Myths and Facts
Being a great fan of reading and an appreciator of mind healing, I came across many pieces of writing and information, including statistics and examples of the palliating process of our conscience. It was astonishing to know how wonderful the mind can be and how dangerous it can behave in a disturbing phase. Now the world is realising the importance of counselling and help in maintaining mental health, many of us are still intertwined in the wrong concepts of Psychology and Psychiatric Treatments. There are tons of myths and lots of misconceptions around the same subject. With my knowledge, in this piece of comprehension, I have listed down some myths and how they are busted.
Myths about Psychiatric Treatments
- Only mad and violent people take psychiatric treatments.
- Psychiatrists are psychics! – They know what is going on in people’s minds.
- Psychiatric medicines are forever and create bad habits.
- The only pills psychiatrists give are sleeping pills.
- Mental problems cannot be cured, not even treatable.
- People with mental illness are crazy or weak.
- Psychiatric issues are very rare.
- Doctors only give shock treatments to all patients.
- Psychiatric medicines can alter your personality.
Facts about Psychiatric Treatments
- Any person who faces normal or extreme stress or trauma in his/her life can take psychiatric treatments. According to a survey by the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) 2015-16, around 10.6 per cent of adults in India suffered from mental disorders. Individuals from the age group 25-44 are highly affected. To minimise this, psychiatric treatment with counselling is necessary. If the person is unable to cope up with the situation and it is affecting his/her personal, professional and social life, then they ought to see their counsellors.
- Psychiatrists are psychics! – They know what is going on in people’s minds. It has been one of the biggest and funniest jokes about mental health. Psychiatrists as well as counsellors don’t read minds! They are trained in such a way that they can have small cues from the patient’s gestures and information. Additionally, they observe the behaviour and responses of the patients to determine the type of treatment they may give.
- Psychiatric medicines are not habit-forming. Apart from anxiolytics, stimulants and hypnotics, not all medicines that are used for psychiatric treatments are addictive. These medicines do not create dependencies. Patients do not need to increase the dosage to get the same effect. They do not also increase cravings after stopping the pills. However, patients may feel dizziness, headache, sweating, etc. This stops after a week or two after stopping or reducing the medications.
- Based on the type of illness, psychiatrists prescribe medicines to the patient. They may include antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics or other medications. Sleeping pills are advised for sleeping aid and this prescription has different reasons other than just primary care medications.
- With proper treatment and medications by a good psychiatrist and therapy consultant, many people can have their normal lives back. Their illness can be cured. However, it is their responsibility to understand that just like the common cold, fever, cough, etc., these mental illnesses or similar symptoms can occur again in situations with major stress or overwhelming conditions. These symptoms can also be cured with appropriate treatments.
- ‘Biopsychosocial Disorders,’ commonly known as mental illness or disorders, are caused by different reasons. This is not because of the person’s nature and it is not a character flaw. They are mainly caused by either biological reasons such as genetic factors or neurological imbalances or social/environmental factors such as extreme stress, poor support, childhood trauma, etc. People with mental illness are not weak or they are not crazy.
- Due to less awareness among people, it is a common myth that mental illness or psychiatric disorders are rare. However, to our surprise, around 13% of people in the world suffer from some kind of mental disorder. Mental disturbances are very common and same across all continents, regardless of region, caste, nature, and economic class.
- Patients with severe levels of mental disorders are exposed to shock treatments. Widely known as Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), sends electrical signals to the brain, creating a surge of activity in the brain. However, it is not a common practice and is only used in extreme cases.
- Medications do not disturb any person’s personality. It is a psychiatric disorder that can alter the nature and behaviour of the patient. They never turn into a mind-altering substance, nor do they transform into a different person. Patients’ interests, ideas, integrity, etc., remain the same within them. With proper medication, they can lead a normal life by accessing these intrapersonal qualities of their personalities, in case of any mental disturbances.
As responsible residents of a free and diverse-cultured nation, we ought to help the people in need—be it in their economic stress or their mental health. Though there are tons of myths around Psychiatric Treatments, we must help the patients to consult the doctor and take medicines. Apart from that, it is all about being present for them; it just takes a few minutes to listen to and understand them; it just takes a few kind words to heal a portion of their disturbed mind.
