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WastingAsparagus
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Default Dec 20, 2019 at 08:46 PM
  #1
I was just wondering, why does the narrative exist that people who are on psychiatric medications do better than those off of their meds? Is this even backed up by science?


I personally don't know why I feel better on psychiatric medicines than if I'm off of them, but sometimes I wonder if that's just the crowds convincing me that this is the case.

Even my therapist at times says I'd be better off on less medicine. So that's something, right?

I mean, honestly, doesn't it seem absurd that we are trusting a little pill to cause some effect in our brain that will alleviate our suffering? A pill is inanimate, obviously. So how is it going to solve our issues?


I know I still have issues even after I've started taking medicine. I probably have more issues that aren't really issues after I started meds.

I just want to be a normal person again, you know, one that can live life without wondering, oh did I miss my dose of whatever, or "no actually I have to take care of my mental health and do x". You know?

Psychiatric issues are not the same as physical mental issues. I think a lot of psychiatrists would have a hard time hearing this. But it's true. What biological basis do emotions have? I know they have said oh like look at the brain scans, etc., etc., but do they really know what's going on within the brain? I highly doubt it.


Anyway, there's my semi-rant thread about psychiatric medication.

Like, I wish I could get over this doubt about psychiatric medication, but I really just cannot. I have had this doubt for years and years now. It eats away at me. People dismiss it as being silly and even psychotic at times. But honestly. Where does it come from?
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Default Dec 20, 2019 at 11:11 PM
  #2
I think this is a good question and you bring up some interesting points. If I am not mistaken, I believe people are actually asking and researching these same questions.

Personally I believe the medications will always play an important role for many people but I also believe there is much more to it. I’m wondering if we are relying more on medications because we are losing touch with things like our sense of community and our emotional ties for support.
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Default Dec 21, 2019 at 05:48 AM
  #3
Hey @WastingAsparagus:
Psychiatric conditions are often thought to be related to just "emotions". Biologically it is brain chemistry. Your brain is not wired like that of a Neurotypical person. If you are diagnosed with a legit mental illness and you take meds its because you have a medical condition that requires medical intervention. This is why it is called mental illness and not mental defect or problem or some other word. When it comes to a narrative, I find that there are people who think relying on or depending on meds means they are weak or lazy. Like if they were able to just stop being so selfish and get their act together or think positive they wouldnt need meds. People with a mental illness are often thought of as having an emotional disorder. Emotional issues that are as a result of a mental illness are symptoms of that illness. The emotions themselves are not the problem- brain chemistry is. This is why insurances started covering mental healthcare- it is not a personality flaw its a medical issue. I am 100% dependent on my meds. A family member I have has diabetes and she is dependent on insulin. My children are dependent on glasses to see- there is not a defining line that makes mental illness medication something you should not be dependent on but the other things I mentioned were ok to be dependent on. That is the narrative as I see it.

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Default Dec 21, 2019 at 08:14 AM
  #4
Yes, @sarahsweets is definitely right. What she wrote here is correct. It would be risky not to take medications that have been prescribed to you.

In some cases people fall into some gray area. I am one of those that didn’t do well at all on meds and I do better with counseling and lifestyle changes. Who knows though, maybe I’ll try meds again and find the right combination that I didn’t find before. Maybe I wouldn’t struggle as much and I’m open to pursuing that if I need to.

But there is definitely a whole lot of research going on with regard to the brain and it will be interesting to see what unfolds in this area in coming years. Just like any health disorder, there is always more to learn.

Thankfully, there isn’t as much of a stigma with mental health as their used to be but there is still more progress to be made in that area too.
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Default Dec 21, 2019 at 08:39 AM
  #5
Personally, I know meds have helped me more than hurt me. When I first reluctantly went on an antidepressant 20 years ago now, it yanked me out of a dark suicidal place that talk therapy couldn't touch.


I've subsequently added different meds and feel they help me manage my symptoms so that I can live a reasonably happy and productive life.

But I do sometimes wonder what my brain would be like off meds. I'm in the process of tapering off a benzo that I've been on for almost 20 years and it's definitely having some weird affects on my head.

My goal with my current pdoc is to try to reduce the dosage of the meds I'm on, since I seem to be in a better place mentally, and we want to see if I can manage on a lower dose to minimize side effects.

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Why does this narrative exist?
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WastingAsparagus
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Default Dec 21, 2019 at 03:12 PM
  #6
Ah, thank you all for your replies. I really appreciate them. I get into this mind state on occasion where I just doubt psychiatric medications. Luckily, I made the decision to NOT go off of my meds again. I guess it wasn't only luck that provided me with the ability to not go off of them. I intentionally did NOT go off of them. I know that sentence just rolls off the tongue. Thanks though.
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