensant said:

I had a tall and hung 21 yo over for a session on Saturday night. During our introductory chat over a glass of wine, he mentioned that he was on a number of prescription meds. An earlier experience with another young guy revealed a similar situation. I know many members of Gen Z suffer from anxiety and other conditions, but I find the number of prescriptions some are on to be surprising. Fortunately, I’ve never been in that situation, although I do take supplements and vitamins. Have others noticed this phenomenon?

I have seen the same thing. One of my regulars is late 20s and has a pill organizer like my grandma had.  And it is stuffed!  It is a little alarming whenever he stays over.  In comparison I am taking a daily PreP and multi vitamin. 🤔

[Boink]

This country WANTS the populace to be hooked on pre$cription drug$. Turn on any TV channel at any hour of the day or night and what is the first TV commercial you see?  Some kind of prescription drug. Big Pharma. A disgrace.

[+ Charlie]

I am amazed at how many ads there are on TV for prescription drugs, for medical conditions that I never thought were very widespread. Since the average viewer cannot get those meds without a doctor's prescription, I can only assume that they are intended to get the viewer to pressure the doctor for that particular drug, but I wonder how effective that advertising strategy is. I can't imagine telling my doctor what drug I think he should prescribe for a particular condition.

[LookingAround]

14 minutes ago, Charlie said:

I am amazed at how many ads there are on TV for prescription drugs, for medical conditions that I never thought were very widespread. Since the average viewer cannot get those meds without a doctor's prescription, I can only assume that they are intended to get the viewer to pressure the doctor for that particular drug, but I wonder how effective that advertising strategy is. I can't imagine telling my doctor what drug I think he should prescribe for a particular condition.

Answer: VERY effective. Otherwise big pharma wouldn’t spend the money for the ads. They work!

[+ Charlie]

One would think that someone suffering from something like psoriatric arthritis would have been seeing medical professionals about it for a long time, and if the drug were appropriate, the doctor would know that and have already prescribed it.

[Walt]

???Prescription meds for what? If someone is 21 and takes a "lot of" prescription meds because they are survivors of childhood cancer/organ transplant/HIVAIDS/congenital illnesses/etc. (and even for crippling anxiety), I say wow they're lucky to live in a time when their life can be extended and its quality improved through modern medicine. I know many people my age (and younger!) who were not supposed to live as long as they have so far.  Not all prescription meds for younger people are for syndromes "as advertised on TV."

I have also known "grandmas" and grandpas who could have benefited from more medication than they were taking due to a combination of poor communication of symptoms and possible treatment plans with physiscians who might not know about the latest treatments...but that's for another post.

[Gymowner]

So many young people are being medicated for "anxiety". If they would work hard like my generation they would have steady income and high doses of self worth. The drug most of the youth being medicated needs more than anything. A big prescription of self worth and pride in ones self!

[Luv2play]

I've only run into a few escorts who told me they took drugs for anxiety. One was an American porn star. I've never been afflicted by anxiety or depression or other mental disorders requiring treatment so I can't presume to know what drove them to medications. I think there is a stigma attached to mental problems and it's no different in the escort world. 

[+ DrownedBoy]

7 hours ago, Charlie said:

I am amazed at how many ads there are on TV for prescription drugs, for medical conditions that I never thought were very widespread. Since the average viewer cannot get those meds without a doctor's prescription, I can only assume that they are intended to get the viewer to pressure the doctor for that particular drug, but I wonder how effective that advertising strategy is. I can't imagine telling my doctor what drug I think he should prescribe for a particular condition.

Aside from maybe 1 or 2 other developing nations, the U.S. is the only country that allows drug companies to advertise like that.

Everywhere else, as Charlie said, doctors will know and prescribe it as needed.

On the original topic - yes, it's a known fact that there are more psychological medications being handed out today, compared with younger generations. A former regular kept talking to me about seeing his therapist and getting meds. However, that didn't stop the 'roid rage he was getting from unprescribed drugs, apparently.

[Mercury]

I think with the focus on mental health and dispelling any stigmas previously associated with it, therapists are seeing an influx of patients which would most likely increase the amount of prescriptions written. 

[jawjateck]

One of my faves is mid 20s, takes meds for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and a sleeping aid. It takes it toll. Problems with digestion, uneven sleep, and getting and maintaining an erection. And yep, he takes a pill to help with that when needed. He's honest with me and let's me know when He cannot be his best.

[caramelsub]

2 hours ago, Gymowner said:

So many young people are being medicated for "anxiety". If they would work hard like my generation they would have steady income and high doses of self worth. The drug most of the youth being medicated needs more than anything. A big prescription of self worth and pride in ones self!

As someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness and a fairly young person in my mid 30s, I’m kind of on the fence on this issue. I know medication does work for a lot of people. It’s all about being able to function. If you can’t function in society, complete activities of daily living, and refuse to be treated by a medical provider in an outpatient setting, you will most likely be committed to a mental hospital for treatment. Whether you want it or not. Of course it depends on the severity of the disorder. Mild anxiety or depression, you can probably get away with therapy only. But if you’re diagnosed with more severe disorders such as bipolar or schizophrenia, and refuse to take medication, and end up in a mental hospital repeatedly, you could be considered non compliant, and forced to take injections of medication. I’d rather play it safe, comply, and take the pill that was prescribed for me, and not have to worry about ending up in a guardianship like Britney Spears or Amanda Bynes.

[Rod Hagen]

The pressure from others and from oneself to get "off-meds", meds that are working, can have dire consequences.  I often think of David Foster Wallace.  The medication for depression, and other mental illnesses, he'd used for decades was becoming almost obsolete when compared with newer medication.  And, so, he changed to the newer medication which allowed him to streamline his medications.  Unfortunately, the newer stuff didn't work as well, he went back to his old medication, but it just didn't work like it did before he stopped it.  Shortly after, he hanged himself and the world, and his wife and dog, lost a genius.

As to the original post, Escorts take medication, just like people.

[+ Pensant]

I’ll have to Google him. Never heard of him.

[Ali Gator]

On 10/24/2022 at 7:59 AM, Pensant said:

I had a tall and hung 21 yo over for a session on Saturday night. During our introductory chat over a glass of wine, he mentioned that he was on a number of prescription meds. An earlier experience with another young guy revealed a similar situation. I know many members of Gen Z suffer from anxiety and other conditions, but I find the number of prescriptions some are on to be surprising. Fortunately, I’ve never been in that situation, although I do take supplements and vitamins. Have others noticed this phenomenon?

I work in a New England private university, and put up with this every day with students and student workers - male and female. They are all over-medicated. They need 'therapy dogs' to walk around campus, attend classes and sleep in their dorms (wait until escorts start showing up for appointments with therapy dogs!).  They need to be 'molly coddled'. They need designated safe spaces on campus so they can 'cry' when their feelings are hurt (though most of them cry in class or at their student work jobs). They all identify as dyslexic, autistic and / or 'aspie'. None of them are sure about their pronouns or sexuality (accept for the real handsome dudes who are straight and know their pronouns). This is college these days.

It doesn't stop with Gen Z, it's my coworkers under 50. They are all 'autistic' or 'an aspie', they all need to be coddled, they all have their feelings hurt and need to take time off during the week because of 'the pressure'. They have prescription pill bottles lined up on their desks and pop pills every few hours. They walk around like zombies when they do show up for work (and some of these people are managers and directors). 

 

As for myself and the few other workers over 55 - we just shake our heads in disbelief of the atmosphere we work in. 

Edited October 31, 2022 by Ali Gator

[+ DrownedBoy]

21 hours ago, Pensant said:

I’ll have to Google him. Never heard of him.

A famous writer. To be nice to the dead, I'll just say his writing style doesn't necessarily appeal to everyone.

[ruminant]

Yes, I've seen this among younger friends and coworkers -- not just the proliferation of medications but the assumption that others are interested. They talk about their psych meds the way my ex-wife talked about her handbags. 

[+ Coolwave35]

I remember casually mentioning to my therapist after 6 years that my suicidal thoughts had progressed to putting together a plan.  I told her this alarmed me a bit but I didn’t think I was the kind of person that would actually do it.  I thought everyone had daily suicidal thoughts. It was so normal to me I just assumed everybody’s mind worked the same way but the progression was alarming. Boy was I wrong. 

This led to a brief but effective stay in a psychiatric hospital, a bipolar 2 diagnosis and one, yes one prescription. 

The side effects of that medication were so bad that the after care psychiatrist I was seeing every 3 weeks prescribed THREE medications to balance the side effects. Having never taken psychiatric meds I thought this was normal and followed his plan. 

My best friend came to see me 3 months later for a visit. She was horrified, said I resembled a zombie, and really encouraged me to question the psychiatrist. I didn’t even notice the change, other than the suicidal thoughts were gone, and it took someone that really cared about me and knew me to question it. 

Still being seen every three weeks, I expressed that 4 daily medications to balance bipolar 2 wasn’t working for me and we had to try something else. That began 9 months of the most awful trial and error I’ve ever experienced but resulted in one daily pill with no side effects that works so well that the quality of my life has gone up dramatically. 

I’m a person with means and honing in on the right medication took 18 months. This is with regular, uninterrupted care from top notch professionals. 

I too am seeing a rise in young people being medicated when I hire. It’s mostly adderall and sleeping aids from my experience. 

Edited November 1, 2022 by Coolwave35

[mike carey]

1 hour ago, Coolwave35 said:

I remember casually mentioning to my therapist after 6 years that my suicidal thoughts had progressed to putting together a plan.  I told her this alarmed me a bit but I didn’t think I was the kind of person that would actually do it.  I thought everyone had daily suicidal thoughts. It was so normal to me I just assumed everybody’s mind worked the same way but the progression was alarming. Boy was I wrong. 

I had been unaware of this phenomenon but talking to a relative last Christmas they mentioned that having talked to a mental health professional they were alert to what that meant, and worse had found that their partner 'had a plan'. That prompted them to radically reassess their life priorities to concentrate on their partner and their life together. That was how shocking it had been to my relative.

Asking your friends or family 'RUOK?' is one thing, but finding someone 'has a plan' whether it is one's own plan or a loved one's should be a red flag. I would never have thought that it was a significant indicator, much as you did not. Most of us are aware of things that are critical indicators of physical disease, knowing this is such a significant mental health indicator is a potential life saver. (This is not medical advice, people need to consult a professional for that.)

[Rudynate]

I have one serious health condition and a handful of semi-serious ones.  I haven't stopped to count, but I am easily taking at least 8 prescription drugs.

[Rudynate]

29 minutes ago, mike carey said:

I had been unaware of this phenomenon but talking to a relative last Christmas they mentioned that having talked to a mental health professional they were alert to what that meant, and worse had found that their partner 'had a plan'. That prompted them to radically reassess their life priorities to concentrate on their partner and their life together. That was how shocking it had been to my relative.

Asking your friends or family 'RUOK?' is one thing, but finding someone 'has a plan' whether it is one's own plan or a loved one's should be a red flag. I would never have thought that it was a significant indicator, much as you did not. Most of us are aware of things that are critical indicators of physical disease, knowing this is such a significant mental health indicator is a potential life saver. (This is not medical advice, people need to consult a professional for that.)

That would seriously concern me if someone close to me had worked out how they were going to take their own life.

[maninsoma]

Having worked in a mental health setting where people were frequently sent to a hospital due to being a danger to themselves, I can tell you that having a plan certainly ups the risk factor in terms of someone actually making a suicide attempt.  Other factors considered are whether the person could reasonably carry out the plan (i.e., they have access to whatever they would need to do it) and the actual lethality of the plan.  As stated above, however, it's important to have someone who is expressing suicidal ideation assessed by a mental health professional.

As to the current generation being over medicated, I don't know whether that's true.  I did a quick Google search and found a Kaiser Family Foundation study from just a few years ago that contradicts that notion, but the study's methodology made me question its validity.  Seems like this would be much easier to determine by simply analyzing insurance payments for prescription medication by age group, but maybe HIPAA gets in the way of doing that.

[pubic_assistance]

On 10/24/2022 at 7:59 AM, Pensant said:

I know many members of Gen Z suffer from anxiety and other conditions, but I find the number of prescriptions some are on to be surprising.

We ALL suffer from anxiety !

I believe the increase in prescription medication is merely a move from self medicating  to professional medicating.  For centuries, people self medicated with alcohol. More recently, it's marijuana, and/or a wide array of mood altering drugs like meth.

Although I DO agree: parental coddling has created a generation of weak-kneed adults with more limited ability to handle anxiety ( and/or depression ) through traditional methods of exercise, positive relationships, and a satisfying sex life.

 

Edited November 1, 2022 by pubic_assistance

[Ali Gator]

I've also noticed an influx of 'home-schooled' Freshmen students this year at the Univ.  I'm not talking 'Covid Home-schooled' from 2020-21, I'm talking home-schooled all their lives. They are the most neurotic, anti-social generation of students I have ever met.