Most of us find it easy to consult a general physician and to take the medication prescribed. Somehow it is far more difficult to hear someone say that you have to meet a psychiatrist and even tougher to be told that you have to take psychiatric medication (also known as psychotropic medication). Because of the fear of psychotropic medication, a lot of us shy away from it and instead look at lifestyle changes, alternative healing techniques and anything else that we believe might help so that we can avoid medication at any cost. 

Now, while medication is not the only thing that will help, prescribed psychiatric medication plays a key role in treating symptoms of mental illnesses. It enhances, blocks and balances chemical messengers in our brain, known as neurotransmitters. Commonly prescribed psychiatric medication includes antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, etc.

Many reasons contribute to one’s reluctance to take psychotropic medicine –shame, fear of being labelled or judged, cultural expectations, or even a sense of being defective. Fear of side effects adds to this mix and Google doesn’t make it any better. There are also many myths about medication that exaggerate the fear and anxiety. 

So, let’s take a look at some of these myths about psychiatric medication: 

Medication is for the weak. Contrary to this, it takes a lot of courage for someone to admit, accept and get onto psychiatric medication. More than a sign of weakness, taking medication proves to be a part of individual strength and good mental health care. Medication will allow a person to perform and act healthily.

Psychotropic medications are addictive by nature. Addiction is categorized as behaviours to satisfy urges, needs, or obsessions. If medication is taken and followed the way it is prescribed, you will not consistently have to take more and more of it for the rest of your life. Typically it will be tapered down and altered by the psychiatrist as and when results are seen. 

Psychotropic medication has unmanageable side effects. Now, side-effects are a reality and there is no doubt about that, but the medication can always be altered to minimize side-effects. Side effects occur because the human body is getting acclimatized to the chemical compound, and these differ from person to person. Once the body gets used to the drug the symptoms usually subside. When you notice a side-effect, don’t try to change your dosage or stop taking your medication on your own; instead, you should immediately consult your psychiatrist. Talk to your doctor about your worries and clarify your doubts and they will let you know if any change needs to be made. 

Being diagnosed with a mental illness is challenging but often dealing with people’s reactions to it is worse. It may seem very unfair since it isn’t even our fault. So being compassionate towards ourselves and our mental health is important. Human beings will constantly always have reactions, sometimes out of ignorance or preconceived ideas. You should instead focus on doing what you can to get better. If you are still having difficulty accepting that you have to take psychotropic medication talk to your doctor about it or reach out to our counsellors to discuss it further.