'Being on medication for schizophrenia doesn't mean you have the disorder'

Twisha Sharma 33 is no more While we were still reeling from the WhatsApp chats circulating that she had sent her mother Vanita mdash allegations of her being a drug addict have emerged The reasoning She smoked marjuana and more importantly she was on psychiatric drugsOn May 19 Girbala Singh Sharmarsquos motherinlaw gave an interview to mediapersons where she alleged that Sharma was on antipsychotic medication ldquoItrsquos a profound loss for us because whatever the circumstances she was a part of our family She went for psychiatric counselling also and medicines were prescribed to her which are given to a schizophrenic patientrdquo Singh allegesPiciStockSingh further described Sharma as someone who had no control over herself in the run up to her demise ldquoShe would remain stable for a day or so but then again there would be a slight change in her condition We observed some physical symptoms a slight trembling in her hands which is typical of withdrawal symptoms She destroyed everythingrdquo she addsThis say many who are battling mental health as well as those who provide these services is called pill shaming This is when people who are on antidepressantsanxiety medication are resigned to be called ldquounstablerdquo if they reveal their medication status to friends extended family at the work place and in Sharmarsquos case their partnersThe Twisha Sharma case thinspOn May 12 33yearold Twisha Sharma died by sucide thinspSharmarsquos parents and brother have alleged that this was a murder thinspThe police finally arrested Sharmarsquos husband Samarth Singh on Saturday morning he had been absoonding thinspTwisha Sharma had been alleging dowry harassment by the Singh family including mental harassment thinspShe was married to Samarth Singh in December 2025 and met online thinspSharmarsquos motherinlaw Girbala Singh is a retired judgelsquoMedication dependency in mental health is a mythrsquoDr Avinash Desousa PsychiatristIT is a myth that if a person gets on medication for depression or anxiety that they will become medication dependent That happens only if the patient keeps taking medicines on his own and does not come back for follow ups every month which is the standard duration for which we prescribe medication for and recalibrate their medication I often tell my patients that let me know immediately if you are feeling off sluggish or out of it send me a message and we will immediately take measures to readjust but sadly most people do not do this The challenge is when you have to wean yourself off the medication mdash the initial medication might have a high dose and this dosage is reduced over the next few months Then slowly you are taken off itOne of the biggest things one can do to take care of your mental health is try to take care of your physical health as well A walk gym anything that works for you but physical activity has to go hand in hand with medication and most importantly therapy Nothing can work independently hererdquoDr Desousa also clarifies that antipsychotic medication is often given to those who might not be suffering from the disease but the dosage is key ldquoIt can be recommended for people with anxiety or aggression at low doses We might prescribe someone one or half a mg of the medication that is otherwise a good four to six mg for someone with schizophreniardquo he says ldquoThose who donrsquot have Schizophrenia are weaned off it after a short periodrdquolsquoChose who you reveal your pill status torsquoAnonymous 23 Graphic designer on medication since three yearsWHEN Bhumi name changed was in Standard 6 she was diagnosed with depression ldquoSince I was really young my parents didnrsquot want me to be on medication so early on But when I went away to college to learn design my mental health took a turn for the worserdquo she saysBhumi dropped out of college in her second year after persistent depression and anxiety Staying away from home sans a support system led her to have severe psychosomatic pain ldquoI would have severe stomach pain I took injections to bring the pain under control but it finally became unbearable I was heartbroken to leave design college but I had no choicerdquo she says The 23yearold moved to Mumbai and began to pursue dance certification while going on medication ldquoSo my first experience with medication was not great I realised that the medication was not suitable for me and my movement in dance which was the only thing saving me at the timerdquo she addsHer therapist calibrated the medication but she closed her practice soon Bhumi eventually found a health service app that has helped her use an antidepression medication that is working for her She has moved from dancing to yoga ldquoI do dance but only for myself With the help of yoga and therapy I am on a very low dose of medicationrdquo she addsBhumi confesses that all throughout her dance career no one knew she was on pills ldquoPeople would make jokes about mental health and I was shocked because I thought people in Mumbai were more educated about this kind of thing So even though I was in a dance troupe I told no one because people are disgusting about mental healthrdquo she saysldquoItrsquos only been in the last one year that when I am teaching yoga I have opened up about my mental health struggle But you have to be careful who you can reveal it toordquo she addslsquoWorking out is essential for mental healthrsquoPushkaraj Shirke proathelete coachI have ADHD and put on a nonstimulant ADHD drugs on initial diagnosis but when the effects wore off I would crash and end up very sleepy and fatigued for long periods of time But then I spoke to my psychiatrist and she moved me on to stimulant based ADHD medication for a while And that worked well for me Luckily because I am into fitness I was able to get off that as well and I have replaced stimulants from pill form to edible products and lifestyle routines that manage my dopamine levels betterThe thing is there are many days that I donrsquot feel like working out I just go to the gym and not do much but the point is I still go You have to get out and do something surround yourself with people who are into fitness especially when you have a mental health challenge Many of my buddies or people I coach face challenges of the same nature I know that if I do not turn up to the gym for a few days someone will come and get me out of my house and drive me to the gymrdquo