MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Is It Time To Consider Psychiatric Medication?
Are you struggling to function in the day-to-day aspects of your life, whether at home, at work, or in your relationships?
Have you ever been diagnosed with or do you suspect that you have depression, bipolar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or generalized anxiety?
Are you considering taking medication to relieve your symptoms or looking to adjust a prescription you currently have?
If you’ve encountered issues with concentration, sleep regulation, and your mood on a regular basis, you are likely very eager to find relief. Wishing for a sense of normalcy to return to your quality of life, you may be considering medication or have already sought out a prescription.
Understandably, you might be concerned about the implications of introducing psychiatric medication to your daily regimen. Perhaps you’ve wondered how long you’ll have to be on medication, what the side effects will be, and if meds will fundamentally change some aspect of your personality. Moreover, if you have resisted psychiatric medication thus far, you may be grappling with the idea that getting a prescription signals weakness or an inability to handle problems on your own.
Simply put, if you are suffering, you deserve to feel better. And working with a licensed nurse practitioner, you can receive tailored medication management services and ongoing psychiatric support that will help you restore a high quality of life.
There Are Many Misconceptions Surrounding The Use Of Medication
No matter where we’re from or what experiences we’ve had, we all have to go up against mental health hurdles. Symptoms are not always severe enough to warrant a clinical diagnosis, but we are nevertheless all subject to feelings of sadness, anxiousness, and distraction. A big part of the medication management process is determining which symptoms are tolerable and which symptoms are interfering with daily functioning.
How Does Medication Help?
For many mental health issues, there is a strong biological aspect. Our brains are wired according to genetic, social, and cultural factors, making us increasingly susceptible to mental health obstacles as life stressors accumulate. Because certain symptoms can be traced back to the neurobiological level—to the brain itself—medication can be a very useful tool in psychiatric treatment. Medication works by balancing out or adding chemicals to the nervous system that may be disproportionate or in short supply.
Unfortunately, just as there is a cultural stigma attached to therapy, one is also tied to psychiatric medication. Many people suffer unnecessarily and for long periods of time by seeking out other more “acceptable” interventions before considering medication. And while lifestyle changes and mental health counseling can certainly help, medication—whether used in the short or long term—is sometimes needed to promote peak functioning.
Medication management is a comprehensive and effective element of my therapeutic practice. Working together, we can identify your symptoms, determine a proper prescription, and help you achieve a new, more manageable baseline.
You May Be A Strong Candidate For Medication Management Services
Because medication can often be a sensitive and complex topic for my patients, I aim to create an open, nonjudgmental therapeutic space where we can explore your concerns. As I learn more about your daily experience and goals for treatment, I will tailor the medication management process to align with your unique needs and preferences.
What To Expect
Before delving into how medication management is incorporated into therapy, it’s important to acknowledge that the aim of psychiatric medication is not to eradicate symptoms entirely but to help you function better and receive other interventions more effectively. Sometimes symptoms reappear during periods of extreme stress or transition, and sometimes it might take weeks to notice a reduction in symptoms. Whatever your experience is, I am here to be an active, steadfast support for you throughout this process.
Once you have completed a thorough psychiatric evaluation that will help me better understand your symptoms and history, I will be able to better assess your medical needs. I operate from a broad, whole-person perspective, which means that I consider all biological and psychosocial elements of your experience. For example, ADHD is a condition mostly rooted in neurobiological factors, but I always factor in external elements that may be contributing to symptoms.
From there, additional introductory sessions will be scheduled to help us get to know one another better and determine if my approach to medication management and ongoing therapy will work for you.
Psychodynamic Therapy Can Enhance The Effect Of Medication
Keep in mind that I view therapy as an essential aspect of medication management. As such, I ask that patients commit to ongoing counseling (unless you are being seen for ADHD specifically), though you are welcome to continue working with your existing therapist if they are not licensed to prescribe medication.
Ongoing medication management sessions will focus primarily on your symptoms, helping us to identify what is working and what is not. This is also a beneficial opportunity to discern any negative side effects and adjust the dosage or change the prescription as needed. Furthermore, through my psychodynamic approach, you will develop new skills and perspectives that can help to manage your symptoms in conjunction with medication.
Whether you’re anxious, depressed, experiencing extreme highs and lows or panic attacks, or having trouble concentrating, there is hope for relief. Medication management can help unlock the ideal combination of treatments that will target your unique symptoms so that you can feel confident, efficient, and joyful in your everyday life.
Still Unsure If A Prescription For Medication Can Help You?
Medications have so many side effects that they aren’t worth taking.
Manufacturers are required to put a warning label on all medications that outline common and severe possible side effects—but the keyword here is possible. Many of my patients experience mild and tolerable side effects when taking medication, but the benefit of the medication far outweighs the side effects.
If you experience uncomfortable side effects as a new medication is introduced to your regimen, let’s discuss your options together. There may be behavioral/lifestyle strategies that can reduce side effects, or we can discuss switching medications should the side effects become too disruptive.
Only very sick and unstable people require medication.
Anyone seeking mental health support might benefit from having a conversation with their provider about the risk versus benefits of taking medication. If you think you may be “too” high functioning to benefit from medication, it might be helpful to ask yourself what the distance is between your current daily life experience and a life that is thriving. If that distance is vast, medication might be a good option to help you bridge the gap.
My family doesn’t believe in psychiatric medication—they think I need to manage symptoms on my own.
It sounds like your family members are being protective and understandably concerned about the physical implications of taking medication. However, your family members may be operating on misguided information, and I would venture to guess they are not trained medication management specialists.
If you are wondering for yourself about whether or not medication can help you achieve a higher level of functioning, it’s worth it to have a discussion with a professional who can help you determine whether or not psychiatric medication is a good option for you.
There Is Hope For Relief
I offer psychiatric medication management services to patients struggling with depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and other anxiety disorders. To schedule a free consultation, please call (719) 626 – 1338.