I Married Medication

The quick fix to all our problems. I have depression is there a pill for that? I have anxiety there is a pill for that? I have bi-polar there is a pill for that? My son/daughter has ADD there are pills for that? Some of the many most common questions I here throughout my practice as a Mental Health Counselor. A quick fix in modern times is the new mentality that has been implemented in this culture. This is the reason why I believe these questions are becoming more common, especially with psychiatric abnormalities.
The people are not wrong to be asking these questions. There are chemical reactions in our body that has a connection to our mental stability. The medication questions should not be the only question to be asking. Remembering that psychiatry, a very young practice, is not like physical medicine. With many, if not all physical medicines can treat the ailment a person has. In the psychiatric field professional are treating something that is not seen by the naked eye. This is not a problem as years of researching and practice has lead to some type of help from medication. This medication treatment however does not help the mental abnormality as it does with physical abnormalities.
Psychiatric medication can balance chemical levels to make an individuals abnormality feel better. However, it is like a bandage on a wound. With a band aid we know that there is a cut beneath the bandage. Over time this wound will get smaller. The wound because of the bandage is protected. This protection helps the wound get better. The medications (bandage) on a mental abnormality (wound) is much like this example, except for one aspect. These medications just hold the abnormality in place. There is no 100% healing over time, just with medications.
 
They are not working anymore
I have seen multiple people over the years in all kind of settings. Outpatient therapy, In-patient therapy, and psychiatric screening centers. Most of the first meeting conversations end with, “I don’t understand I was taking medications. It worked for a while but now I am not so sure if it is really helping.” In this culture people marry their psychiatric medications thinking a miracle will happen. Not every medication works for everyone. In this work we cannot just take medications thinking one type will help the abnormality to go away overnight. This in many cases is why people stop taking their medications. People stop because the medication because it is not working as fast as they want it to. People want to get back to normal living. There is definitely no shame in that, people want to be social. As we know with abnormalities like depression and anxiety people often can’t be social. It is understandable if for so long they can’t, they want to be social now. All people want instant gratification. “These medications are not working what now?”
When a person is taking psychiatric medications, they should continue to use them. Stopping them suddenly is more harmful than good. When stopping medications, it is best to talk to a mental health professional first and/or ladder oneself off instead of going cold turkey. Going cold turkey can make the abnormality worse, becoming more mentally and/or physically sick.
 
Seeing a Professional
Just because the medications are not working means that one should not get discouraged. All is not lost a person can see a mental health professional. Seeing a mental health professional is just as effective as taking medication. WHAAAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN BE HELPED WITH OUT MEDICATION?!?! Yes, over time when a person comes to therapy one-on-one and/or in group it has the same effect. The relationship from therapist to client, client to therapist has been known to be the most curative factor in modern therapy. Even with chronic abnormalities given the correct environment and help, conventional therapy has been known to be the greatest helping tool. This is how people can stop taking medications. When a therapist feels that the client can stop taking them, the idea of trying to stop is brought forward. It is up to the client of course to stop. It is amazing how the relationship of one person can change a person so much.
 
Oh Good I am just going to see a therapist
Excellent some of my message has gotten through. You want to go see a therapist. Let me be clear that just seeing a therapist is fantastic but seeing a therapist alone will take longer to be where one wants to be. Medications and therapy can help advance treatment. On some occasions medications help individual gain enthusiasm to go to a therapist. Especially with chronic abnormalities the therapist should help the client stay with medication as it is a great stabilizing tool to use during conventional therapy. This is a type of issue seen in modern times. A lot of the parents for my child clients are against medications because they are afraid that they will have long term effects on the child. While this is true the amount of years you must take for that to happen are high.
 
Writers thought
So far during practice I have witnessed two sides of the fence. Some people do well with just medication for a very long time. After this period, I do notice they begin to complain about their medications and they need new medications. A therapist can help the individual find new medication if wanted. I have no problems helping someone find another medication because like we discussed before not all medications work for everyone. If a person thinks that medication is helping them then they have the right to keep taking them. I do think that individual and group therapy can help on its own as well. These two conventional therapies are great but take time. In the American culture I live in, no one has time. On top of time to be honest therapy is not cheap. Therapist must eat as well so private practice and therapy companies charge what they can to live.
Therapy and medications are the best combination to live a stable life. Once a person starts taking medications they can have the enthusiasm to go to therapy. Once in therapy they can work on thoughts and/or emotions. If they feel better, they have the option and try to go off the medication. When off the medication after working with individual group therapy they have the option to stop therapy. Stopping therapy is the ultimate goal. Helping the individual become independent and able to work on themselves by themselves in 100% always the ending goal. 

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