well quite a bit of the pros and cons are going to have to do with the specific medications you take.
Libido loss is a pretty common con to psych meds, depends on your lifestyle whether that’s actually a “con”
The other big one I can think of is that once you’re on meds, it becomes a big part of your life. I spend probably three hours a week sorting medications/taking them. I’m atypical though, I have 5 psychiatric medications taken two to three times a day.
Pros though? Again depends on your condition and meds. There exist meds that get rid of suicidal ideation, that’s the biggest pro I can think of. Mood regulation tends to be better with meds. Oh and sleep! Sleep meds are awesome, I get 12 hours a night lately
appetite regulation is another big pro. Mine just make a dent, but at least I’m eating a few times a day, better than off my meds
lol exactly. pretty much 99% of all therapists and all psychiatrists in America will tell you that you “need” to be on meds. btw- guess who funds medical school, and the psychiatry and therapy industry?
Every situation is different. My therapist goes by the idea of the least intervention possible. She rarely suggests medications. From many people I have known to use meds I have seen hellish side effects. It is a complex subject. If you can safely go without, I would, and did. But I needed something. I have faithfully used essential oils and supplements with results good enough to avoid meds and the best part is no side effects whatsoever.
If you’re therapy thinks you should get back on meds, there is a reason. I think being aware of this reason is important.
Cons:
-Your therapist might just be suggesting this to you even though you might not need it for financial reasons
-Your therapist might be suggesting this to you as a replacement for therapy (very bad), I would talk to them about medication being only a part of your treatment, and not the whole thing.
Pros:
-Medicine can be a great help to thinks like therapy and help you make a lot more progress and faster progress too.
-You have a backup so if ur mood flips out, it wont go as crazy as it would without meds.
-There are more pros, but they depend on the person. Medication can be a helpful tool, but I really think its just a tool, and not the main part of treatment. Mental illness isn’t merely a chemical imbalance in the brain, if that were the case, prozac would’ve cure depression when it was invented.
For some illnesses, medication offers some of the best treatment possible. I hope you get a good result with whatever path you choose, good luck!
Thanks for the thoughts. It’s helpful.
I think my therapist suggested meds is because I am often teary and it interrupts my life. I can’t get through a single session with her without crying. Sometimes I cancel my plans because I don’t feel well enough to leave the house. And I think she knows I at least think about ending it all. She says it’s hard to make progress while carrying all that baggage, and meds can just relieve some of that baggage to help me progress. I know she’s right, but…
– meds make me feel less. That’s why they work, but I also fear that becoming less sensitive makes me less… me. They make me feel like a zombie.
– I would likely have to stop recreational drug use. My recreational drug use is super minimal (once every few months…?) but to me, it’s socially important. I think it’s more important to have quality time with friends occasionally, than for me to feel just okay in the long term.
– I know I am better if I’m working, and I think my current unemployment is (hopefully) temporary. Basically, I don’t want to start a course and then be stuck with all the side effects for the next few months (because they don’t let you quite easily) if lets say tomorrow I get a job and my situation improves.
– I work in a creative field, and sensitivity is kinda integral to my work. And if I’m on meds, and I don’t feel anything, I think my work would suffer. Then I’d be stuck in yet another vicious cycle – being worse at my job, which hurts my chances of getting a job, which contributes to my depression….
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Do you have a diagnosis?
well quite a bit of the pros and cons are going to have to do with the specific medications you take.
Libido loss is a pretty common con to psych meds, depends on your lifestyle whether that’s actually a “con”
The other big one I can think of is that once you’re on meds, it becomes a big part of your life. I spend probably three hours a week sorting medications/taking them. I’m atypical though, I have 5 psychiatric medications taken two to three times a day.
Pros though? Again depends on your condition and meds. There exist meds that get rid of suicidal ideation, that’s the biggest pro I can think of. Mood regulation tends to be better with meds. Oh and sleep! Sleep meds are awesome, I get 12 hours a night lately
appetite regulation is another big pro. Mine just make a dent, but at least I’m eating a few times a day, better than off my meds
small addition; your therapist isn’t a neutral party in this instance. Therapists on average are in favor of medications
it’s like; “The guy at the gas station says I should probably fill up my tank more often.”
like, gee, you don’t say? why would he be saying that? What a mystery this is.
lol exactly. pretty much 99% of all therapists and all psychiatrists in America will tell you that you “need” to be on meds. btw- guess who funds medical school, and the psychiatry and therapy industry?
@one_day
Every situation is different. My therapist goes by the idea of the least intervention possible. She rarely suggests medications. From many people I have known to use meds I have seen hellish side effects. It is a complex subject. If you can safely go without, I would, and did. But I needed something. I have faithfully used essential oils and supplements with results good enough to avoid meds and the best part is no side effects whatsoever.
If I were you, I’d steer clear of all drugs/meds. But that’s just my opinion.
If you’re therapy thinks you should get back on meds, there is a reason. I think being aware of this reason is important.
Cons:
-Your therapist might just be suggesting this to you even though you might not need it for financial reasons
-Your therapist might be suggesting this to you as a replacement for therapy (very bad), I would talk to them about medication being only a part of your treatment, and not the whole thing.
Pros:
-Medicine can be a great help to thinks like therapy and help you make a lot more progress and faster progress too.
-You have a backup so if ur mood flips out, it wont go as crazy as it would without meds.
-There are more pros, but they depend on the person. Medication can be a helpful tool, but I really think its just a tool, and not the main part of treatment. Mental illness isn’t merely a chemical imbalance in the brain, if that were the case, prozac would’ve cure depression when it was invented.
For some illnesses, medication offers some of the best treatment possible. I hope you get a good result with whatever path you choose, good luck!
Thanks for the thoughts. It’s helpful.
I think my therapist suggested meds is because I am often teary and it interrupts my life. I can’t get through a single session with her without crying. Sometimes I cancel my plans because I don’t feel well enough to leave the house. And I think she knows I at least think about ending it all. She says it’s hard to make progress while carrying all that baggage, and meds can just relieve some of that baggage to help me progress. I know she’s right, but…
– meds make me feel less. That’s why they work, but I also fear that becoming less sensitive makes me less… me. They make me feel like a zombie.
– I would likely have to stop recreational drug use. My recreational drug use is super minimal (once every few months…?) but to me, it’s socially important. I think it’s more important to have quality time with friends occasionally, than for me to feel just okay in the long term.
– I know I am better if I’m working, and I think my current unemployment is (hopefully) temporary. Basically, I don’t want to start a course and then be stuck with all the side effects for the next few months (because they don’t let you quite easily) if lets say tomorrow I get a job and my situation improves.
– I work in a creative field, and sensitivity is kinda integral to my work. And if I’m on meds, and I don’t feel anything, I think my work would suffer. Then I’d be stuck in yet another vicious cycle – being worse at my job, which hurts my chances of getting a job, which contributes to my depression….