Medication for psychiatric disorders serve a distinct purpose: reduce the symptoms of the mental health disorder. Mental health disorders can come with a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Mistakenly, many people believe that mental health and psychiatric disorders live only in the mind. In fact, the disorders are holistic and affect the way a person feels in their mind, their body, and their spirit. Choosing to take medication is an individual choice made by you, the individual, your primary doctor, your therapist, and your support team. Not everyone will need to take medication or be benefitted by medication. Many people, however, do need to take medication and are benefitted. They find great relief as well as support once they start their medication and the effects fully take place. Then, many months or many years later, they suddenly stop. Shortly thereafter, they experience many of the same difficult, uncomfortable symptoms they experienced before starting the medication. Curiously many finding themselves lamenting and asking, “Why?”
Medication is not a cure. Medication is not a cure. Medication does not cure mental health disorders, though the effects of medication can seem as though they cure some of the symptoms. In addition to many other components of a personal recovery program, medication can cause a mental health disorder to go into remission. People mistake the successful effects of medication for their conditions being cured. Feeling better, functioning well- rather than attribute these developments to medication, people attribute them to being “better” and being “cured”. They feel so good, they feel they don’t need the medication anymore.
Instead of consulting with their doctor and their team, they go off the medication cold turkey. Coming off medication is a choice as individual as going on medication. It is strongly advised to work with your support team to safely taper off medication and track your progress in the process. Going off medication cold turkey can have severe effects, some of which can be dangerous depending on the medication and on the disorder the medication is treating. Some people are lucky enough to catch the signs of struggle ahead of time and quickly place themselves back on medication. Others suffer long term, or spiral out of control. Substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide are known to happen. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline immediately: 1-800-273-8255
Working with a professional team to properly assess and plan recovery from trauma, addiction, and related co-occurring mental health disorders is the best way to ensure your safety. The Guest House Ocala employs a team of certified professionals, working to create a customized treatment plan to meet each of your unique needs. Call us today for information on our residential treatment programs:
1-855-483-7800