Ensuring healthy mental health is an essential part of life, however it's important to do it in the healthiest way possible. Here are some tips to start working towards a better you.
1. It’s a big decision to stop or start a medication.
Take your time with the decision, consult your family and your doctor before starting or stopping a medication.
It is actually incredibly dangerous to start or stop a medication incorrectly. Do not take medication that is not prescribed to you and do not stop taking medication without consulting a doctor. (If you or someone you know is stopping medication without consulting their family or a doctor, please encourage them to consult their doctor. It can have side effects such as withdrawal, increased experience of symptoms, and even increased suicidal ideations, especially when quitting depression medication).
That said, even when done safely, choosing to start or stop a medication is an incredibly important decision that merits careful consideration. Think this decision over carefully and get multiple medical and personal opinions, but remember that ultimately, this is a major decision about your mental health that is between you and your doctor.
2. Every person’s experience is different, even for two people taking the same medication.
When you first start taking medications, it may be tempting to talk to friends or go online to look up others’ experiences with your prescription. However, it is important to recognize that everyone’s situation and body chemistry vary, and you may not have the same reaction to medication that another person may have. Definitely inform yourself about potential outcomes, but don’t start or stop a medication based on someone else’s personal experience.
3. You may experience side effects. Or you may not.
All medications come with warnings about side effects. Medication for mental health is very prone to side effects that are both physical and mental and which take about two weeks to subside. You may experience side effects, but you also may not. This does not mean that the medication is working or not working, but simply that it is interacting with your body differently than you expected.
Before starting a medication, it is incredibly important to discuss your overall health with your psychiatrist, as you may naturally be prone to symptoms that are a side effect of your medication. Talking to your doctor could help you avoid a negative experience. Even after starting medication, continue regular checkups and ask your doctor if anything seems unusual.
4. You might feel worse before you get better.
Every time you put an unusual chemical into your body, your body requires some time to adjust. For some people, the side effect may be that your symptoms worsen before they get better. Most medications take up to two weeks to take effect. Don’t write off medication just because you feel worse or experience side effects in the first two weeks. If it works, it will be worth every second.
5. Every medication is different--the first medication you try may not be the one you stick with.
Many people start medication expecting it to cause drastic changes, but the reality is that the specific medication you try may not ever jive with your body. You may need to try several different medications before you find one that works for you.
6. Medication may not be the only way to get better.
For some people, therapy alone works, for others, medication alone works, but the most consistent positive results occur by combining the two. (However, there is evidence that therapy works best long term.) It’s your choice to decide which treatment is right for you and it’s okay to try out a few different ones.
7. Medication is not going to be a magic solution to your situations.
You may not stop having symptoms. Your mind will get better at managing it, but you shouldn’t expect your situation to go away entirely. Starting medication is not a magic cure, however, it can be very helpful to look into.
8. It’s OK to change your mind.
Regardless of whether you started your mental health treatment being pro or anti medication, it is okay to change your mind. This may happen as you gain more information about what its like to take medication or what treatment will work best for you, and that’s okay. You are not required to take medication simply because you are struggling with something and that's important to keep in mind. It can be helpful to have a support system ready to help you, not only with this decision, but with adjusting to whatever treatment plan you choose.
9. It’s OK to take medication for mental health.
Taking medication does not make you weak, or defective, or anything negative. If this is the decision that is right for you, then taking medication may be taking control of your situation. Mental health problems are real, and you deserve to have the right to treated just as you would be treated for a broken arm or the flu. Luckily, our society is moving toward de-stigmatizing mental health, so you hopefully will not have to deal with anyone believing you are weak or that there is something wrong with you. But regardless of others’ views about your decision, remember that you don’t have to validate yourself to anyone, and that your decision to take or not take medication is yours and your doctor’s, and that above all, it’s OK.
10. You don’t need to be defined by your diagnosis—or your decision to take or not take medication.
This is the most important thing to remember when dealing with mental health. Your mental health is not who you are, it is simply an aspect that comes along with who you are. You may be a person who believes they would benefit from not having a clear diagnosis, or you may be someone who believes that having a diagnosis will help you better understand yourself. Regardless, it is important to know that having or not having a diagnosis does not define you and does not validate or minimize what you are going through. In these situations, you are allowed to do what you believe is best for you.
I encourage you to take control of your mental health. Whether that comes with the decision to take or not take medication, or to go or not go to therapy, you deserve to feel better about yourself, and it’s up to you to take those steps. Your situation does not define you, but handling it and informing yourself about it may help you to better understand yourself. You do what you need to do, and no one will judge you for that.
