Why do people hate the thought of taking medication for mental disorders?

Question

So many people are so opposed to taking medication for mental conditions. I just wondered why this is. I look at it like this: The brain is just another organ in our body. People don't seem to have a problem taking medication for a heart problem, liver disease, diabeties etc. A lot of mental conditions are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. These conditons are easyily treated with the right medication. So what is the problem? Do people feel that taking medication means they are crazy? I am just curious about the opinions that bring people to feel this way.

I hope some people that read this will take into consideration my views and the views of others. I simply hate to think of people suffering when they could be leading happier lives. This was by no means to insult anyone. Poor mental health can be just a debilitating as poor physical health.

Answer 1

Well, within the mental health community this is a huge debate. Therapy versus medication. Studies have shown that the therapeutic relationship has as much or more of an effect on 'mental illness' as psychiatric care. Also, is the chemical imbalance the result of environmental influence or does it occur independently. If it is a reaction to the environment, then medication is only helping a symptom of a problem rather than directly effecting change in the causal factor. For example, you might put a band-aide on a cut you get on your foot, but if you're walking on broken glass then the band-aide hasn't really solved the problem, instead you might want to consider getting off the glass! Generally, however, there is a stigma related to mental health care of any kind, medication or therapeutic intervention.

Answer 2

A lot of it has to do with the stigma of mental illness. Mental illness is all-encompassing. It has to do with your physiology, cognition, behaviors, interpersonal relationships, etc. There are all very personal things. With something like a heart problem, its usually just physiological.
Getting the diagnosis of mental illness is difficult for some people. They are basically being told that there is something wrong with their brain and need medication, but essentially are also being told that there is something wrong with the way they think and act. Its insulting to a lot of people. If you have a heart problem, often people think its just that...its a cardiac problem and nothing more, not realizing all the behavioral factors that can lead to a heart problem.
There are also a lot of people that are in denial of their mental disorder and believe they can treat it on their own.
Like others have said, they also worry about it changing their personality. People worry about becoming Prozac or feel like they will become emotionless zombies on medication.

Answer 3

You have a good grasp of the whole concept that is why you are so open minded......but those who usually detest the whole medication idea DON'T know the seriuosness behind mental disorders.....you have to keep in mind that many of these disorders were given attention to later in life......the whole brain and psyhcological disorders are on a rise because more and more testing and scientific results are just being released....so a lot has to deal with people who are just uneducated about the topic as a whole.......can you guess what my field of study is in???? :)

Answer 4

Because sometimes the medication causes a person to act completely different than their normal self (i.e. medication for someone with ADHD/ADD can calm them so much they are just purely serious), so it's just another chemical imbalance in the brain. People would rather they and those around them "be themselves" than "be so drugged up they don't know who they are".

Answer 5

THERE ARE 2 1/2 REASONS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS ARE USUALLY OPPOSED TO TAKING MEDS ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING.

1. IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS YOU TAKE A PILL AND POOF YOU ARE BETTER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE ASKING THIS ?
THERE IS MORE TIMES THAN NOT A LOT OF NOT TOO PLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS, THAT YOU GET FROM TAKING PSYCHIATRIC MEDS, WAY TOO MANY TO LIST HERE. AND IT CAN BE ALONG,DIFFICULT BATTLE FINDING THE ONE THAT WORKS BEST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON.

1/2. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS, ARE JUST TO SICK WHEN THEY BEGIN TREATMENT TO GET WELL INFORMED ENOUGH TO ACTIVELY AND KNOWLEDGEABLY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR IN THEIR TREATMENT PLAN SO IF THEY ARE HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS THEY JUST GIVE UP ON TAKING MEDS.

2.IN OUR SOCIETY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH STIGMA ATTACHED TO MENTAL DISORDERS, THAT NOBODY WANTS TO ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SO WHEN THEY START FEELING BETTER THEY WANT AND THINK THEY CAN STAY THAT WAY WITHOUT THE MEDS AND DO NOT WANT TO BE CONSIDERED SOME WHO HAS A MENTAL DISORDER..IT TAKES , IN MOST CASES THERAPY TO GET PAST THAT.

Answer 6

When I first started taking medications I thought it was a weakness. I had a friend point out to me that I took medications for high blood pressure whats the difference if I took medications for a chemical deficiency. I had no arguement

Answer 7

I got a chemical imbalance and I dont have a problem taking medication for it because it really helps. I guess people just dont want to become dependant to a drug.

Answer 8

There is the idea that some medications for psychiatric problems can actually alter the personality of the individual. It is also difficult for people to find the right meds for them.

Answer 9

I, for one, agree with every single word you said. If a person is difficult to deal with then they need medication or forget it. You have to make an attempt at bettering yourself.

Answer 10

side affects because my mom said my medication for attention deficit disorder made me physco and many mental pills are very addicting