This week the BBC published a video on ‘pill shaming’. It also stated that The Royal College of Psychiatrists are concerned that people aren’t getting the help they need due to feeling guilty. You may have watched the video, or perhaps witnessed the resulting arguments on social media.
I struggle with anxiety, but I’ve never taken medication for it. In fact, I refused medication for it and had support in doing so. I have had arguments for and against medication. I have been caught in between wanting to get someone well and wanting to respect their wish not to be medicated. It is not a nice place to be.
Some of the stigma around medication comes from the stigma that still exists around mental illness. Many people are told they just need to go for a walk, or eat better, or sleep more regularly. Not everyone understands that those things don’t cure a mental illness. While they can help improve day to day mental health, sometimes people are too unwell to even be able to get out of bed.
Medication can help someone temporarily to manage while they attend therapy and work on the underlying issues, or are going through a particularly difficult period that will get easier with time. It can be a longer term solution for other people. Each individual, their experience and what works for them is different.
Another common argument against medication are the side effects. I have seen someone experiencing some very unpleasant side effects of anti-psychotic medication. However, for many people, there is a medication and dosage that work where the benefits do outweigh the negatives.
With psychosis, for example, sometimes someone needs medication just to be well enough to realise they need help. They may not believe they are unwell, or that they need any help, and without treatment their illness can worsen to the point of causing harm to themselves or others. If medicating someone against their wishes becomes necessary, the medical professionals should check for possible underlying physical causes of their illness, and monitor them for side effects. Their concerns should be heard and taken into consideration, no matter how unwell they are. Those caring for them should endeavour to address those concerns insofar as is possible and practical.
I believe the most important thing is for good, open communication between a person, their mental health team and GP. It’s important to listen to medical professionals, but it is also important that they listen to their patients. There can be a lot of trial and error in someone finding the right medication(s), dosages, therapies and lifestyle changes that collectively help them to manage their illness. This process can be very difficult. Having support and understanding from family, friends and medical professionals can go a long way in making it easier.
Medication for mental health can come with some very significant and distressing side effects. However, leaving a mental illness untreated can also come with some very significant and distressing side effects. Whichever side of the argument you might sit on, try to remember that both do have their merits. However, no one should ever be shamed for taking medication, or told that it doesn’t work or wont help them because someone else had a bad experience. It does have great benefits for many, and can be very effective.