5 Myths About Modern Psychiatry That Will Psych You

Psychiatry is an advanced form of medicine that deals primarily with the study, diagnosis and treatment of conditions pertaining to the human brain. Over the years, psychiatry has seen phenomenal advancement (although questionable) in understanding the human brain and causes for various mental illnesses and imbalances.

GENETIC LINK TO PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

The human brain can be afflicted by various kinds of illnesses, mostly classified under behavioural, perceptual and cognitive imbalances. Psychiatrists argue that mental illnesses have to invite the same attention and seriousness in approach as other diseases, terming illnesses concerning the brain as more sinister to a healthy body. Take a look at the 5 myths about psychiatry.

Long-term usage of anti-psychotic drugs:

Well, this is an aspect that reveals the true nature of modern psychiatry, especially the advancement it has made over the years in treating patients who come for help. It is a proven fact that long term use of anti-psychotic drugs can have detrimental effects on the brain and end up doing less good and more harm over course of time.

Use of anti-psychotic drugs has had blighting effects on patients including those ranging from uncontrollable twitching and unbearable spasms. This is among the top myths of psychiatry.

Potential of recovery from serious illnesses is almost nil

This is perhaps the most shocking myth about modern psychiatry. Psychiatrists consider that certain illnesses cannot be cured, even after administration of strong medicine. Many people in the west can be forgiven for holding such a belief, for society has such an assumption entrenched in its fabric.

This, however, is not true. Potential of recovery from serious mental illnesses is humongous indeed. Results have shown that a healthy 80 percent of people show formidable improvement.

The efficacy of psychiatric medication:

A heightened percentage of recovery from mental illnesses can be attributed to self-healing through the process of meditation. Meditation has been identified to cure severe cases of depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness. In fact, it is an accepted fact among people who've recovered from illnesses through meditation that the efficacy of meditation ranks far higher than that of medication.

Psychiatry has made tremendous progress over the years:

Speaking of the progress medical science has made, collective progress has been phenomenal indeed. But going by the efficacy of psychiatry in treating modern day mental illnesses, the claimed progress of this branch of medicine is rather questionable. This is a belief that is certainly far fetched.

Number of people with mental illnesses is seeing a prodigious size:

Well, another one of those myths about psychiatry for you in the offering. It is believed that with changing social systems and stigmas, the number of people with mental illnesses is increasing. It is also believed that the number of people who prefer medication has also seen a dramatic rise. The truth of the fact, though, is that the number of people who disbelieve in psychiatry's ability to treat mental conditions is massive.