Prescribing rest, reflection and reconnection

I’ve been reading a lot about the overprescribing of benzodiazepines to deal with anxiety, especially in the US, but, with fewer doctors, limited resources, time pressure and the power and influence of pharmaceutical companies here in the UK, there can be a tendency to prescribe pills as the first option. 

Now, I’m not anti- meds! Some conditions absolutely require medication and it would be irresponsible to suggest otherwise. But some, I would argue, could be positively affected by reflection, connection and non-pharmaceutical interventions. 

Sometimes anxiety and depression is situational. A person is experiencing low mood, increased anxiety or symptoms of depression because of the state they are in at that time, perhaps influenced or exacerbated by a challenging situation. It could be that a lack of resilience, a lack of familial support or support network makes it harder to deal with life’s challenges at that time. 

Feeling low, lacking motivation, struggling to function in day to day life, this person goes to see the GP. Feeling stressed, struggling with anxiety, feelings of panic and overwhelm, experiencing heart palpitations or panic attacks, this person goes to see the GP. Both of these people are finding it difficult to cope with their daily life. The GP tells them that counselling or CBT would be a good idea, but the NHS wait list is six months minimum. Without the resources to pay for this privately, what options do they have? Feeling like they need ‘help’ now, they may well feel that medication is a good (or only) option. 

I love the idea of social prescribing and hope that this becomes more and more routine as an alternative to medication. Imagine the personal and societal benefits if people were more invested in their own health and wellbeing and less reliant on the external. 

The wellbeing journey is a very personal one. The industry that has grown up around it is completely crazy at times and is in danger of losing its way, but, at its very core, looking after yourself in a holistic way will take care of your mind, body and spirit. If ‘health is wealth’, let’s make the right investments and put our time, money, energy and attention where it needs to be. 

Connection is a fundamental human need and we, as a society, are more and more disconnected. Connecting with people with similar interests, reducing isolation and social exclusion, has multiple physiological and psychological benefits.  It’s also a good idea to consciously disconnect from sources of negativity- the instagram accounts that you unconsciously compare yourself to, or the influencers that make you feel bad about yourself- declutter your digital space with a regular detox. Keep your online communities and feeds positive, fill your cup with good stuff and follow people and accounts that add something to your life. 

Bringing conscious awareness to what we eat, how we eat and when we eat will nourish the physical and energetic body. Most of us eat mindlessly. We eat too much of the wrong food at the wrong times. Cultivating a positive relationship with food, learning to nourish the body with nutritious food as an energy source, rather than dulling the body, mind and emotions with a surfeit of empty calories will be transformational and will lead to healthy weight loss and, more importantly, a healthy relationship with food.  Cutting out diets and avoiding toxic diet culture is a great first step. Learning to embrace, love and accept the body that you have now, while working to embed healthy habits, will help you to embrace your body and achieve your goals. Most importantly, pay attention to your body, get to know it and nourish it in a mindful and intuitive way. Also, don’t be afraid of being hungry. You’re meant to feel hunger- it kick starts the body’s systems and allows it to do its job. 

Moving your body daily is essential for physical and mental health. Find activities that you enjoy and will be able to sustain. Forget punishing HIIT routines or daily workouts at the gym - that is so hard to maintain and won’t last long enough to make a difference.  Achieving a daily step target is much more effective and sustainable than a fancy new training programme. Seeing exercise as self-care, self-investment and prioritising your health is the best way to affect a mindset shift that will stay with you. 

So…I'm hoping that we routinely get to a place where overstretched, under-resourced GPs don’t send people away with a pack of pills and a vague promise of underwhelming group CBT. Instead, they prescribe rest, reflection and reconnection. Rest to reset, re-focus and prioritise self-love and self-care. Reflection to talk, journal or write therapeutically to start to understand the self better and unearth personal barriers. Reconnection to connect with like-minded, like-hearted people, to connect with nature, and to connect with the self. A prescription for a long walk in nature with a friend, a good chat over a cuppa, followed by some yoga and meditation could be exactly what many of us need!

Amy x


Amy is the founder of The Women’s Wellbeing Collective. She is a Wellbeing Coach and yoga teacher who runs events, workshops and retreats. Amy runs Walk & Talk, a weekly walking group that includes yoga, guided meditation and coaching. 

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