Psychiatry is a Tool. Use It.

"The meds don't work!" I hear it a lot. From rational people. It's shorthand, a way to tell me that psychiatry has failed them. Unfortunately it's also used as a vantage point from which to argue that psychiatric medications are universal bunkum. I find this insulting; It implies those taking medication for mental health issues are at least a little clueless, prone to hypochondria. One step barely removed from calling the lot of us hysterics. So much for a century of scientific research and advocacy.

Part of me sighs in resignation and wonders if the people making these claims of conspiracy-grade quackery have ever seen a Venn diagram. Then I start to think about more helpful ways we can talk about the science (or lack thereof) behind psychiatry and how to use it to treat anxiety and improve mental health. 'Cause what are we talking about here? It isn't abstract. It's will I take this drug this morning or shall I just not bother?

Anxiety and psychiatry: Do you feel misinformed?

Psychiatric medication clearly works for some people some of the time. It isn't all Big Pharma. But I think many people on meds do feel uninformed or deliberately misinformed when it comes to the psychiatry of their mental health. The natural response is to want to hit back however it's important not to mistake feeling for fact. Reliable evidence is normally pretty thin on the ground when you look at the scientific studies and try to apply them to your own case.

The side effects of psychiatric medications are a real issue. Real enough for class action lawsuits which get a world of press. Of course it's far quieter in the land of 'my drugs worked'. Doesn't make for great headlines. Nobody announces it. Why would you? Someone's just as likely to pat you on the head and say that's nice. Anecdotal, but nice.

Treating anxiety: The importance of risk versus reward

Of course it's anecdotal. So it's not empirical evidence, I wouldn't float your boat on it but it doesn't hurt the case still to be made. I'm not saying shut up and swallow psychiatric propaganda like it's straight from God's mouth to your ear but do test these things for yourself. And do so with that idea of risk versus reward in mind; To what extent does the potential downside of psychiatric medication raise your absolute risk of harm versus the already active, ongoing harm caused by anxiety and poor mental health?

But do the meds work??

We don't know how psychiatric medication works in most people. Just like we don't how general anesthetics work at the molecular level but how long have we been using them to our advantage?
It's a matter of not having enough science to prove the theory. That doesn't mean it's wrong. Doesn't make it right either but if I didn't fully consider the potential risks against the potential rewards of all options available to me now, today, 2011 then I'd be downright foolish. Worse I'd have narrowed my perspective on the entire debate before I'd even begun.