Tuesday, April 26, 2005

The Efficacy of Psychotropic Medications

There are no medicines that do not disrupt the natural chemistry of our bodies more so than those used to treat the symptoms of mental illness. Changing our brain's chemistry is a risky concept that is used and overused far too often in the treatment of mental health issues.

We live in a social world where it's perfectly acceptable to admit we have problems, and we also will look for a doctor to help us with our problems. Today it is much easier for individuals to look for help that can be found in a pill. After all, it's the simplest way to deal with the problems we experience in our lives... or is it?

Modern medicine is sold on the idea that the symptoms of mental illness is simply a "chemical imbalance" that can be attended to by the miracle of of modern chemistry. It is as if we are walking along one day, and our brain's chemistry decides to suddenly change on us. Modern psychiatry believes it, the pharmaceutical industry believes it, but do you believe it?

If an individual is depressed because they are in a bad relationship, taking a pill of any kind is not going to make the bad "significant other" go away or change. Yet every day there are many people who believe that they will find relief within the medicine bottle.

What do you think?

Mental Health & Healthcare Today

One of the most important issues facing America and the world, is how healthcare may be delivered that is up to acceptable standards and affordable. Healthcare in America has been a commodity of the "free-enterprise system" since its inception, and today rocketing costs of caring for those in need have escalated to where it has become a monumental problem.

In few areas of healthcare have the costs risen so dramatically in America as in the care and treatment of mental illness and related industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry. Many Americans find themselves caught up in the cycle of dysfunction where symptoms of mental illness may have incapacitated them and put them at the mercy of social programs and the system itself. The purpose of this blog is to allow for the discussion of these issues and perhaps find some means of resolution in both the individual and social aspect in general.