Doctors Debunk Common Health Myths: Medication & Mental Health Realities
New York, NY – A growing chorus of medical professionals is challenging widely held beliefs about health and wellness, urging the public to reconsider conventional wisdom. Among the most pervasive misconceptions,experts say,is the idea that medication alone is sufficient for treating mental illness.
“Antidepressants aren’t cures for mental illnesses! They help, but you still need to do therapy in order to help with your mental health,” explains one expert. ”It’s like when you break a leg, and you need a cast for a period of time. Onc it comes off, you need physiotherapy to help the leg regain strength and go back to working.The same applies to the brain with mental illnesses.”
This sentiment is echoed by a mental health professional working in Australia, who notes a frequent disconnect between patients and optimal care. “I often have people telling me that they’re on medication for their mental health, so they don’t need therapy (and vice versa) when the most effective treatment for mental illnesses is a combination of therapy and medication.” They add that long-term medication isn’t always necessary,often serving as a support during challenging periods.
Furthermore, experts are recalibrating expectations around “cures” for severe mental illness. One Californian professional emphasizes, “Severe mental illness is unlikely to be ’cured.’ Recovery is not a black and white thing. Recovery is a gradual thing that looks different for each person.” They advocate for realistic goals, acknowledging that while life may be altered by mental illness, it can still be fulfilling. “It could be unrealistic to expect your loved one, or yourself, to live exactly the same life as before the onset. But it’s also unrealistic to think life with a severe mental illness can’t be active and rewarding.”
These insights, shared anonymously by professionals aged 31 (Australia) and in their early 30s (California), highlight a critical need for a more nuanced understanding of mental healthcare and a move away from simplistic solutions.
