I recently read an article in the October edition of Glamour Magazine titled “Meet Generation (R)X” about women in their twenties who think nothing of popping a pill for what ails them as well as giving them to friends who need a quick (alertness, anti-depression, anxiety-reduction, sleeping…) fix and can’t afford their own prescriptions.

I don’t know why this hit a nerve with me, but it really alarmed me!

On one hand, I can see the allure of taking a pill that will help you through a work presentation without mind-numbing anxiety. I easily remember such presentations in which I had wished for my nerves to magically go away. Had they been readily available, maybe I would have walked that path.

On the other hand, as a personal personal coach, I wondered if this “pill fix” mentality blocks real opportunities for personal growth and for processing life experiences in an empowering manner. How do you learn to intentionally manifest what you want to experience in life when you are focused on taking drugs to block the life parts you don’t want to experience?

How does the woman who takes an anti-anxiety pill after a tough breakup learn to self-soothe, to reflect and let go, to feel pain and move forward with hard-won strength?

Also, there are doctors and scientists who have sounded the alarmed about what certain drugs do to the brain. In his book, Making a Good Brain Great, Daniel G. Amen writes: “Many medications are brain toxic. From a psychiatric standpoint, I was taught to use a class of antianxiety medications called benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, to treat patients with intense feelings of anxiety and panic…I saw that these medications were often toxic to brain function. Scan after scan on these medications showed an overall diminished or dehydrated pattern of activity, just as with drugs of abuse…It didn’t take me long to stop using these medications and look for other ways to heal anxiety and panic.”

Then, there’s the whole discussion of whether or not some illnesses are created by companies that want to offer a pill to fix them.

Needless to say, it’s wonderful that modern science produces drugs that can heal many life-threatening diseases. Even in my mother’s generation, both her mother and sister died from conditions that can be easily addressed by pharmacology today. That’s what progress is all about.

Yet, getting into the habit of taking a pill to numb oneself rather than address an area for potential growth or trying to abbreviate a normal emotional healing process, because you don’t have time “to deal” seems self-sabotaging.

In my mid-thirties my therapist suggested that I take an antidepressant drug. I asked her, “How will I know when I’m better if I’m medicated?” I had found my way to getting therapeutic support so I figured I was in a better place than I had been up to that point. Why take a drug now? That viewpoint has enabled to me take one step at a time toward belief in my ability to find the right support, the right idea or concept that will enlighten my outlook and lighten my burdens.

The most wonderful thing about modern life is that there is a whole world of tools and processes available online that can self-empower one’s own healing capabilities. I hope this doesn’t escape the notice of these young women for long. I hope they remember to ask themselves: “Does the easiest route mean it’s the best route to take me the farthest?”

Seeing life challenges as opportunities, not liabilities, is authentic empowerment. It’s the only way that I know of that enables one to manifest dreams and desires with the type of confidence that comes from learning to have faith in one’s core brilliance and strength.

Melissa Wadsworth is a self-help author, inspirational speaker and personal potential coach, specializing in intuitive dream boards.