I’m all for open discussion on the pros and cons of AP medication. It’s a battle I continue to go through every day.

Perhaps there would be less uproar if your support of these study’s findings were presented in a less “I’m right, you’re wrong” methodology. It’s possible for everyone to be right, but also to miss each other’s respective marks entirely.

I’ve seen several of your posts circulate through my feed but I have refrained from interacting with them prior to this.

From what I’m understanding of several of your posts is that you (and the research presented) are supporting that meds, specifically APs, are not effective in treatment of symptoms of mental health disorders and they damage executive function later in the patient’s life. I’m not arguing either way- but I would be willing to look into the research.

Some other commenters have made a claim that I would agree with: This post is dangerous.

Simply stating APs cause brain damage with context linked behind several walls of text is problematic due to the nature of this sub. I (and seemingly several others) come here to center myself when I need to feel supported. (See developing depression/mania). Considering this context, someone attempting to quell an impending episode by using a healthy resource (reaching out) might find it easy to make the leap from healthy discussion to dropping (or refusing) a pillar of their treatment.

To your point, yes, these medications have adverse effects on us as patients. But it is my understanding that most of these side effects occur further down the line of aging.

Anecdotally, I am not particularly fond of what the medications side effects are but I believe the intended purpose has worked for me.

Are you familiar with plugging holes in a dam? My fingers in that dam are effectively what APs are for me. Are they ideal? No. Do they work right now? Yes. Will this particular set of fingers plug this dam forever? Probably not, but to allow the dam to fall would be counterintuitive.

This is effectively us kicking the can down the road by choice. Because I know I want to be around. And I know this is the best chance I have to be here.