Our Society's Obsession with Numbing and Medicating

Recently the Surgeon General announced the health dangers associated with alcohol use, and it led me to think about how normalized alcohol use and numbing and medicating in general has become in our society.  

Where did this obsession with numbing and medicating come from?  I don't have all the answers, but I did come up with a few thoughts.

Cultural Avoidance of Discomfort

One theme that I have noticed in my own therapy practice is how our society has a pervasive avoidance of discomfort. The messages we receive in society are all about instant gratification.  Our society prioritizes quick fixes and immediate relief, leaving little room for sitting with discomfort or addressing its root causes.

Unfortunately a stigma around vulnerability also still exists. Admitting to emotional pain or seeking deeper healing is often stigmatized. Many people fear being judged or perceived as weak.

Pharmaceutical Influence

Pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in promoting medication as the primary solution for mental health challenges, sometimes overshadowing holistic or long-term approaches.

Additionally, aggressive marketing normalizes the idea that life’s struggles can and should be fixed with a pill.

Don't get me wrong, there any many appropriate and healthy uses for psychiatric medications, and I have seen the positive effects of medication on people's lives.  I am more highlighting the societal messages of instant gratification that reinforce the idea that taking a pill is the answer to all of life's struggles.

Lack of Resources and Burnout

Many people lack access to affordable therapy, support groups, or holistic care, making medication the only viable option.

We also have a culture of burnout in our society that values the "rat race" mentality.  Many people experience relentless pressures to perform, and therefore lack the time and energy to pursue non-medication-based healing, turning to quick solutions to keep functioning.

 Disconnection and Isolation

Another thought that came to mind is how our modern lifestyles often isolate individuals from supportive communities that historically helped people cope with life’s struggles.

Technology has it's benefits, but it has also furthered social isolation and disconnection and encourages dissociation through endless entertainment and distractions, reinforcing the habit of avoiding discomfort rather than addressing it.

Normalization of Coping Through Substances

Alcohol, caffeine, and even recreational drugs are often glamorized as tools for relaxation or performance enhancement, reinforcing the narrative that numbing is normal and desirable.

How Can We Change This?

First and foremost we need to normalize doing emotional work and try to shift narratives to value vulnerability and healing as strengths.  I think it is part of our responsibility as therapists to promote these healthy narratives, and I know most of us already do.

Additionally, expanding resources for non-pharmaceutical interventions like therapy, mindfulness practices, and community-based support would increase the options individuals have to do emotional work in holistic ways.

Promoting education around the risks of over medication like the information the surgeon general provided will help individuals make healthier choices, and hopefully consider holistic tools for emotional healing.  

These are big questions, and no one has all the answers, but my hope is that this new information from the Surgeon General will cause some people to pause and reflect on their choice to use alcohol to numb, medicate, and escape.