[¯|_(ツ)_|¯]

Hey,

I know it can. be scary to start to go on meds, but I think they can help a lot. For me, while I know medication isn't something that will cure me, it stabilizes me to be able to handle most days. Of course, I still have days where I struggle, but everyone does. They help me to be able to function, and I think for some people medication can help them better complete the actions and tasks given to them by the therapist to aid in the recovery process.

I think one important thing is to have a doctor/psychiatrist/etc who is good at monitoring you and is open to questions, etc. Mine actually ran bloodwork before she prescribed me anything to make sure I didn't have anything physical that would cause this. Of course, not all do this and that's not a bad thing really. When I first started going on meds I'd see her every two weeks or so, then every month, and then every three months. However, when I sent her an email (our primary form of communication) between sessions, she moved me up to talk to me about what was going on. You and your prescriber can decide on a plan for how often you two should see each other and how you can get in touch with them if you think you need additional support.

As you mentioned, it may take time to find the right combination of medications, and it can feel frustrating at first. Being honest with your prescriber may help so they can adjust as needed, but everyone is different. My prescriber said there's a genetic test she could've done, but she didn't do it on me. I'm not sure if insurance covers it or how it works, but basically it says what medications may work better or not. I'm not sure if that's an option for you. Also remember that medications can take a few weeks to fully take effect, and also side effects may reduce over time. I had nausea and loss of appetite the first two weeks on one of my medications, but it went away after that. Keep note of side effects and if they get to be too much, notify your prescriber. You may also want to talk to your pharmacist about new medications because they may be able to give advice for what to watch out for and when is best to take it.

As Eli said, when you find the right combination of medication, it feels SO great. As I said, it's not a cure by any means and you will still have to put in work, but it makes it SO much easier to handle things and get to a place where you actually CAN put in the work you need to do to get better. I know that I'm on four different medications, and one of them has really helped prevent me from having panic attacks and tachycardia from anxiety, and that has gone SUCH a long way. And my mood stabilizer has made me feel more balanced. I've been in therapy for years and years, and I think I needed medication to help me make progress.

So, while it can be a process, I think it will be worth it in the long run. You deserve to feel okay. <3