I have bipolar so i know personally what it is like to feel crazy. I take meds and if i don't i have a real tough time functioning. Medication is definitely needed when you have a mental illness.

As a psychiatrist, I'm going to say "yes". You need to differentiate between a "mental illness" and a "mental disorder". Most forms of mental illness are the result of malfunctions in the internal neurotransmitter or chemical messenger system of the brain. Depression, for example, is strongly correlated with a dramatic reduction in the amount of serotonin (a neurotransmitter chemical) being released from one neuron and being absorbed by its neighboring neurotransmitter.

Now, there are several possible causes for this:

1. The pre-synaptic neuron may be unable to manufacture sufficient quantities of serotonin. The is easily treatable with medication.

2. The cell membrane of the neuron might be resisting the release of serotonin. Again, treatable with medication.

3. In the case of people who use recreational drugs like amphetamines, the pre-synaptic neuron can be leeched of all of its serotonin stock. Medication is usually not necessary in this situation because the stocks will replenish in several days.

4. An enzyme known as monoamine oxidase that functions to clean up any excess neurotransmitters in the synapse may be too efficient in some individuals. This would result in an inadequate concentration of serotonin being in the synapse for absorption at the post-synaptic neuron. This is treatable with a different class of medications.

5. Pre-synaptic neurons have to ability to recycle excess neurotransmitters released into the synapse. They do this by having a number of pumps located on the outside of the cell. The pumps act to reabsorb neurotransmitters, like serotonin. For some people, they might have too many of these pumps functioning. This results in a normal release of serotonin into the synapse; but the serotonin is then quickly reabsorbed before it has to opportunity to be picked up again at the post-synaptic terminal. We have medication that can easily treat this too.

6. One mechanism that we DO NOT have the ability to treat with medication is a lack of post-synaptic serotonin receptor sites. People who are resistant to all forms of anti-depressant drugs are often assumed to fall into this category.

Given the first 5 physiological causes of depression, this type of mental illness absolutely should be treated with medication. However, psychological therapies have been shown to be extremely effective and a combination of medication and psychological therapies works best.

This physiological explanation is true for almost all forms of mental illness and explains why medication is so essential in treatment.

Mental disorders, on the other hand, do not necessarily require medications. Until mental illness, mental disorders seem to be fairly lifelong and are acquired by life experiences. In short, you "learn" to develop a mental disorder. In terms of treatment, you "learn" to adapt to the symptoms. Hence psychological therapies are absolutely better than medication for mental disorders.

That way I'll be the only mentally ill person left unmedicated to use my insanity to its true potential MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

I would be dead without my medications. .