“To comply or not to comply, that is the question.” How d you know when your meds are working? When is it ok to stop, or so you think? How do you know when taking them that normalcy has returned and you question whether it’s the meds or a turn for the better in your mental outlook? More to the point, is your diagnosis correct?
We have many fears and biases when it comes to illness. There are those who will go to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle or a cold. At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who attribute their good health to the lack of medical intervention. Somewhere in the middle of that is a nagging persistence of symptoms, which causes us to question whether a trip to the doctor is prudent.
With bipolar disorder we are sometimes the last to see the efficacy of seeing a doctor, going for treatment, or getting a prescription. In my own case it took 12 years before I firmly accepted that the adherence to taking medication on a daily basis and for the rest of my life was a necessity; no more questioning, but rather acceptance.
How do you know when your meds are working? You know when the drama exits your life, or when your friends and family comment on your newly-acquired stability; when you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed by sleep, anticipating a daily structure to your life. Recognizing others’ feedback has some value to it. It has less to do with accepting a label and more to do with the orderliness of your life.
Sometimes we only see ourselves through the gaze of others. Before you decide to quit your meds, think about the long view, of having a life you find worth living. How else can you measure compliance and stop screwing up you life with one more question, one more doubt of a bipolar diagnosis?
Ten Ways To Evaluate You Have the Right Diagnosis
- Your life is orderly and measured.
- When your doubts surface, rely on the feedback of friends and family.
- Monitor your inner sense of composure.
- Ask yourself, are you at peace with yourself.
- If there is a repeat of your inner turmoil, when do you question
its cause? - Be aware of sudden shifts in mood and outlook.
- Question your own motives when questioning others’ feedback.
- Seek the advice of professionals when questioning your mental health.
- Question your own behavior if you are in constant conflict with others.
- Allow yourself to take meds and see if calmness returns.
1 comment:
The problem is the way over prescribed psychotropic drugs being passed out like candy. And a broken mental health system that does nothing to help people actually recover from their mental distress. The only chance of real recovery is to get off the offending psychotropic drugs.
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