[csnover]

> I'd like it if someone could convince me that these are not legitimate concerns.

Remember that you always have the option to not follow a treatment plan if you don’t feel like it’s the right thing for you. A recommendation from a physician isn’t an order from a judge that you must follow.

If the doctor you visit is good at their job, it should feel like a conversation about solving a problem. They should be able to offer a clear explanation on why they think their recommendation is the way to go and involve you in the decision-making process. Many people are reluctant to be medicated, so you probably won’t be the first patient they’ve seen just that day with that issue, and they’ll have some options for you in that regard too.

I used to have a concern about drug dependency so I feel like I might understand why you feel that way, but consider this: If you take a medication and it doesn’t improve anything, you’re not really dependent on it. If you take a medication and it makes things better, then things are better, which was the whole point of taking it in the first place!

Would it be better for your body to function well by itself? Of course. Would it feel better if we had a clearer understanding of psychiatric disorders and how to solve them precisely? Definitely, but medical science just isn’t there today, and at least there are some options that work for some people, even if we don’t understand why.