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The dose of medication that patients take for mental health medication depends on one’s symptoms, diagnosis, health history, and other medication that they are currently taking. The six main psychiatric medication are antidepressants (mostly help with symptoms like depression, eating disorder, or OCD), antipsychotics (help with reducing bipolar disorder and psychosis and controls hypomania and mania), sleeping pills, and minor tranquilizer (prescribe to help with insomnia and anxiety), lithium and other mood stabilizers (help with stabilizing mood and deal with extreme mood swings) (Mind, 2021).
With each medication, it’s important to understand that they will have different impacts on each patient, not just the difference between pills but also between brands. It’s possible and absolutely normal to take multiple trials to get to the medication that suits you. It’s essential to speak to professionals when you have any problems or concerns. Most misconceptions are caused by when lacking research and communication.
Below are some of the myths about mental health medication and the truth about them.
Once you start taking mental health medication, you have to take it for life
This myth is one of the main reasons that people who have symptoms of
mental disorders are scared of reaching out to doctors. The answer to this
myth could vary. There are medications that require patients to take
indefinitely, some might need to be taken for a period of time, which could be
a few months to years. However, there are, in fact not a small amount of
mental health medications that are not recommended for long-term use,
such as some sleeping tablets (The Blurt Foundation, 2020).
Medication will change who you are
According to a survey from Censuswide, there are 37% of people think
medication could change one’s personality. However, this is not true. The goal
of mental health medication is to make patients feel more like themselves,
not less (Abramson, 2022). Most medicine help to balance the chemical in
your brain, and help you feel better mentally and work healthier in daily life.
Mental health medication is addictive
Certain medications such as Xanax, Benzodiazepines, and other anxiety relief
or sleeping tablets risk psychological and physical dependence (Abramson,
2022). The withdrawal symptoms can be caused when reducing or stopping
the use of medication. For this reason, these medications are usually
prescribed short-term to reduce the risk of addiction. Other medicines such
as antidepressants are not considered addictive in the traditional sense
(Addiction Center, 2022). If patients have any concerns, it’s essential to ask
your pharmacist or doctor about the risk of addiction for their specific
condition.
Mental health medication is a quick fix (Abramson, 2022)
Most medication, for instance, antidepressants, needs to be taken for 6 to 8
weeks to be fully effective, and that’s when you find the medication that suits
you the best. Besides that, pills could be an easier way to make you feel
mentally healthier, but they can not address the underlying cause of your
mental illness.
Lifestyle change is enough to treat mental health conditions
A healthy lifestyle routine like exercise, a balanced diet, good personal
hygiene, and adequate sleep does play an essential role in both one’s mental
and physical health. However, for some people, working out, and having
enough sleep may not be enough to deal with their mental health condition,
and that is why medication or therapy comes in. Most time, taking
medication could be an easier way to improve and control one’s mental
health condition than putting lifestyle changes in action (Abramson, 2022).
People who take mental health medication are weak
One’s strength should not be classified by whether one takes medication or
not. For some of us, it’s not even our decision to take medication at all.
Medication isn’t a sign that “we’re weak” or “we’re giving up.” It’s just a tool to
help people to cope with their mental condition (Mind, 2021). After all, we just
want to be a better version and live the happiest version of ourselves :)
References
“About Psychiatric Medication.” Mind, Mar. 2021,
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-
treatments/medication/about-medication/.
“Antidepressant Addiction and Abuse.” Addiction Center, 19 Oct. 2022,
https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/antidepressants/.
Abramson, Ashley. “8 Mental Health Medication Myths.” Minded, 17 May 2022,
https://www.tryminded.com/blog/mental-health-medication-myths.
“Mental Health Medication: Myths and Facts.” The Blurt Foundation, 16 Jan. 2020,
https://www.blurtitout.org/2020/01/30/mental-health-medication-myths-
facts/.
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