Pill Problems
Pills can be useful to improve mental health, but there are different activities to get you through the day.
Pills are a useful tool, but not the only option.
April 21, 2023
According to Cleveland Clinic, antidepressants, antipsychotics, psychostimulants, and mood stabilizers are medications prescribed by psychiatrists or mental health professionals to patients that struggle with mental illness or long-term mental health issues. In a pill form, its job is to release more neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline to make the consumer feel at ease. Although they can be helpful, they can also be problematic. For example, depression is caused by a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors, not simply a chemical imbalance that a pill fixes, says HelpGuide.org. The pill only changes chemicals, but it is still beneficial for mental struggles like depression. Prozac, Lithium, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Aderal, Focalin and Lexapro are the most common brands of these drugs. In moderation, or the amount prescribed by a professional, pills can surely do magic and help a patient control their big emotions.
Green Brooks states that originally, mental health pills were only given to schizophrenic patients and patients with severe cases of depression or suicidal behaviors. Today, it seems that a pill is handed out for every struggle a person has. It can be as small as feeling anxiety one day or having a bad week. Small things like that can be worked on little by little instead of having a pill do it all for you. According to Verywell Mind, withdrawal symptoms can occur from depending on an antidepressant for a long time and then slowly decreasing the intake or not taking the pill regularly anymore.
These pills can be healthy for someone but should also be balanced with other coping mechanisms. Not everyone has the option of going to a therapist, but therapy is a very healthy option. Therapy can influence a person to help them look at their problems differently. It gives them a different perspective of how they feel. Exercise can also help; it doesn’t have to be a full-blow, two hour workout at the gym, but it can be going outside for a walk. A lot of therapists recommend journals to jot down thoughts or behaviors or spending time with loved ones, as those behaviors give comfort. Having a set routine of what needs to be done, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, and trying new things that have been avoided prior also aid mental health. Most importantly, people need to get an adequate amount of sleep, which is eight to ten hours. These things can control a person’s overpowering feelings and emotions.
Antidepressants can still provide amazing benefits, as it is normal to control overwhelming emotions and feelings with them. However, they are not the only tools, and everything can not be dealt with medicine. Trying new strategies and tools and helping diminish the reliance on pills.
