I have taken medicine for my mental health before my diagnosis. Since I was maybe about thirteen years old. And I have since then until now, been trying different medications, which is over ten years, mind you, just to see what medicine works for me. And boy was that tough! But I do know I need my medicine to function and if that has to be for the rest of my life, then so be it.

Medicine And Therapy Both Needed Together

Now, I could not really work through the help that was given, because I was not in the right mindset and honestly, that is because of me not having the right medication. Having finally the right medication, helped me to ease up with some of my anxieties I was dealing with, so I could accept the help to get tools. Which the point I am mentioning as well here. I cannot talk for others, we all have our own experiences, I can only talk for myself, and for me I need tools. I cannot just rely on medication, because it can only do so much. But I need my medication at the same time, to be to a more mellow condition so I can actually go through all the therapy and homework that came with that. I could actually take use of the tools. I had more energy; I do not think that is the right word though.

Stigma Against Medication

I used to be very tired of taking medications, to forget to take the medications, it was very tiring. I wanted to be able to feel good without medications. I did not want to feel better on them, but in the way that I wanted to feel better by myself, not to rely on something. But honestly, I have heard so much about just think positive thoughts and do this, just go to school, a diagnosis does not matter, go natural, and on and on about stuff like that. This, I am almost screaming through the screen but, I cannot express this enough, just STOP! If that is your route, then fine. But this stigma about mental health and medications should not even be a thing. Some people need medication, like me, to function. It is not always something you will see. If you see someone who is sick and they need medication, then well duh, that is obvious. Please, understand that involves everyone. Even if the sickness or whatever you want to call it, is visible or not.

You and Me Can Make A Change

We all can make a change in this. We need to understand that mental health issues should be taking seriously. People think it is life. Yes maybe, we all have tough times. And I try to be firm believer in that you should never compare your struggles with someone else. But when it gets to the point that you cannot function, and you get no help. You just keep hearing, grow up, or move on, or just do this and that, like mentioned before. That will make it worse. Mental health is talked more openly in my opinion today, but it has always been as much there I would guess back in the days as today. I do not think in everything that people, I might be wrong, but people seem to not talk too much about their mental health way back in the days, so we did not hear about it. We weren't much aware of things of that kind as we are today. And not everything got spread through the news, within seconds. They did not have Twitter, Facebook and so on. To get back to the main point, to make a change, is by talking more to your children, siblings, friends and so on and talk more openly about this, and they will learn that you should not be embarrassed, and you do have the right to get all the help you need.

Behavior Therapy to look into

There are a lot of different behavioral therapies out there depending on what you might be diagnoses with or even just something that might work for you better than it works for other. But CBT, DBT, ACT is a few of them. I am sure there a lot more. They also have Dr on Demand, they have Better Help, I believe it is called. I do personally like going in person. But to each there own.

I need to take this to heart as well but, do not feel embarrassed about your struggles or having to take medicine. Just focus on you!

God Bless