We live in a society where people are becoming more open in talking about mental illness. People are starting to realize that mental illness is a real problem that affects many individuals, through no fault of their own. Why is it then that taking medication for mental illness is looked down upon, like it is the easy way out or not necessary?

Let's be honest... deciding to take medicine for mental illness is one of the hardest choices for some people to make.

It is so stigmatized that individuals can feel like they are weak for needing the extra support that medication gives. People who abuse medications like Xanax and Adderall only make it harder to accept the help of medication, making individuals fear that others will view them as someone looking for an easy way to get high. I can promise you, it's not as glamorous as people make it seem.

Making the decision to take medication is only the first step. You have to work with a psychiatrist to help you find a medication that works for you, and discover the correct dose. Did I mention that many of these medicines can take a month or more to see any results (or lack thereof)? And if the first medicine doesn't work, you have to start all over again. In addition to medication, people spend hours in cognitive therapy because medication is most effective when paired with therapy.

It is not an easy process, so why are we making it so much harder by putting a stigma on it?

Think of it like this... Would you expect an individual with Type 1 Diabetes to maintain their blood sugar levels without insulin shots? Of course not! That sounds ridiculous right? The whole point of using insulin is because their bodies need the extra help! This is very similar when dealing with mental illness! People with anxiety disorders have lower levels of serotonin, which can cause them to experience panic attacks and higher levels of stress. If a medicine could help bring them to a normal level then why would anyone be opposed to that?

As a society, we need to start viewing mental illness the same way we view other illnesses. Of course they are not the same things, but viewing them as such would make it easier for individuals to seek treatment.

In terms of mental illness, medication is not the problem... social stigma is.