Sherasi. It is indeed a very serious problem, but one must add to what has been said, one scary fact. If I, you, or someone we know is upset with medical authorities, be they psychiatrist, doctor, nurse, or health specialist, and say so. What happens? How about "well, that person is unstable and we know what is best for them."
This is regardless of the seriousness of a situation. I have spoken with a number of people in this situation and it does not bode good for the person with the problems.
Before someone runs off and panics, there are always some of those 'authority' figures who will listen.
The greatest danger for those of us suffering any type of emotional distress is to act agitated, get angry, or simply demand our rights. This is very apt indeed to set off alarm bells somewhere and we may be simply viewed as 'off our nuts' or some such, and given medication to 'calm' us down. It may not matter how serious a matter it was that caused the eruption. The so-called 'sane' [by whose definition, I don't know] are the only ones who may exhibit emotions with little fear of being labelled 'under emotional distress'.

Did you mean this to be a respopnse to the Depression, Anxiety, and Mental problems in general thread?

In response to your post, I think that there are times when agitation is treated with medication... but, in my own observation and experience, it was in direct response to a risk for injury to themselves or other people. Medications ARE used, but medical professionals try to use the least "restraining" version of these sorts to manage the task presented.

Sherasi, I believe you are among the enlightened members of the health community but can you honestly say with certainty that you are in the majority. If you can, please let me know. I know several canadians with mental health problems who would love to live where you are. I hope you don't take this to heart, Sherasi, I don't mean it to aim at you, or even your comments. I just believe that there is a lot you can't understand unless you are a powerless individual seeking help within a system that is a far cry from perfect

Oh, I won't shine you on and say there are no problems... I've been in institutions where it was easier to "keep the client compliant" than to try to solve or manage the problem.

There is no system that is perfect, and I doubt there ever will be. But I have to feel that we are a lot more enlightened in Western civilization (since I don't know much about 3rd world countries) than, say, 500 years ago when the gaol and asylums were places to hide..... errr "TREAT" these "poor unfortunates"!

The medications themselves, used correctly, are an improvement, in many ways, over the shackles, leather straps and chains (fewer frictions burns and abrasions for one! ) previously used for the most part.

And, you are right, from the side of the "victim"... things have to look a whole lot darker regardless of "improvements" in the system. Bad is still bad, almost regardless of degree (I say almost because most places are no longer damp stone mausoleums with chains and cages!).

I am sorry you, or acquaintances have had such rough treatment within the system. I can only say, keep looking forward, life can get better, just look for the opportunities.

I believe in the region I work, the majority of caregivers ARE enlightened and do care about the type of care being provided. However, I won't say the same thing about Insurances and HMO's.

Whatever medical professionals WANT to do, the insurances dictate what they will pay for and if they don't the patient pays for it out of pocket or they are crap out of luck.

[This message was edited by Sherasi on 09-05-03 at 07:43 AM.]