Misunderstanding
1) Psychiatrists give sleeping pills and these are addictive!
Answer- No..
Mental illness patients do not get enough sleep due to mental stress. Therefore, psychiatrists prescribe stress reduction pills treating the underlying cause. These are not sleeping pills and are not addictive.
2) Do you have to take treatment for mental illness for lifetime?
Answer- No..
In case of first episode, -treatment takes 8-10 months.
In second relapse, the treatment takes 2-3 years.
In case of the third relapse, the treatment can last for 4-5 years.
10% of patients sometimes may require treatment for life.
That is why it is important to treat the Disorder properly during first episode. Many patients stop medicines during 2-3 months of treatment as soon as they start feeling better, this increases chances of 2nd relapse.
3) Do psychiatrists give shock treatment to all patients?
Answer- No..
Not all patients need shock treatment. Most of the patients requires medication, behavioral modification and counseling. But in some patients, it is lifesaving.