That's probably not a good definition of what I'm thinking about, but it's sort of like depression/anxiety. I know they go hand in hand, and overlap, but it just feels logical that what would help one would exacerbate the other.

But anyway, what I was specifically thinking of was my frustrating situation of being both tired/fatigued AND jittery. If I take meds or do caffeine to keep alert, it increases the shakiness and jittery feeling. If I take something to ease the anxiety, I'm sluggish and foggy-brained. Grrrr.

Plus I don't really want to medicate everything. "One pill makes you larger, and the other makes youj small....."

I think I know what you mean. I have medications for two distinct issues: Crohn's and neuropathic. It is highly likely that some of my neuropathic issues were either initiated by or have been exacerbated by meds I take for Crohn's . . . and some of the meds I have tried for my nerve issues have most definitely triggered Crohn's flares. My body loves inflammation and drug side-effects, and it seems to be breaking, system by system, at an alarming rate right now.

I have days I wish I could get someone to "stand in" for me, so I could have a break. Today might be one of them . . .

Lefthanded, I am similarly afflicted with drug responses, but I have noted through experience that some "forms" of drugs are better than others. For me, Klonopin is good
and other Benzos are very bad (I have not tried Ativan, but I had paradoxical reaction to Valium and semi-paralysis with Zanex). It is too bad that modern medicine is not good enough, with all its computer help, to determine the EXACT type and dose which is best for a body. It would of course be best if the Creator would just recalibrate the whole works so it WORKS.

In modern times, though, we are so replete with chemical challenges in the environment
that we hardly stand a chance unless we are made of rubber or some synthetic non-reactive substance. I first got very sick at Stanford due to chemical exposures (multiple)
which turned me from a very healthy girl into a person who could barely function, but did
get through one quarter before transferring. I think our chemical stew is a big mistake.

Have you tried any holistic or natural remedies....say St. John's Wort? I haven't ever tried it but I've heard good things about it. You'd have to check your other meds to see if there is any sort of contradictory reactions between them and the natural supplements, though.

Sometimes I feel like taking a break and just living with it for a while. I can say that because I'm not in terrible pain or have some of the symptoms others experience. Sometimes I look at the amantadine and the provigil and the caffeine, etc., and I think, "Never mind, I'll just be tired."

I like Mariel's idea . . .we need a button!

and the ones that mother gives you don't do anything at all...