Friday, October 29, 2010
Over the past two months, we have been discussing the vital issue of meds compliance. So, if we remain compliant we will get well, right? Not so fast. Last year, on my blog, Knowledge is Necessity, I ran a poll through the month of February. "How do you rate your meds in managing your illness?" I ask...
because meds are the "quick" answer
because meds make us go to sleep and when they start to wear thin, we up the dose or change the med
because meds replace and band aid our illness and keep us from having to actually change anything... except perhaps the med
and while we are on meds, it seems more serious to others surrounding, and while on meds.. with the adverse side effects.. its more a reasonable excuse to not be able to do things or be who we would normally need to be
so many are so sworn to their meds as having made their lives much better than before
and in many cases, this is so
but for several - that I KNOW personally - they still have their bouts of mania, hypomania, and suicidal depressions... even while taking their meds
they wake up anxious, pop a pill
they cook dinner upset, pop a pill
they can't get to sleep, and pop an extra benzo with their anti-psychotic to get to sleep
but they will swear upon their souls that they are so stabilized and recovered
they go to their psychiatrists... some are able to weekly.. whereas 2-3 go every other week
they go to their therapists every time the door cracks
they go to their support groups almost as a social gathering
and they still have their bouts of mania, hypomania, suicidal depressions and end up unable to function for periods of time
and they are still labeled "disabled"
but they tell me, with so much assurance, that they are stabilized and recovered or on the path to recovery and they are so much better than they used to be.. before the meds
You nailed it, Tabby. I see a lot more shareposts coming out of this.
I disagree. To me, my sanity cocktail is my foundation. Taking it every day keeps my blood levels stable, allows me to work on the real issues at hand instead of bouncing back and forth addressing aggravating symptoms.
Every well built house has to have a foundation and from my experience as a counselor, friend, consumer and advocate, those whose foundations are unsteady or rocky engage in a rollercoaster ride of breakthrough symptoms, nasty side effects and emotional instability. There's a reason doctor's tell us to be compliant. It's not because they're being mean or dictatorial - it's because healthy med management just makes good plain common sense. After all, you wouldn't encourage a diabetic to juggle with his insultin, now would you? Why is mental illness any different?