Medication or Therapy?
By Sarah Green
Mental illness, emotional concerns, and symptoms of neurodivergence vary greatly from person to person, so it stands to reason that its treatment can vary as well. Some benefit greatly from psychiatric medication; some feel satisfied with therapy alone; and still others may find medication works best for them when accompanied by therapy, or vice versa. For those who have yet to seek mental health treatment, though, or who may be considering it, both of these options can seem daunting.
When it comes to seeking treatment, those who struggle with their mental and emotional concerns face the dual challenge of managing their condition and its symptoms, as well as confronting the sense of shame that our society often associates with mental illness. Any organ in our body can fall victim to illness, and the brain is no exception. For many people, though, seeking treatment for mental health carries with it an air of shame that treatment for a bodily illness does not. It’s expected that we would pursue care for things like the flu or a broken bone, but going to a therapist to seek care for one’s mind is unfortunately more likely to be seen as abnormal and indicative of weakness, failure, and a lack of personal fortitude. This stigma can be especially noticeable in the United States, whose culture of self-reliance can result in many people dismissing illnesses such as depression or anxiety as character flaws rather than serious conditions requiring treatment. On the other hand, many people associate seeing a “shrink” as an indication that someone must be “crazy,” when in reality, the majority of people going to see a therapist may not be suffering from severe mental illness but instead may be “facing serious life challenges, changes, or transitions that are hindering [their] ability to cope.” For those with more chronic and severe mental illness, this further marginalizes them for what they are going through and invites unfounded fear and social shunning which is harmful and unnecessary. Whether a person seeks therapy for treatment of a mental illness diagnosis or for guidance through a particularly challenging time in life, mental health counseling can play a transformative role in the lives of its practitioners and its patients alike.
While attending therapy may sufficiently resolve the issues of some patients, others may not respond to counseling alone. In these cases, many therapists will suggest seeking psychiatric assessment in conjunction with a patient’s therapy practice. Psychiatric medication helps thousands of people live their lives relatively uninterrupted by the symptoms of their mental concerns. Even so, many people in the U.S. still view this often life-saving resource as an admission of defeat, a crutch, or as something that will fundamentally change a person. Rather than radically altering a person’s identity or way of thinking, however, most medications function by lightening the mental load of mental illness. By giving the brain a break from the more disruptive or draining symptoms of mental conditions, medication often allows people to spend their time doing what they want rather than spending that time grappling with their condition.
Although some may view medication as a “quick fix” in the treatment of mental illness or symptoms of neurodivergence, this is flawed logic. While physical disorders or conditions often can be cured through clinical medical intervention alone, mental concerns often require a more nuanced approach. Some may feel satisfied with counseling alone, and it can be especially helpful for those in marginalized communities to find therapy practices that offer more specialized counseling, such as counseling for the affirmation of LGBTQ identities, counseling specific to gay men, or counseling for those involved in kink or polyamorous communities. Others may find the greatest benefit in a combined approach of therapy and medication. Freelife Behavioral Health now offers psychiatric services in addition to our range of counseling services. Click Here to learn more or to book your free consultation.
