Do the Benefits of Taking Psychiatric Medication Outweigh the Risks?
In a recent article titled "Thoughts on Taking Psychiatric Medication," my fellow HealthyPlace.com blogger, Natalie, posed the question: "Do the benefits of taking psychiatric medication outweigh the risks?" In my opinion, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. In fact, I believe that I would be putting my life at greater risk by not taking psychiatric medication.
Before I started taking medication, I would cause myself physical harm, put myself in dangerous situations while manic and I was often very suicidal. Now that I am on psychiatric medications, I am much safer on a day-to-day basis. It may be true that the medications could be causing some kind of wear on my body, just like taking any drug for an extended period of time can, but overall they are greatly improving my quality of life.
APA Reference
Zee, D.
(2011, September 6). Do the Benefits of Taking Psychiatric Medication Outweigh the Risks?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 18 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/mentalhealthforthedigitalgeneration/2011/09/do-the-benefits-of-taking-psychiatric-medication-outweigh-the-risks
Author: Dani Zee
I have bipolar disorder and I know that without my medication I would probably be dead by now. That's a hard thing to say because I'm only 22. But before taking bipolar meds, I was doing all sorts of crazy things. Like what? I took my parents car and at 130 miles an hour I attempted to jump a 10 foot wide (bank to bank), 12 foot deep ditch. I thought I was going to be a stunt car driver.
I'm like you Dani. I don't know what these psych meds do to your body over the long term, but I would rather be sane and live with medication side effects for 50 years than livin la vida loco for 55 or 60 years.
Yikes that sounds like it was a very risky situation! I'm glad to hear that the medication is helping you.
I've been on MANY psych meds and have long been personally opposed to ME taking them due to the awful side effects that I experienced. I have reconsidered this position after an awful and almost deadly recent relapse into symptoms - a near suicide and a plethora of other psychotic, cognitive and depressive symptoms.
As it now seems with the help of a great Pharm D and a caring Psych Doc I will revisit Resperidone in low dose 0.25mg or 0.50 mg once a day for depression anxiety psychois and paranoia.
I know you have talked a lot about how you experienced severe side effects from the medications. I hope they work out for you this time. I didn't know you were having such a rough time. I hope things are getting better for you. Let me know how the meds work out.
Hey Dani-
While I agree that medication makes it easier for therapy and life in general, sometimes finding the right mix can be exhausting. If one med could fix everything it would be great. Unfortunately sometimes fixing one thing at a time means many many trial medications over a period of time. In the meantime, life can be wracked with physical and mental illness while trying out the new meds that don't work. This is where I am now. Hope I have the perseverance and a very patient psych doc to get me where you are now.
Yes it can sometimes be a long process to find the right meds but definitely worth it once you do. I hope it works out for you soon!
Hopefully I can get on mood pill soon. I think that will really help me more. I'm still having mood issues.
Yeah I couldn't live without my mood stabilizer! I hope you find the right combination soon.
I agree with you. A lot of people think that just therapy could help solve a mental health problem. I don't know. I don't think that is enough sometimes.
Thanks for pointing out that if your mental health is really affecting your quality of life, the benefits of taking psychiatric medication outweigh the risks by far. I suffer from depression and anxiety, but I've been afraid to try because of the potential side effects. Hearing your experience made me more confident in seeking out psychiatric help, so thanks for sharing!