As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I’ve had hundreds of conversations with people struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. One of the most common concerns I hear isn’t just about symptoms—it’s about medication stigma. People fear what it means to take psychiatric medication, the judgment they may face from others, and the internal shame they feel for “needing help.”
Let me be clear: taking medication for your mental health is not a weakness. It’s not a failure. And it certainly doesn’t make you “less than.” If you had high blood pressure, you wouldn’t be expected to fix it with positive thinking alone. We wouldn’t tell someone with asthma to “breathe better.” However, we often treat mental illness differently—quietly, skeptically, or with blame.
Medications are not magic pills, nor are they the answer for everyone. But for many, they are an essential part of healing. Antidepressants can lift the fog of depression enough for therapy to be effective. Mood stabilizers can bring balance where chaos once ruled. Stimulants can help someone with ADHD focus long enough to complete daily tasks. These are tools—valuable, researched, and life-improving tools—that should not be buried under guilt or secrecy.
The truth is, people take medications for mental health because they want to feel better. They want to go to work without panic attacks, sleep through the night without racing thoughts, or wake up without dreading the day. There is courage in that decision. There is power in saying, “I need support.”
Unfortunately, stigma often comes from a lack of understanding in our communities and sometimes even our families. If you’ve ever been told to “just snap out of it” or questioned for taking medication, please know you are not alone, and those voices do not define your worth.
My goal as a provider is not just to prescribe a pill, but to educate, to listen, and to partner with you in finding what works for your unique journey. Occasionally that includes medication. Occasionally it doesn’t. But your choice to take care of your mental health, whatever path it offers, is always valid and deeply personal.
To those currently on medication: You’re doing what you need to heal. That’s something to be proud of.
To those considering it but unsure: Ask questions, seek information, and allow yourself to explore what might help.
To families and friends: Your support, openness, and compassion can make all the difference in someone’s recovery.
Let’s keep breaking the silence. Let’s talk openly about mental health—and the real, often brave decisions people make to care for themselves.
With empathy and respect,
Haja Kargbo, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
