The Decision to Take Psychiatric Medication

Is psychiatric medication right for me?

The decision to take psychiatric medication can be quite difficult for many people. They hear advice from all directions; from doctors, therapists, family & friends and random sources on the internet. It’s hard to know who to trust and what truly is best for you. My psychotherapy clients often ask me if I feel they need to start or stay on medication. Since I am not a psychiatrist I cannot tell them either way if they should be on medication, however I can provide psycho-educational assistance regarding important factors they should consider when making the decision to contact a psychiatrist. I hope this article will provide guidance for those who are wondering whether psychiatric medication is right for them.

The answer to whether or not you need medication is, “it depends.” There are many factors that go into the appropriateness of medication for an individual. It depends on a person’s willingness to take medication, the nature of their illness, their ability to cope with symptoms and their responsiveness to therapy, just to name a few.

At the risk of over simplifying, I find there are 3 categories of patients with regard to their level of suitability for medication:

1.      The first category includes those people who find that they only need therapy with a psychotherapist to be fully functional. Their quality of life is not hindered by their illness. These people often have internal and external factors which lower the effects of their illness on their everyday life, so they do not need medication.

2.      The second category includes people who find therapy to be helpful, but they need a little extra help from medication so they can have a better quality of life. Generally speaking, people in this category have the most difficult time when deciding if they should take medicine. They are seemingly so close to not needing medicine. They function enough to barely get by, yet they still struggle with exhausting symptoms of mental illness. This category of people are usually appropriate candidates for medication, because they can’t lower their symptoms enough, with therapy alone, to have a suitable quality of life.

3.      The third category consists of people who have more severe symptoms of mental illness, making medication a necessity for symptom relief. For these clients, their ability to function is quite impaired and, without the help of medication, their symptoms virtually “override” what can be achieved in therapy.

If you identify with category 2 or 3, I recommend that you speak with a psychiatrist. If the psychiatrist decides you are a suitable candidate for medication, feel free to ask him or her why they came to that decision. Doing so should help you feel more confident that taking medication is right for you. Also, ask your doctor why he or she is prescribing that particular medication and what you should expect from it (i.e. good effects and side effects). Having a good grasp of what your medication is and why you’re on it takes much of the anxiety out of being prescribed a psychiatric medication.

Overall, I recommend frequently speaking with your psychiatrist and therapist about medication you may take or are already taking. It is their job to help you achieve your highest possible quality of life and that includes feeling comfortable about medications. And remember, taking medication for a medical condition is not an act of weakness nor should it be a source of shame. There is no shame in doing what it takes to ensure your mental health and well-being.

About the Author

Michelle Oxley, MSW, CAPSW is a professional psychotherapist. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Social Work. Michelle started Tall Oaks Therapy, LLC to provide holistic, individualized psychotherapy in the greater Madison, WI area.