Medication Management
Is It Time To Consider Psychiatric Medications As Part Of Your Treatment Plan?
Beginning a new medication can present a lot of questions and concerns, including:
Does taking medications indicate that I am not strong enough to manage my challenges?
Will I have to take medications forever?
What side effects might I experience?
Will medications change my personality?
The decision to incorporate medications is often the biggest hurdle clients face, which is why we are pleased to offer supportive, tailored medication management on your healing journey.
What Is Your Experience?
Whether or not you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, you may feel like your daily experience has become unmanageable. Symptoms might include chronic sadness, irritability, sudden fluctuations in mood, excessive worry, low self-esteem, and a loss of interest in your hobbies and relationships.
As these symptoms accumulate, daily functioning can become more and more difficult. If you’re distracted or struggling with low energy, you may be missing important deadlines, avoiding responsibilities, or withdrawing from your relationships. It may feel like you’re using every ounce of strength just to get through the day.
You are not alone in your struggle, and it’s okay to ask for support as symptoms increasingly impact your life. Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC can help. We have licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) on our team who can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medications, and support you through ongoing medication management services. Together, we can figure out the treatment interventions that will suit your needs and reduce your discomfort.
Many People Avoid Psychiatric Medications Out Of A Fear Of Appearing Weak Or Inadequate
It’s a strength in and of itself to consider psychiatric medications as part of treatment. While there are plenty of misconceptions about psychiatric medications—including that they are only for “weak” or “unstable” people, or that they need to be taken forever—the truth is that one in six American adults report taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication every single year. It’s safe to assume, however, that number is higher when looking at issues beyond depression and generalized anxiety.
Unfortunately, we come from a culture that places huge expectations on performance and being enough. Regardless of age, we are expected to succeed at the highest level in school, at work, and at home, rarely if ever giving ourselves opportunities for self-care. Not only does this mindset lead to burnout, but it also perpetuates the idea that if we are struggling, we are not trying hard enough. Furthermore, some of us might come from backgrounds where psychiatric medications and therapy are not acceptable.
When it comes to our mental health, we must pay attention to our needs and not the expectations of others. A comprehensive evaluation and evidence-based research can help us determine your needs. Clinical studies demonstrate that the combination of psychiatric medications and therapy tends to yield better outcomes for clients than medications or therapy alone. However, medications are often appropriate and effective even for individuals who are not engaged in traditional therapy. As such, medications are an important part of treatment, whether they’re being used temporarily to address acute symptoms or long-term to combat chronic conditions.
At Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC, we will work with you to determine the best course of action for treatment, integrating psychiatric medications alongside evaluation and management services for a comprehensive approach.
Comprehensive Medication Management Individualized To Your Needs And Preferences
To get started with our practice, you will be asked to fill out an appointment request form that can help us better understand your symptoms and treatment goals. If we feel that our medication management and/or therapy services will benefit you, we will reach out to get you scheduled for an appointment with our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
Your first session will be an evaluation that will give your provider a thorough idea of your daily experience. If you meet diagnostic criteria for a mental or behavioral health condition, you will receive education about the diagnosis and interventions that may be most beneficial to you. During the evaluation, you will have ample opportunity to ask questions and clarify concerns so that we can collaborate on your medication plan. You’ll learn more about different options for medications and why we’re recommending one over the other for your unique symptoms.
Throughout ongoing sessions, you will meet with your provider to discuss your response to medications, weighing any potential negative side effects against therapeutic benefits. If it’s determined that another medication might be more beneficial, we will support you in safely transitioning from one treatment to another with the ultimate goal of improving your symptoms in a lasting, sustainable way.
Our Support Doesn’t Stop At Medication Management
At Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC, our treatment approach is individualized and patient-centered. Whatever your long- or short-term goals for treatment might be, we will incorporate counseling into medication management sessions as needed. You will never be pressured into getting a prescription, but you will also never be judged for taking one. Our team is here to support your healing journey and can offer ongoing therapy with one our therapists, even if medication management sessions with our PMHNPs are no longer necessary.
Psychiatric medications can help close the gaps that other interventions—including counseling and self-care techniques—may have left open. As you begin to cope better with intense emotions and daily stressors, you will feel functional in all aspects of your life.
Perhaps You Have Concerns About Whether Or Not Psychiatric Medications Are Right For You…
Other people I know have had bad experiences taking psychiatric medications.
We’re all made up of vastly diverse chemical makeups and responses, so it’s common for people to experience the same medication differently. Our initial evaluation and ongoing medication management sessions are designed to identify which medication is best for you. As such, we may meet more frequently in early sessions to ensure that you are benefitting from the medication, and we will create a “game plan” together to address any side effects if they come up.
If I begin psychiatric medications, I will become addicted.
The majority of psychiatric medications do not pose a risk for addiction. Instead, many medications alleviate symptoms without producing a craving.
In some cases, stimulants or benzodiazepines—typically used to treat ADHD and severe panic attacks, respectively—do have the potential to cause addiction. If a medication that can cause addiction is considered due to medical necessity, we will make sure to address these concerns, thoroughly review your history, and provide extensive education about risks so that you can make an informed decision. When prescribed, these medications are prescribed extremely cautiously; your safety is our priority.
I’ve heard that emotional numbness and apathy are often side effects of psychiatric medications—
I don’t want to feel that way.
While feelings of numbness and apathy can be side effects of certain medications, they are by no means the desired result of your treatment plan. We welcome you to come to us with concerns or uncomfortable side effects when taking medication so that we can collaborate on solutions together.
Medication May Be The Key To Your Healing
You deserve to feel better. To get scheduled for an evaluation and ongoing medication management services with one of our board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs), please complete our contact form or call us at (207) 316-2609.
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