“Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘my tooth is aching’ than to say ‘my heart is broken’.”
— C.S Lewis.
One in every six Indians suffers from a mental illness (1). According to the 2018 report by the World Health Organization, India has had the largest number of cases of various mental illnesses for many years, due to which it has been labelled “the most depressed country”(2). Ironically, even after living in the country with the largest number of cases of mental illnesses, most of us do not know a single person battling a mental illness. This is due to the stigmatization of mental health in our society. Even those who open up and accept their mental illness get caught up in a vicious cycle of shame. As a society we disempower the mentally ill, which in turn leads to the avoidance and stigmatization of much-needed mental health treatments. Those who require medication as a tool for treatment often refuse to take them, or resort to self-medication due to the fear of judgement, both of which are equally harmful(3). As a society, we need to work towards ending the stigma by offering compassion, and hence killing the judgement behind mental illnesses and their treatments.
One of the most prevalent forms of mental health illness shaming is “pill-shaming”. Pill shaming refers to a negative attitude towards individuals who take psychiatric drugs to battle their mental illness (4). The concept of pill shaming had gradually come into being from the idea that mental illnesses arise from external influences, such as demonic possessions. This belief was adopted in 2000 BCE, almost 4000 years ago, long before any research on mental health had been conducted (5). However, even all these years later, an astronomical proportion of the population still shames and humiliates those who take these psychiatric pills .
There are predominantly two types of ‘pill-shamers’ in societies around the world -the naturalists, and the traditionalists. Traditionalists are one of the most common pill shamers. They are normally family members and close friends who pass insensitive remarks and shame the person for behaviour which is, in their eyes, attention-seeking,or simply unconventional. The reality of the individual’s situation, however, is that they have no control over their behaviour , and hence may not be able to alter their manner consciously. Traditionalists normally constitute of an older generation that has grown up in a world before psychiatric drugs were ever heard of, which is why they are unable to empathize and understand the person's agony, and prefer keeping things the way they were(6).
Similarly, naturalists believe that mental illnesses can be cured using natural alternatives such as ‘exercise’ or ‘improving your diet’. Although it is scientifically verified that exercise and a healthy diet can to a certain extent improve one's mental health(7), naturalists often fail to realize that their approach to mental wellness is not a substitute for medication, but rather, serves as a tool that should be tried before finally resorting to medication. Naturalists overlook the science that is involved in the functioning of the mind. It is crucial for them to realize that there would be no need for antidepressants or sleeping pills to even exist if meditation and maintaining a healthy diet could increase the release of their serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain! Studies conducted in the field of mental illnesses have shown that Serotonin and Dopamine are neurotransmitters(8) that extensively influence mood swings, sleep cycles, and digestion. Any imbalance in the levels of these neurotransmitters has a direct effect on one's mental health(9).If meditation could affect the levels of these neurotransmitters in the body, then a lot of mental health professionals may be out of a job!
Although naturalists and traditionalists have a justified reason for their perspective, it does not change the fact that they are negatively impacting a person's mental health by shaming them. As a society, we need to stop the stigmatization of mental illnesses and psychiatric medication, as choosing medicine as a form of treatment does not make the person weak, rather it shows that they have the strength to accept and battle their illness despite the judgement that comes their way.
The intention behind this article is not to endorse the use of medication for treating mental illnesses, rather normalize it. Accepting one’s own mental illness is extremely hard, and shaming an individual for it only makes dealing with it harder. Let's try to be a part of their journey towards recovery rather than an obstruction.
Gururaj ,G,.Varghese ,M., Benegal,V., Rao,G.N., Pathak, K., Singh, L.K., Mehta,R.Y., Ram,D., Shibukumar, T.M., Kokane, A., Lenin. Singh,R.K., Chavan, B.S., Sharma, P., Ramasubramanian C., Dalal PK., Saha PK. , Deuri SP., Giri AK., Kavishvar AB., Sinha VK., Thavody J., Chatterji R., Akoijam BS., Das S., Kashyap A., Ragavan VS., Singh SK., Misra R and NMHS collaborators group (2016). National Mental Health Survey of India, 2015-16: Prevalence, patterns and outcomes. Bengaluru, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, NIMHANS Publication No. 129.
World health organisation report (2018)
https://www.patricendouglas.com
https://halton.cmha.ca/whats-pill-shaming/
Jean Mercer (2013) Deliverance, demonic possession, and mental illness: some considerations for mental health professionals, Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 16:6, 595-611, DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2012.706272
https://themighty.com/2019/08/medication-pill-shaming-chronic-illness/
Sharma A., Madaan V., Petty F.D. Exercise for mental health. Prim. Care Companion J. Clin. Psychiatry. 2006;8:106. doi: 10.4088/PCC.v08n0208a.
Neurotransmitter, also called chemical transmitter or chemical messenger, any of a group of chemical agents released by neurons (nerve cells) to stimulate neighbouring neurons or muscle or gland cells, thus allowing impulses to be passed from one cell to the next throughout the nervous system.(https://www.britannica.com/science/neurotransmitter)
Seo D., Patrick C. J., Kennealy P. J. (2008). Role of serotonin and dopamine system interactions in the neurobiology of impulsive aggression and its comorbidity with other clinical disorders. Aggress. Violent Behav. 13 383–395. 10.1016/j.avb.2008.06.003
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