One of the main cultural differences I've noticed between the French and Americans is their attitude towards medication. As the daughter of two doctors, and a migraine sufferer, I tend to pop ibuprofen like it's candy. In any other situation, I take medicine. If I have a stomach ache, I take Pepto. If I have a cold, I take cough syrup and decongestants. It's just second nature to me. You don't feel well, take something and you'll feel better. I don't want to give the impression that i'm some kind of addict, because I am not.
The French, however, take an entirely different perspective. I've had the misfortune of being sick quite a bit here, and my first move is to always run toute suite to my local pharmacy. My friends however, when they're sick, take nothing. I recently had coffee with a friend who was so decongested Ii couldn't understand what she was saying. I told her to take decongestants. She asked why, and said she never takes anything when she's sick. I've heard similar things from colleagues at work, along the lines of, "that cough syrup will only make you sicker". And yet, whenever I've been sick (fortunately only with a head cold or stomach flu) the first thing people tell me is GO SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. First of all, I'm not yet on national healthcare here, so it would cost a lot more for me. Second of all, with something like a simple cold, I know perfectly well how to take care of myself. If it lasts two weeks or longer, then I'll go see a doctor. The rationale also seems to be, why take medication if you'll still be sick for the same amounts of time and it won't speed your recovery? The answer is, in my mind, is BECAUSE MEDICATION MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER and feel like a functional, productive human being. I get headaches a lot, and if I'm at any number of friends places, I've found, they don't have any medication whatsoever. So, being prudent, I came over here with a big stock pile of good old American ibuprofen, which always does the trick. I realize that it's bad to ALWAYS be taking something day in, day out, and if someone has that kind of need they should probably go get a checkup. Nevertheless, I don't understand the French resistance to over the counter meds. Are they scared of some Pringles commercial phenomenon? I have news for them: once you pop, you CAN stop. We're not talking crack here, but things like aspirin, Pepto, cough meds and decongestants. If all of these items (or like products) are sold at pharmacies, which litter the Parisian landscape, how bad can they be? I'm going to stick to my guns on this one and keep on taking medication every time I don't feel good. Better living through chemistry indeed.
This is so weird because in the States I went into work with a pretty bad cold (couldn't afford to miss work), and had the French attitude of waiting it out -- and I think I was totally perceived as being unprofessional for not taking ibuprofen and sudafed, even when it was offered to me from the work first-aid kit.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Americans have a Protestant work ethic attitude even when it comes to being sick -- like working hard on making it better, doing everything we can, seeking professional advice, buying things, following prescribed regimens -- doing everything and anything except doing nothing and waiting for the sickness to take its course. I trust my immune system knows what to do though, for better or worse!