The Idea of Medication Is Sometimes a “Tough Pill To Swallow”…..It doesn’t have to be.
Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable talking about medicine?
Maybe not for you…..but for me as a mom a few years ago…..it was something I didn’t even want to consider. I remember my husband brought it up in conversation when my daughter was about 11 or 12 and I thought he was out of his mind!
“Medicine? That is only for kids that are REALLY struggling…….That is not for our daughter!”
“We can handle this!…..We don’t need that kind of Dr! “
“That would mean she would have a DIAGNOSIS and that is TERRIFYING…….”
At the time I felt that if my daughter needed to see a Psychiatrist….I had failed her in some way. Just the word Psychiatrist felt so life altering and scary! I wasn’t ready to open that door and fully understand what it meant for her or for us as a family.
As I type those words…..I feel such shame for being so selfish. My old thoughts were feeding into the stigma of mental illness without even realizing I was judging a treatment option that could offer her a better life or offer some relief.
The truth of the matter is……..
If someone had Cancer ……..they would be treated with medication.
If someone had Diabetes……..they would be treated with medication.
If someone had High Blood Pressure…….they would be treated with medication.
Mental illness needs to be acknowledged and treated just like any other illness that makes someone feel unwell. It deserves care, dignity and respect.
When children or adults feel shame connected to seeking out a treatment plan it can hinder their mental wellness, future decisions and their future paths.
We need to erase the SHAME and the FEAR so we can save our children from living a life in pain.
I am not in any way saying that medication is the answer. That is not my stance at all. My goal in this week’s blog is to shed light on the possibilities and the treatments that are out there and available.
Like I always say……KNOWLEDGE IS POWER✨.
Here are some tips regarding EXPLORING medication:
🧠Find a Dr you trust and preferably who is recommended to you.
🧠Know that it is just an evaluation and a conversation. The decision is ultimately up to you.
🧠Medication is not a solution…..it may be a piece to the puzzle but NOT the answer.
🧠Finding the right medicine can become a journey on its own. It takes time and patience to find the right dosage as well as the right fit….keep the faith.
🧠Medication ALWAYS goes hand in hand with therapy. You can’t have one without the other. Medication treats the brain chemistry and therapy creates the skills to cope on the hard days and tough moments.
🧠Medication does not have to be forever!
As I look back on our journey through mental health, I will always be grateful for the lessons that were hidden along the way. The lessons we uncovered while seeking professional help and support was to not be AFRAID of the process and to not be ASHAMED of treatment.
Treatment saves lives!
Treatment creates futures!
Treatment gives people their life back!
There is no One Size Fits All treatment plan. For someone it could look like………
Therapy
Therapy/Medication
In Patient
Out Patient
What ever that treatment plan looks like for you……breaking the sigma of that plan is LIBERATING!
Embrace the journey and know that what ever path you take…..it is the right path for YOU!
Wishing you and your family Peace, Love and Happiness in 2022❤️!
XOXO🦋