Hi mgran:

I think different people have different experiences with psychotropics. About a third of people with psychosis find that the meds help them with no or few side effects. About 20 percent get little or no relief from their symptoms with horrible side effects. The remaining half fall somewhere in between, going on the meds (usually by force) when the symptoms overwhelm them, going off again when the side effects get to be too much.

People who find the meds very helpful, as you do, tend to believe that they would be helpful for everyone if they'd just find the right meds and stick with it. I'm not sure that's the case.

Whenever I read the posts on schizophrenia.com I get so depressed, because there are so many people there who are adhering to the instructions to take their medications and they're still miserable. They continue to suffer from psychosis and/or the side effects are awful. Some of the people there have discussed having their emotions blunted. One man talked about not being able to cry when his father died.

I'm really happy that the meds are working so well for you, but for some people it's a hard choice between psychosis and medication.

E. Fuller Torrey is very much a believer in the medical model of mental illness. I guess I'm not convinced it's that simple.