DISCLAIMER: I am not a mental health professional. The purpose of this post is to highlight the unfair stigma attached to mental health medication. This post is based on my own personal experience. Please seek clinical advice from a professional if you need it x
This post has sat in my drafts for a while. Mostly because I let societal stigma shut me up. I’m learning to be a little more open with my blog in the hope that it helps at least one person feel less alone and more understood. After a very positive experience receiving psychotherapy I finally feel like I have a handle on my mental health. I’ve been taking mental health medication since I was 18. As a result I am quite versed in the world of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.
Used with permission from @makedaisychains. Forever grateful x
How do they work in a nutshell?
SSRIs work by stopping the brain from reabsorbing the neurotransmitter, serotonin, making more serotonin available. Serotonin plays an important part in regulating our mood, sense of well-being and helps ward off anxiety, fear, depression and aggression. One myth is that these medications are addictive. Substances that are addictive will have a detrimental effect on a person’s life but the addict will continually seek out the substance despite this. For a substance to be addictive it needs to intensely activate the reward and reinforcement pathways in our brain. SSRIs do not do this.
Why do people take them?
SSRIs are commonly prescribed for the treatment of clinical depression. Depression can be reactive or endogenous. Reactive depression is usually in response to a traumatic life event or stressor. Depression that is endogenous is caused by some internal factor, like your genetics and biology. To be diagnosed with clinical depression you need to experience several symptoms, every day, for at least two weeks. For some people SSRIs have helped them cope with a depressive episode. Some never have to take them again.
For those with recurrent depression they may have to take them long-term. Everyone is different. Depression is not just sadness. Depression is not a feeling or an adjective to misuse. It is a serious illness that can have devastating effects on the individual and compassion is needed to aid them in recovery.
SSRIs get a lot of press. They’re demonised or romanticised in film and the media which doesn’t help. There are a plethora of scare-mongering websites that encourage people to take all sorts of natural ‘remedies’ in their stead. In my own experience a naturopath encouraged me to come off my medication and it was a disaster to say the least. If taking medication helps you to feel better the last thing you need is someone making you feel guilty about it.
Unfortunately, there is a grotesque lack of empathy and love when you are suffering with mental illness. However, I do believe that deep down, we have a desire to be kind and being kind means not judging or shaming each other for the decisions we make to sustain our health.
Something to remember
Medication that helps people live day to day and enjoy the things they once loved is no reason to shame people.
Depression can be so severe that it can cause suicidal ideation and intent. SSRIs give people the breathing space they need to get back to a healthy place. Think about it: would you shame someone for using their inhaler? Those with asthma need their inhalers to literally help them breathe, SSRIs for a lot of people provide the same relief.
I refuse to be shamed for taking medication that helps me to live. For nearly 10 years SSRIs have helped me to be my true self without dwelling on past psychological trauma. Thanks to a talented psychotherapist, compatible medication and embracing my faith I have been able to live and achieve things that are important to me. Such as graduating from university, getting baptised and travelling to New York solo.
How you can help
If you love someone who takes mental health medication please educate yourself. Ones should only come off medication with medical supervision and only when they are fit and able to do so, if ever. If you are unsure of the effects or side effects of mental health medication please read about it from reputable sources. Blurting out assumptions only harms those you love and makes you appear cold and frankly, ignorant.
I want those who read this to understand that medication for mental health deserves the same respect and validity as medication for your physical health. Our brain controls our body and emotions and when our brain is sick it needs medicine to recover.
Mental illness is NOT a choice. Those battling with their mental health everyday are warriors. Whether you choose to take medication, whether you find a healthy diet and regular exercise more beneficial or if you’re still at the self-medicating stage your pain and struggle is valid. Don’t let anyone make you feel weak because you’re not. There is nothing more painful and strenuous than fighting against your own mind.
With special love and thoughts for my fellow warriors, those who have recovered and those who are still in recovery.
Athina x
Shout out to @makedaisychains on instagram for letting me use her art for my post. She’s the creator of the #boringselfcare hashtag if you haven’t heard of her 🙂
Further reading: What has serotonin to do with depression?
Serotonin
Four Ways to Boost Your Serotonin Activity
Addiction
What a really thought provoking post 🙂 I loved reading it beh beh and I’m happy you are in a place where you are comfortable in sharing what you have been through and what you have experienced. No one should feel ashamed about mental health and what choices they feel are right for their own mental well being. Part of the issue is people need to educate themselves and I hope those people actually read posts that are as informative as this <3 love you always
Thank you so much for reading, sharing and quoting, beh beh. You’ve always supported me. There needs to be a BIG push and they should start in schools and the workplace. Having a mental health problem shouldn’t be something we feel we have to keep hidden. I’m definitely going to keep writing about this. Love you 💛💛💛
Yes! This is so true. I’ve written a little about this myself. The stigma surrounding medication for mental health is huge and it drives me insane. Even my doctor suggested I tried alternative methods. The same doctor also suggested a long-term antibiotic subscription for acne…. One of my conditions could potentially have ended my life and it sure as hell wasn’t acne so I’m not sure why he was so unhelpful.
Mental health is woefully underfunded and as a result isn’t fully understood. Thank you for taking about and helping to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Wow… how disappointing!
There’s stigma within the medical community which makes me angry. I had one consultant tell me when I was in hospital following a MH crisis that it won’t look good when I apply for jobs. I was 19. I will never forget that. Bedside manner went right down the toilet. It says A LOT that they’re happy to prescribe antibiotics, when more antibiotic-resistant diseases are occuring everyday but not MH medication that you needed.
Like you rightly said, there is no money in MH services and this is why people are so dreadfully ignorant. Thank you for reading my post and sharing your story with me xxx
It’s so good that you’re writing about this and have published this on your blog! For a long time I wanted to have nothing to do with medication for my mental health. (When any types of pills come up for mental health or sleep my mum always says that they are dangerous and addictive and that I should never take them – even though she has never done any research ha) – so I guess it makes sense why it took me a while to find my own opinion on the matter! Your posts reinforce that idea that pills can help and give that little bit of breathing space. And I completely agree with that no one would find it weird to use an inhaler for asthma either, so why is it weird to take pills for mental health?
Thank you, Malou!
And there it is… Too many misconceptions about mental health medication. It’s so dangerous to go by word-of-mouth only when making decisions that affect our health. There’s A LOT of prejudice concerning mental conditions and the medications that make them manageable. Completely unfair.
I think because it’s for the mind and we’re led to believe that if we ‘try hard enough’ or just ‘think positive’ then these medications aren’t needed. This thinking can be dangerous and may stop some from seeking medical help. Thank you so much for reading xx
Great post! Awareness is key. For the people with depression and their peers. Im glad that you are feeling good with your medicines.
Hi Komal 🙂
Thank you very much for reading x
This was so needed yo be said and as a psychology student I couldn’t agree more!
This was problem the part that stood out for me most, so important, thank you xx
“I want those who read this to understand that medication for mental health deserves the same respect and validity as medication for your physical health”
Annelies | https://thefrugalfrenchie.co.uk
Hi Annelise!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share your thoughts.
I’m really glad it resonated with you 🙂
Athina x
Wow! I never knew about all of this and I’m glad you ended up posting this!
http://Www.livingwithlils.wordpress.com
Thanks Lils 🙂 x
Especially coming from a black background where everything is based on praying things away and ignoring issues, I feel using medication is so frowned on and it’s really sad. I remember my family thought I was faking my mental problems and that the pills were a waste of money, my money let me point out cause they never paid for it, and an insult to god.
We just need better…
Olli – http://www.olliviette.com
We do need better and we need to DO better. I completely get what you’re saying, as a black woman I know exactly what you mean. I have had people I love, care about and deeply respect suggest that I can ‘pray away’ my mental health problems and I know they don’t mean any harm. Unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health in the black community and a lot of superstition which prevents people from seeking medical advice. If not for my faith, medication and the incredible woman I saw for nearly 3 years I wouldn’t be in some semblance of stability like I am today. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment xx
Great post! Exercise is really helpful, I just find travelling to the gym tiresome but once I am done working out, it is really rewarding.
Thank you for writing this and sharing your views.
-www.writtenbyca.wordpress.com
Hi Catherine 🙂
I agree, completely. It’s the one thing I’ve found that can completely change my mood, naturally.
You’re welcome! Thank you for reading it and commenting. Feel free to share it x
Great piece I thought i would drop in my 2 cents for what it is worth. The reason many people look at antidepressants and other psychotropic medication is because in the late 80’s and all through the 90’s there was a fad in the medical field where Psychiatrists didn’t really care to work with patients and help them figure out and work through their emotions. Doctors would just hand out Valium and Zanex like it was candy on Halloween. So you had people who would dull or even numb their emotions so they wouldn’t have to deal with them. They were often called living zombies and I think that is where a lot of the zombie fad of a couple years agon came from.
Are psychotropics bad? No there is a use for them as with all medication. Are they needed as often as they are prescribed? My opinion? No.People as a whole shy away from their emotions with out wanting to understand them. Emotions are vibrations in your body that are created by a thought. We often fear that an emotion will drown us in sorrow or last for ever and that simply isn’t true if most people allowed themselves to just stop and experience the emotion be it useful useless positive or negative. They will see that it doesn’t last that long and then you can own that feeling and change it to however you feel.
There are times that there are real mental conditions that need help with getting a person balanced and functioning again.
Keep up the good work
Hi Bryan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment.
I was unaware of the previous attitudes of psychiatrists in that time period. As you said, I do think that medication is over prescribed and their should be more emphasis on talking therapies. I was fortunate enough to have had psychotherapy and medication and it was definitely the combination of the two that gave me such a good result.
However, I do advocate for people being able to take medication on a long-term or short-term basis if they feel that is all they need for whatever MH condition they may have.
Thank you! 🙂
Such a fantastic article! This needs to be heard – so many people are ashamed of the pills they take just because of the stigma surrounding it.
You also did an excellent job of explaining exactly what they are and how they work.
Thank you so much for this!
– Nyxie
Hi Nyxie,
Thank you so much for saying that! It definitely wasn’t easy to write such a personal post but I’m so grateful for the response to it. I’m really happy this post has helped you 🙂 x
Loved this! Thank you so much for writing this piece! I’ve been on antidepressants most of my life, and I’ve felt both shame and embarrassment for being on them. But they help me function like a normal human being and combat my depression and anxiety so I can live my life, so why should I be ashamed? Your post was so well written and I hope that more people will talk about mental health/medication to erase the stigma ❤
Emily | https://www.thatweirdgirllife.com
This is great, Emily! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I hope so too 🙂 xx
It’s so encouraging that you shared this in such an open way – you’ve explained a complex issue so well and it’s certainly helped me figure out how I can help those in my life who are taking medications and have face what you’ve described. I often fell short in my defending those I care about who have faced this and your post have really helped. Thank you!
Thank you, Molly! I’m so glad this post has helped you. I’m sure your friends appreciate your efforts :)xx
I am all for people taking medicine to help them. I have people who are anti-medicine in general. I take birth control and a set of pills for my internal issues, why can’t people take pills for mental health? Loved the read.
S .x https://samsramblings91.blogspot.com/
Because mental health is seen as being in our control and taking pills is deemed weak and unnecessary. Which is complete crap. Thank you 🙂 x
I love this! It’s so important to not judge people who are on medications for mental health problems. It’s so important to take care of yourself and take medication if that’s what you wantt, I was on anti-depressants and they worked wonders!
When you find the right one, they are certainly beneficial. Thanks for sharing, bab 🙂
This post is so needed. Thanks for taking the time to share this important message. Mental health is no joke and should be viewed like any other medical condition.
You’re very welcome and thank you for saying so 🙂 x
Wow, that was so insightful. People need to understand that mental illness is similar to any other illness. It’s time we spread awareness.
Thank you 🙂
You should never be stigmatised for taking medication for something that means you’re struggling, and if medication is suggested by a professional (and it’s a choice you want to make) you shouldn’t be stigmatised for that. Thank you for sharing this, some people might want to take medication- and others might not- and that’s fine!