NO TO MEDS!!!!!

I agree with the above, If you go to a psychiatrist these days your garenteed to come out with a diagnosis of some sort and a prescription. We live in a weak world these days with week people. And a large percentage have no need for psychiatrists, therapists or medication.

But there is also the point that the patiant always has the say as to what they'll take. When it is forced which would not be the norm it is done so because the patiant is thought to not know whats in his/her best interest. Usually there are psychotic at the time. Or children, i just read an article in schitzopherinia digest about the treatment of antipsych medication for children with atypical behavioral problems. This would of course be forced medication. That it led to diabeties in the children. I dont like antipsychotics. But i realize there need in special cases. I just think with all the possible negative effects they have more resarch or an alternative should be found.

Whether you choose to take medication for whatever time period is another topic. Severe or chronic depression would be a case of that where it may be needed, the end of the line in severe or chronic depression if all medications dosent take effect is electro-shock therapy. But even that is done with the patients ok.

Nobody needs to be on "medication". Being put on a tranquilizer will not in any shape or form make someone not do something unless you believe they should be made unconscious. Hell if you believe in medication so somebody won't harm somebody or something, then tying them down is an option, and one that doesn't need to be really employed. On another note, why get into somebody's business if somebody really wants to harm themselves? They're doing it out in the public so that either they get helpl or they're just plain sick and want attention. This whole psychiatry thing is really just some sick sadist's dream.

I've been on medication for four years now but i've had my fair share of side effects, especially with the antipsychotics. I was originally on risperdal, which worked well for my 'psychotic symptoms' but it caused my prolactin to go so high that I now take a dopamine agonist. I've been on olanzapine which, again, worked well but caused me to gain weight and made me diabetic. I now take seroquel which is being reviewed because it's causing my thyroid to become underactive.

I give up.

I took many of the meds on the market and saw some of the top shrinks in NYC for 15 years from the age of 25 to 50. I self-medicated for the first 25 years of my life and did a better job. I gained 100 lbs and lost my libido and still had chronic depression. It was my last doctor's opinion that if I was not suicidal, I was doing ok. I did not know what was me and what was a side effect. When I was diagnosed with ADD and added those meds, I went to 13 pills in my cocktail for depression, anxiety, cholesterol and thyroid. One day I got a migraine from insomnia and preservatives. My shrink added Ambien and I had some weird reaction that nearly killed me. I spent 6 months recovering and getting off meds and began to work with a nutritionist and medical intuitive. A year later I do not recognize myself. I've lost 70 lbs, my ADD is nearly non-existent, my depression has been sorted out into more manageable diagnoses like autoimmune deficiency, Asperger's Syndrome, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and being a Highly Sensitive Person. Instead of an identified patient in my family I am the healthy, sane, calm one. I still have tons of issues, some health related, many of them spiritual and social, but I can work on these myself. Once in a while I take an aspirin, but not often, because I do a lot of stress management. I know when I was depressed I could not take the care of myself I do today. It was not easy so I went to a lot of 12-step programs and got a lot of support. So I'm definitely anti-meds not just because they just didn't work for me but also because they cover symptoms and did not allow me to find the cause.

I do believe that most psychiatrists do the best they can to prescribe proper medication. If something goes wrong that they had no way of predicting I don't believe they should be sued for malpractice.

I can relate to what kitkaplan said. I went through some similar events, including a 100 pound weight gain which destroyed my self-esteem. Doctors seem to go overboard with meds. I wonder if then get a percentage of the pills they make us take. However, I have to admit that smoe people do well on meds and suffer few consequenses.

James

Sepultura agreed - shrinks should be monitoring and paying close attention to side effects and, if feasible, changing the regime of drugs to suit your needs.

Also I agree that medications for mental illness are overprescribed, but that I think is because we let drug companies steer the ship. I too think PDocs should be liable if their diagnosis is way off the mark.

I agree that meds are over prescribed. And it is my personal experience that I have, at times, been over medicated. Not so I was a zombie, but I did gain a lot of weight (lucky me - only 50 lbs!), received ill-advised information about 'ramping up' and 'tapering down' certain drugs, and about side effects I should look out for.

However, I am sure that there are others who, as I did, worked for years on their own to feel better. Most people don't want to be diagnosed as 'mentally ill', and seeing a shrink is often a last resort. And when you get to that point, you are desperate. And scared of how bad it might get if you don't get help.

But the psych profession is, in spite of all the research, and the compassionate dedication that many of these professionals have, only all about speculation.

The human mind is still a mystery.

Drugs are prescribed based on reported symptoms, but each person's experience is so personal, knowing what is a 'symptom' and what is a 'character defect', or even 'normal', is hard to guage. Simply put, mental health clients don't know how the pdocs will interpret what they say (and what they don't say), yet they rely on the pdocs expertise.

For example, rapid thoughts might seem 'normal' to someone, and they don't report it, when it could be a symptom of mania. How can a person know that their thoughts are 'rapid' compared to others?

I think pdocs are well meaning, but they may have some kind of savior complex, wherein they believe that they can heal a person's mind, when they are quite clueless.

And people rely on their advice - and prescriptions - because they are desperate and on some level believe, or at least hope, that this professional knows what he/she is doing.

It is not so simple as saying people should take responsibility for their thoughts. But those who believe that it is will probably not be convinced of this, because it is outside their exprience.

Good for them.

Joyless you asked "For example, rapid thoughts might seem 'normal' to someone, and they don't report it, when it could be a symptom of mania. How can a person know that their thoughts are 'rapid' compared to others?"

That's an excellent question - I'm bipolar too - and I think, assuming we are saying our thoughts to others, we're stuck with asking those around us. Or we can look to our own forgetting and if we're forgetting more thoughts than we're remembering, then there's an issue. But it's a tricky thing to tease out when you're manic and when you're not. So check out people's reactions in their faces.