Psychotropic Medication as an Agent of Control
One of the myths about mental illness medication is that it is used to control its taker. In other words, by taking the pills prescribed by a psychiatrist you become a pliable, braindead lemming.
So, let's take a look at my pliable, braindead, lemming life.
The Years of the Medicated Lemming
I've been on medication for approximately twelve years. Sometimes I was successfully medicated, in that the medication was effective and tolerable and other times the medication was unsuccessful.
- Successfully medicated: Got a bachelor's degree in computer science
- Not successfully medicated: Cut ribbons into my flesh
After I got out of university, I headed into the tech marketplace and took to the skies.
- Successfully medicated: Become a skydiving coach
- Not successfully medicated: Didn't move from the couch
I moved up in the world and transitioned to a non-start-up tech company. In this job, I got to travel all over North America and met hundreds of people.
- Successfully medicated: Flew to India business class for work; became a paragliding pilot
- Not successfully medicated: Ended up in the hospital
Finally, I was stolen away from my tech company to go work for a Big Daddy tech company. They paid for my move to the U.S. and I learned immense amounts about my field.
- Successfully medicated: A vacation in Paris wherein I got a Tamara de Lempicka painting tattooed on my back
- Not successfully medicated: Underwent surgery in an attempt to be treated by vagus nerve stimulation.
My Medicated, Pliable, Braindead, Lemming Life
Not only would skydiving, paragliding and tattooing not be considered good "social engineering," I've also been known to do naughty things like engage in non-traditional relationship patterns and commit highly inappropriate (if incredibly fun) acts.
Oh. And now I'm a writer with which about a quarter of the world seems to disagree.
And medication didn't alter any of that. Weird? To some. But not pliable, braindead or lemming-prone, I would argue.
When successfully medicated, you're not a zombie, you're a person. A person who can do whatever they like. They can mess up their life; they can succeed; they move forward; they can jump up and down.
What they aren't is controlled. The unsuccessfully treated illness controls a person far more than the medication ever could.*
* That is assuming medication is used responsibly. I'm not saying it's not possible to drug someone into a coma. Of course you can.
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APA Reference
Tracy, N.
(2011, August 18). Psychotropic Medication as an Agent of Control, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 14 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/breakingbipolar/2011/08/psychotropic-medication-as-an-agent-of-control
Author: Natasha Tracy
Even Dr Musli Ferati agrees in the last line of his post above that...
'As it is known, the phenomenon to abuse with psychotropic medication is common and extended as well'
We need to be strong and speak up for ourselves when we feel overmedicated you guys. It's NOT just all in our head. I did and I managed to get the medication reduced to a level that is more appropriate for my biology
I definately believe that psychotropic medications are sometimes used and abused by professionals to control their patients
When I complained once to an RN at a mental health clinic about how I'd been treated in one of our local general hospitals she empathized with me and admitted that our local hospitals usually 'overmedicate patients to get them under control' so that it's easier for staff to 'treat' them. It's just 'common policy'...
I also know a nurse who works in a forensic psychiatric facility that says it is still common practice to use physical as well as 'chemical' (medication) restraints when necessary to control a patient
Clinical Psychopharmacology has made great step forward in the treatment of mental diseases. Its scientific implementation in clinical psychiatry was noted as third revolution in the development of current psychiatric practice. Bu its usage since 1952, dramatically has improved the prognosis of mentally ill patients. Moreover, the psychotropic medication has boosted neuroscience researchers in the lighting of many secrecy to mentally disorders, because its therapeutic activity is based on moderation of psychological functions of the brain. However, its use is associated with many side effect, especially if psychotropic drugs are misused. There are strict recommendations in which doses and how long to taken the psychiatric drugs. Disrespect of these psychpharmacologic recommendations lead to their abuse. As it is known, the phenomenon to abuse with psychotropic medication is common and extended as well.
Fantastic, REAL, post Natasha. Thanks for this!
NJC
My pdoc drugged me into a drooling fool. I was on 8 medications, he just kept adding medications, never taking me off of the ones that didn't work. But I agree with you if you are on the medications you can live a productive life, I'm not there yet but hopefully will be soon. By the way I changed pdocs and he has already taken me off of 3 meds. Yay!
Michele