Prescription medicine is a subject of much debate among mental health patients. Some view it as an unnecessary addiction with zombie-like side effects, while others consider it a lifeline to calm and their only chance of recovery. I have been told that no one, including Psychiatrists, knows precisely how this class of drugs works. It’s not as simple as replacing a chemical deficiency in the brain, as we are sometimes led to believe. Moreover, each drug has its benefits and possible side effects.
Many people have managed their depression through lifestyle changes and natural remedies. If this works for you, keep doing it. I’m not trying to persuade anyone to take psychiatric pharmaceuticals. Likewise, if you need medication, don’t consider it an admission of failure; that you are somehow less of a person because you need it. Medication has nothing to do with strength; it is more about symptoms and relief. Find what works for you.
I have not taken many prescription medications in my life. In fact, prior to the last seven years, I had only ever been prescribed antibiotics. So when my Family Doctor first suggested medication to manage my depression, I was a little taken aback. Was I really that sick? I hesitated for a few weeks but quickly found my symptoms were becoming unmanageable. In the end, I trusted her judgment.
The first drug we tried didn’t go well. To make matters worse, I didn’t tell my family doctor about the side effects I was experiencing; I had terrible stomach cramps but did my best to persevere. I didn’t realize that had I reported my side effects right away, she would have changed the medication immediately. I thought I was being heroic when, in fact, I was just being stupid.
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