Tenafly, NJ — Everyone knows dehydration is dangerous. But what about drinking too much water? In a new article published on her Patreon platform, Dr. Farrell Unplugged, licensed clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Patricia A. Farrell takes on a health topic that is widely misunderstood and, in some cases, deadly: polydipsia, the compulsive overconsumption of water.
"We've been told our whole lives to drink more water. But here's the thing nobody's talking about—you can actually drink too much water, and in some cases, it can kill you."
—Dr. Farrell Unplugged
In her article, "Drunk From Drinking Water? It Can Kill You." Dr. Farrell draws on decades of clinical experience working in psychiatric hospitals to explain what polydipsia is, who is most at risk, and why the consequences of drinking too much water can spiral from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening with frightening speed.
A Condition That Hides in Plain Sight
Polydipsia is not simply being thirsty. It is the compulsive, often uncontrollable urge to drink large volumes of fluid. Dr. Farrell explains that it appears in two main forms: psychogenic polydipsia, linked to psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression; and dipsogenic polydipsia, which can affect people caught up in extreme wellness trends that encourage drinking enormous quantities of water every day.
Both forms can trigger a dangerous medical crisis called hyponatremia—a severe drop in blood sodium levels. When sodium falls too low, the brain begins to swell inside the skull, with no room to expand. Seizures, coma, and death can follow.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Dr. Farrell's article identifies several groups at elevated risk, including people living with psychiatric conditions, marathon runners and endurance athletes, individuals using MDMA (ecstasy), and people taking certain antidepressant or antipsychotic medications that trigger extreme thirst as a side effect. She also cautions that warning signs—headaches, nausea, confusion, muscle cramping, and unusual fatigue—can mimic the symptoms of dehydration, causing people to make the problem far worse by drinking even more.
"I worked in several psychiatric hospitals where patients were constantly monitored for hydration," Dr. Farrell writes. "Occasionally, we would have a patient who would drink excessive amounts of water, and it would turn tragic."
The Takeaway: Drink Smart, Not Just More
Dr. Farrell offers clear, practical guidance on safe hydration, including the simple rule of letting thirst be your guide and monitoring urine color as a reliable indicator. She urges readers to seek immediate medical care if warning signs appear and to speak with a doctor if they or a loved one seems to be drinking compulsively.
The article is now available exclusively on Dr. Farrell Unplugged, Dr. Farrell's Patreon free platform, where she covers health, science, psychology, and culture in plain English that anyone can understand and act on.
About Dr. Patricia A. Farrell
Dr. Patricia A. Farrell is a licensed clinical psychologist, member of SAG/AFTRA, and a prolific author whose work spans psychology, health science, and fiction. She publishes nonfiction and commentary under the name Dr. Farrell through her Patreon platform, Dr. Farrell Unplugged, and on Medium.com. Her fiction, published under the pen name P.A. Farrell, includes literary novellas, psychological suspense, and science fiction. She has extensive clinical experience in psychiatric hospital settings and brings that firsthand knowledge into everything she writes.