Imagine you are hanging out with a new friend, one you do not know too well yet. You are getting ready to head out somewhere and your friend says, “Hold on, before we go I need to take my medication.” They take a couple of pills from several different bottles.
What is your first thought after experiencing this? It probably isn’t a positive thought. You might think this person is crazy, has a deadly illness, or just likes popping pills. Why is there such a terrible stigma around prescription pills?
Medications help tons of people live fairly normal lives. If someone is bi-polar or schizophrenic, just to name a couple mental illness, they will rely on prescription pills (definitely anti-psychotics, and possibly a number of other types of pills) in order to complete every day tasks, hold a job, make & maintain relationships, and live in a social community.
The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Simply put, they make money off people taking their pills. This leaves lots of us with a sour taste in our mouths when we think about prescription pills. It also makes people who seriously need to take them weary about others’ reaction to them.
However, we need to think about the possibilities of medication and how they help tons of people become their better selves and live stable, normal lives. If medication is an option/necessity for someone, we don’t want them to feel less about themselves because they have to take pills, or feel like others would judge them, for relying on a substance to feel and be better. Someone shouldn’t have to feel ashamed because they need something to help.
Let’s all try to keep an open mind about methods of healing for different people- remember to be kind & non-judgemental. We are all just trying to live our best lives.
The Jewels' Angels Foundation, Inc. 