2018 Mar 19
In a time where everyone wants to be faster, smarter and more efficient, our current society in Sri Lanka is obsessed with quick fixes.Whether it’s taking the strongest medicine to cure the common cold or to drink senselessly after a terrible fight with your partner, we are a generation that glorifies quick fixes.
Covertly hidden underneath this obsession of quick fixes lies stress and anxiety that many of us are unaware of. We fail to notice that our ambition to keep up with everything that the world throws at us without rest is one of the leading causes of this anxiety. Although it is possible to be at the top of our game at work, home and excel in our personal relationships, the pressure that comes with such high expectations takes a toll on us which we often tend to ignore. Unknown to us, the stress of wanting to excel and the fear of failing to do so, slowly starts to eat us from the inside. Unable to cope with the high standards Sri Lankan society has set on us which varies from having a ‘reputed job and having the latest vehicle’ your cousins and neighbours would want; to balancing the act of being ‘super woman at all frontiers’ these expectations leads to anxiety and discomfort.
Our confidence tends to shake and we look for ways to pick it up and resort to methods that are easily available whether it is food, alcohol, drugs, or sex. Just a quick fix to pick ourselves up to give us the ego boost we need so that we can take control of the situation that has spun out. We’ve all gone through this at some point in our lives and have had no idea that this could be the start of a vicious cycle.
Anxiety is caused by a combination of neurological, environmental and psychological factors and is experienced by all most everyone in various degrees. While some are able to acknowledge it and deal with it in a healthier manner, many of us are ignorant to what our anxieties can trigger and resort to quick fixes that solves it for a brief moment. However, quick fixes are not always smart solutions. A quick fix like binge eating or taking a small ‘shot’ could easily be a start of a behavioural pattern that your mind would start to associate with feeling good. As anxiety is known to be linked to substance abuse of different forms any unhealthy quick fix could easily spiral out of control. Although a quick fix may help relieve some stress and make you feel good, its lifespan is short and you end up finding yourself back where you started with the same sense of stress and anxiety.
Here are some variants of quick fixes to give you a clearer idea what kind of role it plays in our day to day lives:
- The quick round of drinks after a stressful day at work, which slowly turns into a daily habit because chances are every other day at work is stressful! As alcohol operates as a depressant, when a person consumes over a limit that their body can handle it slows the function of the central nervous system and blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain, which couldalter a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision and hearing.
- Taking strong antibiotics regularly for the common cold which will make you immune to the strongest of medications over the years. As pills are acceptable and promoted by everyone from our family, extended family to our neighbour (who are well-versed in all sorts of medication) it is one of the most common quick fixes people can easily get addicted to.
- Rushing your child to the nearest doctor looking for a diagnosis when parents see a change in their behaviour instead of taking the time to speak to the child and finding out what he or she might be going through. Maintaining an open relationship with your child at all times will benefit both of you greatly and could help them be calmer and attentive to you.
- Engaging in one night stands and hook-ups when you’re feeling lonely or not getting enough love and attention from your partner is another quick fix that many resort to.
- Binge eating when you’re upset, lonely or stressed is also another method we use to hide anxiety.
Here are some alternatives to quick fixes that you can adopt into your life for a healthier and more mindful lifestyle:
- Work out regularly – not only is it a great stress buster, it also triggers your body to release chemicals called endorphins, which leaves you feeling good and energized.
- Create art or music when you’re feeling stressed, lonely or sad – it could help you deal with pent up frustration and anger creatively and help you relax.
- Keep a journal and write down your daily worries, anxieties and wins – it helps you maintain perspective of your life.
- Talk to someone you trust and who is willing to listen to you – there really is no remedy like a good talk.
- Learn to balance work and rest and prioritise the latter as much as the first.
- Learn to be aware of the workings of your mind and why you do certain things and figure out your quick fixes.
- Engage in prayer, yoga and meditation – these will not only help you relax but also give you a better understanding of yourself and your body.
- Treat yourself to a relaxing massage conducted by a professional therapist at a reputed spa.
- Try out a reiki healing energy session – while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, a good relaxing reiki healing could really help you.
