Does nobody else here see the damage that psychiatric drugs cause to the minds of the people who take them?

Question

I've read several answers on this site to people's questions about depression and such, telling them to take drugs. Psychiatric drugs are incredibly damaging to the mind. Is the "profession" of Psychiatry so good at deception that it actually has the public believing in these drugs so whole-heartedly that nobody else can see a better way? Is anyone even looking for a better way, or is it just easier to pop a pill and try to convince yourself that its working for you, regardless of the evidence that it isn't working and the damage it causes? I guess my question is, does anyone out there agree with this assessment?

Answer 1

Well, this is a controversial topic now isn't it?

If anyone thinks that there is no evidence (Jen) need to look no further than the warning labels and side effects (go ahead and look at the common and rare side effects). Check out serotonin reuptake inhibitors (a class of antidepressants)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI#General_side_effects)

After a stroke, my father-in-law was whisked to the ER where they immediately discontinued all of his medication, including his antidepressant. We then had to watch him suffer from immediate detox in which he had hallucinations of police cars driving through his room and screaming that he almost ran us over in his RV. This is very common.

Have you ever looked at children's toothpaste, sunscreen or medicine? The label clearly states: "Keep away from children". Why? Because our free market economy, medical associations and lobbyists have decided that in small doses, what might otherwise kill us, may help us. And you know what, that's all fine.

Medicines are helpful and have a place. I don't think any of us here would want to use a defibrillator on a daily basis - but if I'm in cardiac arrest, hook that SOB up and toast my ***.

I just feel for people who blindly follow their doctors at the expense of common sense. It is very lucrative and profitable to create disorders, labels, medicines, et al to solve what is really just a simple coping problem. Not that our problems are not real, not complex and not painful, but at their root, they are very simple.

I'm not trying to be a conspiracy theorist here, but there's no small coincidence that a) medical and legal professionals are at or near the top of the economic chain and b) health and legal issues are not only not resolved, they are at all time highs.

I've been through depression. I spent a month in my early 20s walking around my apartment with trash and food on the floor, barely functioning and hardly surviving losing 30 lbs. I even went to a psychologist who reaffirmed my frustrations with an alcoholic father who I watched (as a 5-6 year-old) threaten my mother with a gun to her head and who told me the best part of me ran down my mother's leg. You think that doesn't scar a kid and leave some coping mechanisms to be desired? I was a wreck, an angry train wreck. There wasn't a wall that I hadn't punched through or a girlfriend that I didn't scare the hell out of. But I didn't need or use medications. I took a chance on a wild theory that maybe, just maybe I could do better and that I had to take responsibility for what was going on and while I could not change my childhood, I could learn healthy coping mechanisms and re-engage society.

So, I'm passionate about this, I'm sure you get that. What I am saying is this: medicines have a place. I too take an advil occasionally to dull that pain that I cannot otherwise stop and I think there is a small % of people who really are too unstable to re-learn healthy coping mechanisms. But advil doesn't stop my muscle strain or tension. It deadens my nerves. It is a bandaid as are antidepressants. Have you ever met anyone who was on antidepressants who was excited about their life? Who didn't feel pinned down or trapped? Who didn't feel that they had too much on their plate and they didn't even like the food?

Antidepressants, ritalin, et al are all cruel, especially when administered to children. But this is all no different that the idiocracy of someone suing McDonalds because they dropped hot coffee in their lap. Quick fixes are an addiction in and of themselves. If drugs were as amazing as advertised, people would heal and need them only short-term. No small coincidence that if you 'need' them, you always 'need' them. Planned obsolescence at it's finest.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence_%28business%29#Rationale_behind_the_strategy). Watch how drugs companies scuttle when a patent runs out to re-create their profit centers with new patents.

As for all of the clinical trials that proclaim a medicine worthy? Remember that Vioxx went through the same double blind studies and were deemed ok. And there are many more known and you can bet unknown cases of flawed trials.

And if the pharmaceutical industry was 'helping' people, tell me this: why do they market and advertise to us? Why do they tell us to ask our doctors about Lunesta, Cialis, etc, etc, etc. Whoa. Hold the train! I'm supposed to recommend medication to my physician?? Seems to me, with common sense and all, that my physician should be recommending medicines to me!

Oh, it was a fun day explaining to my 6-year old daughter that butterflys do not make mommys and daddys sleep.

Answer 2

go and shite yourself do you work in psychiatry, antidepressants anti-psychotics, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics all serve their purpose as medication yes they may have side effects but these are explained and a drug is never administered without the ok from the client. there are laws which back this up. anyway medication is not the only line of treatment a person receives there is many treatments such as counselling cognitive behaviour therapy self help groups etc without a combination of supports from family friends and the psychiatric profession treatment would not work, as a professional in this area i have seen the benefits of medication far outweigh non compliance which can seriously leave the client at risk of hurting themselves or others you only are looking at depression as an example what about bipolar disorder schizophrenia are they just pill popping. all those on medication are monitored and health risks assessed to find the right regime to suit there needs. mental health can in no way be seen in the same light as a physical illness. it takes time are you in fact encouraging people to not take there medication and look for other alternatives. why that would be like telling an insulin dependant individual hey you don't need that injection i have another way how long will that individual live without needing urgent medical attention

Answer 3

First of all, what facts do you have the psychiatric drugs are "incredibly damaging to the mind"? Since there are no such facts out there, just opinions of various people.

Second, medication is at times necessary for people to take when they have mental disorders. For some people, the brain does not produce the right amount of certain chemicals needed to function (i.e. seratonin and noreprenephrin for those with depression.) Therefore, there is a chemical imbalance that can ONLY be fixed with medication.

Third, for some people, medication is use don a temporary basis in order to help the person get to a better functioning state so that they are able to start working on themselves for a positive change. These people are often unable to start the therapy process or be successful in it until they have taken medication to get "better"

Fourth, No counselor, doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist will recommend that someone takes a medication if they feel it will be damaging or unproductive for them in the long run. Medication is only prescribed for those who will benefit from taking it.

Finally, Recieveing a suggestion for a medication is only that...a suggestion. You do not have to take medication if you do not want to. It's YOUR CHOICE. The only people that are forced to take psychiatric medication are those who are in danger of themselves and others. And if you don't believe in those people being medicated, take a trip to a state psychiatric hospital and visit with the patients and then you can say that you would want them to be off thier meds cause they are not fun when the ARE medicated.

Answer 4

If your assessment promotes the non use of medications to help people with psychiatric problems then NO I for one do not agree with you.
I will say that the use of drugs alone is not the approach that is the method to use in helping those in need.

There needs to be a combination of medcation and therapy to help them overcome the problem .In some instances and due to the illness ( psychiatric problems are an illness) medication has to be given in order to either stimulate ( in depression) or damp down ( in mania) the behaviour to the point where the patient is able to accept the therapy.

Without medication many of these people will either hurt themselves or others and it would be remiss of any therapist to ignore the benefits of medication in the treatment of Psychiatric illnesss. The indiscriminate taking of Psychiatric drugs and self treatment is not supported by this writer.
But forums like these often just give the reply in simplistic form and that is that they need some form of medication.

It may be that ignorance of the followow up is also required or that they think it is the drugs alone that are the primary cure or control for any illness be it physical or psyche based, or both.

Answer 5

I agree that perscription drugs are way over perscribed and mismanaged, but I think you are making a blanket generalization about every person that takes a drug. Personally I have struggled for years with anxiety and depression and never realized how bad it was half of the time, when I finally had a break down and went on a low dose of zoloft, it's done a good deal of help. It is not by any means a cure all, I've had to make many changes in my life, counseling with my husband, being on a better schedual with my kids, etc....Although misused often, these drugs for many people like myself aren't to make your life a walk in the park one day. I don't think many people take them for that reason. I finally just feel normal! Or about as normal as we humans are I suppose. I still get angry, frustrated, and have bad days, it's called life.....the difference is now I can deal with it much better. For a lot of people depression , anxiety, etc...are chemical reactions that are not working correctly. So while I agree with you that the answer should NOT always be medication, for many people it is a logical answer and you should maybe do a little research on why that is so.

Answer 6

I do feel there is a place for some drugs of these types in society, but also agree that they are being over used and prescribed.
I was a mental mess at one time. Ready to kill myself, not working. No concerntration, not eating. Ignoring my children and slowly dying from the inside out.
I used some of these drugs you are talking about for a period of 5yrs along with therapy.
I am now drug free, back at work, feeling great and healthy. I have not looked back.
I think you are being too harsh with your comments.

Answer 7

Well, you have a good point there, but one need to consider the fact that drugs administered correctly is a very good way to treat some psychiatric problems.

Answer 8

problems are problems and need to be dealt with.If pysco. drugs tell you every thing is OK when it aint that is creating a bigger mess, things pile up you take more drugs, things pile up then peolple become overwhelmed and the next step is suicide then they want to give you drugs for that. That is not in a patients best interest. If you are taking them talk to your doc before you stop taking them

Answer 9

why would anyone look for a better way when the world of healthcare is being wined and dined by the pharmaceutical market? Don't trust you'r doctor, he or she has become nothing more than a common retail worker.

Answer 10

Damage? Tom Cruise, is that you? These drugs help millions of people function fully and capably every day. If they didn't take these drugs, their particular mental illness would overwhelm them in very short order.