Recently there has been a lot of talk. Lots of talk about gun control, lots of talk about protecting schools, but the one subject that really has been brought to light when people don't want to talk or can't agree on those things is mental health. I've heard left and right people arguing about this subject, and sadly none of it has been very positive. In fact a lot of it has been downright mean. Now I'm not saying I'm a victim, I'm not saying feel sorry for me at all, I'm saying that people are not thinking when they bring up the subject of mental health, and they need to start.
One of the things that has hit me the hardest is the link between extremely violent behavior such as school shootings and prescription anti-psychotic or anti-depressant drugs. Some of the drugs listed being drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and some lesser known drugs like Saphris and Risperdal. These have been linked to people involved in mass shootings, suicides, homicides and other violent behavior. People post blogs and spread news about the sad state of the mental health system, and why someone could possibly be on these medications, and that it is the medications fault for these tragic events.
I am on 3 out of 4 of those medications.
Does that make me a person prone to violent behavior? Does that make me someone who's one day going to snap and go on a mass murdering rampage? I don't think so. People tend to think that there are only a few weird side effects from these drugs, but still they push for better medication, or more medication. Sadly they don't think about what else people who are taking these pills are dealing with, or the amount of pressure and stress, because believe it or not, it does more then make people violent. So before you just brush off the next person who is mentally ill and suggest they need to simply be better medicated, here are a few side effects of Prozac, one of the most commonly prescribed anti-depressants:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Involuntary quivering
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Abnormal dreams
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling weak
- Indigestion
- Throat irritation
- Headache
- Agitation
That is a small list of a possible 83 side effects of one medication. Now do you know why these people snap?
I am no doctor, I am just one person who suffers from Bipolar Disorder. The difference between me and the people who have snapped is that I got the help I needed. They were on the same medication I am on now, the same medications that I take daily. Even though I list these terrible side effects, and it sounds like I'm not a fan of the medication, I'm actually one of their biggest advocates. It doesn't mean that its easy to get better though, in fact, it's one of the hardest things I have done in my life.
For me, I have to go to a specialist every two weeks, I have to fill out paperwork every time about how I'm sleeping, how I'm eating, and what my concerns are. I have to take time out of my day to drive 30 minutes to meet with someone for 5 minutes just so they can ask me how the meds are working and if I am having any suicidal or violent thoughts, and then I drive all the way back home. Does it feel like a waste of time? Yes it does, but I do it. Every month I have to go get blood work done to make sure everything is where it needs to be, again, it feels like a colossal waste of time, but I do it. Would I be able to take these medications without meeting with my psychiatrist? Absolutely not. I would probably snap.
I can not stress enough how dangerous it is to be taking these medications without meeting with a doctor consistently. People complain about how these doctors hand out anti-depressants like candy, and that leads to problems, but what the real problem is, is that these people are not going through the proper channels to get help. The most frustrating thing is that no one talks about it, because mental illness, counseling and things along those lines is such a taboo subject. People with Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, etc. are not getting help because they are afraid to ask, because the second it comes up it is linked to some mass murder. How do I know this? Because it happened to me, it has happened to people I know. So why do people do it?
So stop now. Stop grouping all these sick people who committed these horrible crimes with people who are looking right now to get help. The countries mental health system is broken because of people who keep linking these drugs to murders, who see nothing but statistics and don't look at the cases like mine where I have been allowed a normal life. Stop looking at the numbers and the people who were unfortunately not helped in time before tragedy struck. Start looking at what can be done, guide the people you know need help to counselors, doctors, and don't leave them hanging out on their own with no guidance. Be a support system to all the mentally ill out there, not someone showing them how much crime and violence is caused.
There is good to these medications. I am severely Bipolar and I have a normal and happy life. I have my ups and downs, but it is managed by the care of my doctors, medication and my support system.
I'm allowed a great life, isn't everyone?
I always love hearing your perspective! You always express it so eloquently and effectively. I love all the points you made here.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely a hard truth that so many people (and their families) live with. Mental health has been overlooked for so long in how wide spread and difficult it is for those suffering from its effects and those trying to get themselves or their loved ones help.
ReplyDeleteThis was something that we battled for years with my mother and finally after about 6 years we ended up getting her some help (interestingly it took her going off on a judge in a courtroom about things that did not exist and did not make sense). After a very long evaluation process and controlled treatment program they ended up getting her a place to stay and on medication. The issue arose that she was not getting very good follow up care simply because there was not enough resources to go around. Her case worker was overwhelmed and my mother ended up taking her own life about a year later in 2001.
This wasn't necessarily just because of the medication itself but the fact that even with "some" help it just isn't enough for someone who was ill enough that she would talk to herself, do strange writings and laugh about things that were not happening.
Even with extreme cases where people behave in ways that clearly mark them as seeing or hearing things, extreme emotional swings, and believing imaginary things it is very difficult bordering on impossible to get some people the help they need.
These new actions being taken do address mental health in some ways but not to the level that we really need to follow through and ensure those with mental illnesses get the help they need. This is a very well written personal account that I think you should share with The Tribune or another local paper as an editorial. Kudos to you for putting together such a well thought out post.