Please note: For what they are worth, these comments represent Debbie’s opinions and perceptions based upon her own experiences and must be understood as such. Thank you…

How do you know if you need medication ?

Well, this is a controversial topic, isn’t it? Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject. Here are some principles to think about as you make the choice:

1. Have you used psychotropic meds before? Have they helped you? Made things worse? Or not made much difference?
Depending on your condition, some meds help and some meds make things much worse. Of course, if you start a med and things get worse, you MUST CALL YOUR DOCTOR AT ONCE, and ask about stopping the medication.

2. What is your condition? Is it a condition that is known to have biochemical aspects where a specific medication is recommended? This question implies, of course, that you have gotten a diagnosis from a (licensed) mental health professional who can help you understand your condition and the various treatment methods that are recommended.

3. Are meds the only treatment recommended? Or are there other treatments that should also be considered? There is all kinds of evidence these days that indicates that the mind and body always work together to create or treat any specific condition. There may be some aspects of your condition that need to be addressed through medication, while other aspects can be treated with talk therapy. (For example, schizophrenia most often requires medication to address some of the features, but you probably should have counseling also to help you learn to cope with the everyday problems the condition brings.)

4. Should you consider newer, cutting edge treatments instead? There are several new ideas about how to treat conditions that involve specialized processes. They include Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Acupuncture/Acupressure, Hypnosis, to name but a few. Some of them may work for some people, but often there is little research to determine whether they are effective.

5. Do you have funds or good health insurance to cover the cost? While some medications are inexpensive, many of them are not. It is critical, I think, to know that you have money to pay for the meds before you begin them. Because if you have to stop them abruptly, there can be serious side effects.

6. Do you want to try meds alone? Or do you want to use them in conjunction with talk therapy? Often times meds do not cure a condition, they only stabilize some of your brain function so that you can think more clearly about what needs to be done to solve your problem. So it is often best to use courage to face the issues what are causing the condition in the first place. This is a critical consideration if you are diagnosed with depression, anxiety or PTSD.

Of course, there are many other concerns that can come to mind as you think about all this. Consider your options carefully, research the questions, and if you feel the need, talk with a mental health counselor to address your concerns. …dhc                  1/10/2020