“Psychiatry Kills!”
That’s what the placard he was carrying declared. He and I were among several thousand runners participating in The Long Beach Marathon, a 26.22-mile grueling event that I was running for the third time. I had seen him at other similar running events and, as I had on those occasions, I’d shaken my head in disbelief and scoffed at his strident view.
But now, years later, as I sat through a workshop on psychopharmacology [prescription drugs] for mental health professionals, the image of the unknown man and his weighty declaration came to mind. I began to wonder why I hadn’t been more sympathetic to his voice. What did his sign mean? Had a loved one or a friend died in which medication played a part? Psychotropic drugs, medications to lessen the effects of mental health issues, don’t always solve problems. In fact they might create new ones.
Medications can alleviate painful and disabling symptoms, and though psychiatry in and of itself is not a “killer” I do wonder if we over-medicate at times, and in so doing still the voice clamoring to be heard. A voice that might need to tell us one of two things: 1) the opportunity to have our dis-ease speak to us, and/or 2) creativity that’s dying to emerge, that’s critical to our sense of satisfaction and reward, and even essential to our mental and emotional health.
Do we risk numbing or silencing, through medication, creativity and behaviors deemed pathological, or don’t we, and when do we know the difference? There are countless examples in which creativity and pathology have colluded to give birth to something magical (including John Nash, Mozart, Vincent Van Gogh, and Brian Wilson). We are also too frequently and painfully reminded of individuals whose pathologies have wrought pain and suffering (for example, many of the perpetrators of mass shootings). Medication is for the most part beneficial, but there are instances wherein people have been harmed by treatments, been misdiagnosed, and mistreated. And perhaps something like this happened to my fellow runner or someone he knew.
Almost all of us have experienced anxiety—a natural part of human existence. As uncomfortable as it can be, anxiety can help us effect change in our lives, and motivate us to alter our path. In a “fast-fix” society we may be quick to mute through the use of drugs what could be a guidepost or symptom designed to facilitate change or give voice to creativity.
This brings to mind a quote of Freud’s, not on anxiety but on creativity: “Poets are masters of us ordinary men, in knowledge of the mind, because they drink at streams which we have not yet made accessible to science.” He is correct in suggesting that poets [artists of all creative forms] can inform us regarding our mind and soul’s yearnings.
My fellow runner, the “placard man” as some of us disparagingly had labeled him, was dismissed by me. There was no room “in my box” for his unique story. Today I hope I am less driven by cookie-cutter reactions, and more embracing of the uniqueness we each bring to our encounters. I probably would have disagreed with “psychiatry kills!” but I could have been empathetic, and shown sympathy for the experience behind his story.
Finding “the key that turns the lock” to enable creative expression or healing may involve psychotropic drugs, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, or any of the other varieties of interventions available to practitioners and clients. Regardless of the similarities and shared experiences we have, our joy and dis-ease are uniquely our own.
The presenter had opened the session on “What clinicians need to know about psychiatric medications” by comparing people to snowflakes—all different. His reference was not new to me, but reminded me that just as each snowflake is shaped by atmospheric events as it descends to earth so too are we shaped by life circumstances that may be similar but are unique. The runner and I had different perspectives on life because of our differing trajectories. And likewise, no single solution fits all, especially in the field of psychopharmacology.
by 
Here is my case: I believe there is an epidemic of psychotropic over-drugging in our country. I wonder what percentage of people really need them? But overall, I think it’s creating a society of zombies. Their easy availability is making it all too simple a fix for people not wanting to or scared to make needed changes in their lives, or not trusting the natural process of healing to occur. We are being over-medicated with drugs and they are destroying our minds. Legal pill-lobotomies.
I have a friend whose large company actually sent him to their psychiatrist encouraging him to take psychotropic pills. He was complaining that he wasn’t happy, depressed, and it was affecting his job performance. My friend was actually unhappy with his life and needed to make some big changes that he was avoiding. But he chose the pills and remained with his mind numbing job for some more years. He said he felt better, he wasn’t depressed anymore, but his personality had changed. His animated self diminished as did his passion for life. He is a gifted musician and songwriter and at 56, he was afraid of making the changes he knew he needed to make, which first required him to leave a job that was robbing him of his life force. To his heroic credit, he finally quit the pills, quit the job that was killing him and moved to LA to pursue his dreams in music and acting. He’s “coming back”, but his ability to think and focus has been greatly impaired.
As for myself, years ago when I was in therapy after both parents died just a few month apart, my therapist asked if I would like to take psychotropic drugs. Fortunately, I refused the drugs and continued to go to therapy and felt my raw grief and pain. The reason I refused the drugs was I wanted to know when I would be getting better without drugs. And I did get better. It was a difficult road, but I healed and I’m so grateful I chose the no-drug path.
Jo Anne,
Change is difficult. The courage to risk consequences known and imagined often deters us from making necessary and beneficial changes in our lives. I hope your friend continues to pursue his dreams, and on that journey his “ability to think and focus” is rejuvenated. And as for you, stalwart pursuer of dreams, thank you for your example. Roger
Thought provoking blog, Roger. The use of medications is a tricky piece of business. While I believe we are probably over medicated as a nation (especially our children!) the right medications have saved my life more than once. So who can judge another?
You know my particular formula for combatting mental illness — therapy, community support, a spiritual practice AND meds. The latter are not all bad, believe me, I’ve tried without and have learned the hard way that, like diabetes, my particular brain imbalance requires prescription meds. Those like me are harming themselves to resist taking them or going off of them on their own.
Kathleen, your particular formula has not only worked for you, but is an inclusive one for achieving balance and mental health while struggling with a variety of dysfunctions. The “therapist” in me wishes I had spoken with this man, whose anger and pain were evident but avoided by me. Thanks for you personal and thoughtful comment, Roger
Thought provoking and challenging. I have a cousin whose son died about five years ago. He was suffering from bi-polar disorder, did not like the medications because they stifled his creativity and ultimately overdosed at 22. Heart wrenching and not uncommon. I do not envy you the balancing act you must perform as a therapist.
Giny,
I am sorry that your cousin’s son was unable to find relief from his suffering, and a way to retain his creativity. I suspect my fellow runner’s story was similar to your cousin’s tragic one. The “recipe,” as another reader suggested,–therapy, community support (AA, church, friends, and others) a spiritual practice, and meds–can assist in turning the corner into healthy living, but we’re each different, and it is never easy. Thank you for your comments. Roger
Good blog Doc. We all need to remember the old Indian saying. ” never judge a person until you have walked in their shoes” If we did that we would all be more tolerant. And a lot less needful of having things fit in our box.
A few years ago my young nephew said good-bye to his siblings, smoked a cigar and hung himself from a tree. His body was found three days later. I can not help but believe that if some one had recognized his illness and helped with his depression that he might be with us today.
My neighbor who grew up with my son was diagnosed as bi polar. He is now 46 but broke down at the death of his mother 12 years ago. Every so often he goes off his meds and does some very strange acts, most of which involve preaching Jesus loves you. He has given his shoes to a homeless of late and walked for miles in his barefeet until his sister found him. He had to be hospitalized again and put back on his regimen. Again, he wanted to be like everyone else and not take his meds and took off. They were able to locate his phone in Laguna, an hours drive from his home. By tracking his credit card, they saw he had checked into a hotel there. It is so sad to see him suffer through this reality and unfortunately his father is useless in the situation.
I believe there is a real need for medication in many cases. It is the discernment of the physician that would be the difficulty. I appreciate your reminder that we can not judge.
Thanks for raising my awareness again.
Carmen,
Thank you for writing this. Raising awareness without prejudice and judgment is often difficult. Mental illness, or more accurately described by Thomas Szasz “disabled by living,” requires a broad spectrum of intervention including proactive involvement in treatment by professionals as well as the suffering individual. Medication can, and needs to be a piece in that often mysterious puzzle. I am sorry that your nephew didn’t find relief, and I hope your neighbor can find his way into a healthier way of muting the pain of depression manic harmful behaviors–although referencing Jesus is not one of them.
Roger
Carmen,
A very good and helpful comment from you. I am bi-polar myself and it didn’t manifest until I was 40. In the beginning, I tried everything to stay off the meds – meditation, swimming, affirmations, lifestyle changes – until I realized that this is an illness like diabetes. It just happens that my chemistry is screwed up, so I have to regulate it with drugs.
On another note, during my first manic episode, I too had a Messianic experience, as do many when in a manic episode. My personal theory is that the illness can make you very spiritually connected but this can lead to the egotistic conclusion that you ARE Christ. I also had complete recognition that we all are one (on a subway ride in Boston, no less!) which has never been so clear to me again. Anyway, my prayers go out to your person that he will get on and stay on his meds this time.
A friend, who wished to be anonymous, wrote: “Psychiatry kills literally and figuratively way too often. Brian Wilson and Edvard Munch are just a couple of the examples of ‘wounded’ souls who are ‘killed’ in treatment. All other avenues must be used if possible. We do have a culture that is becoming blanked out emotionally [preferring] to feel good and mellow, not too sad or anything else–esp. angry or intense.”