A growing trend in which people are increasingly turning to medicine as a tool for "working on the self"...?!?

Question

Over the past century, there's been a shift in attitudes about the connection between medicine and identity.
To what extent do you believe one's personal sense of fulfillment connected to the physical? Can medicine help us feel more like our "true" "natural" selves?

Do you think alot of this concept is typically American, & are the shaped identities we strive to obtain, seeded into our minds mainly by the culture?

When we take medication, undergo cosmetic surgery & what not...are we doing it for our own self fullfillment?, or due to an inner inferiority complex that we don't fit the bill of mental health or appearance?, and if it is in fact based on fixing our esteem, and ending suffering...Does it suddenly become a serious medical treatment, comparable to that of therapy?

And, when it comes down to it, is there really anything to be done about it, if this is all relative to general social standards & human nature?

Answer 1

I would say that taking medication and undergoing cosmetic surgery are two quite different things. I suppose the context of the medication is important. Are you talking about taking anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication? These types of medication are designed to change our brain chemistry - to actually alter the way we feel. It should be noted that such medication is more effective if psychotherapy is also in place.

Cosmetic surgery, on the other hand, can sometimes be misguided. If someone has bought into an unrealistic notion of what it means to be attractive, or if they think that altering their physical appearance is going to make them happy, then it is not likely to be of benefit to their well-being. I would not see cosmetic surgery as a legitimate "treatment" for self-esteem issues. Individuals who are truly happy with themselves feel that way despite not living up to some ideal with respect to their appearance.