Common Myths About Psychiatric Medication
Taking medication for mental health conditions is just as important as taking medication for physical health conditions. Unfortunately, there are stigmas still present in our society when it comes to mental health and taking psychiatric medications. There is nothing weak about taking any kind of medication. Deciding to take psychiatric medication is actually a strong thing to do. Psychiatric medications can help decrease the frequency of mental health symptoms and help people find enough relief to begin working through their struggles in therapy.
One common myth of taking psychiatry is that people will become dependent or addicted to the medications they are taking. Most mental health medications are not addictive. There are some stimulants that can be used for mental health conditions. However, if this is the case, close and careful monitoring is usually required to prevent dependence.
Another common myth is that medication is an easy fix for mental health symptoms. In most cases, medication alone will not be enough to reach full recovery from symptoms. It’s recommended that patients take psychiatric medication alongside therapy or another form of treatment. Medication can decrease symptoms enough for the person to work through their struggles in psychotherapy.
Some people believe that if you start taking psychiatric medication, you will have to be on it for the rest of your life. This is not true. There are some cases where people may decide to take medication for their mental health long-term, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, using medications in the short term can be enough stabilization to help a person move back to the path of recovery.
Unfortunately, there is the myth that if one type of psychiatric medication didn’t work, none of them will. This is far from the truth. It often takes people trying multiple different types of medications before they find one that helps them with their recovery. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the person struggling. This just means that everyone’s brain chemistry is different, and different medications work more effectively for others.
It’s incredibly important to discuss common myths about psychiatric medications because these myths are often the reasons people use to not try a medication. People might believe these myths so strongly that they will never give medication a chance. This is unfortunate because these mediations have the power to help people if used in the correct way.
Finding a psychiatric provider that is the right fit can sometimes be challenging. Much like finding a therapist when starting therapy, it may take a few tries before you find the right one. This is not uncommon. It’s important to feel safe and comfortable in these appointments so that people feel safe enough to explain how they are really feeling.
If you are interested in working with our psychiatric team, we are here for you. Contact us today if you are ready to start your medication journey.
References
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9983815/
https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-023-04850-5
https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/mental-health-medications/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8751557/
Keywords: mental health, psychiatry, stigma, therapy, recovery