Starting Mental Health Medication? Try These 5 Ways to Honor This Transition
If you are experiencing a crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988 or 800.273.8255. You don’t have to be feeling suicidal in order to call them - they can support you through any mental health crisis. We also have a list of other crisis resources.
If you’re still deciding if this is the next best step, we have a list of 10 strategies to help you decide if mental health medication is right for you.
Starting medication can feel like a huge step - and often a scary one.
And yet, the action of starting to take a prescription each day is very private. There is no built-in recognition of crossing this threshold toward healing and well-being.
There is no culturally recognized custom or ritual to observe taking a step forward for your mental health. It can feel like a strange, isolating time, especially since most of us aren’t comfortable sharing these details of our lives with people outside of our inner circle.
Here are 5 ideas to mark this transition for yourself:
1. Acknowledge each step in this process.
There can be several milestones to be observed before you take your first dose. From making the decision to start taking medication, to asking your doctor for a prescription, to picking up the prescription from the pharmacy, these points in the journey deserve acknowledgement.
Acknowledging these steps doesn’t necessarily mean celebrating. It’s ok if you aren’t feeling “rah-rah” excited about any of this. But as much as possible, find space to acknowledge your feelings around each of these events.
There may be grief, relief, disappointment, hope, regret, or any number of other emotions. Find ways to let these out.
Journaling, drawing/doodling with colored pencils or markers, singing along to a song that resonates with you right now, taking your time in the bath or shower… whatever helps you acknowledge the feelings you’re experiencing at each juncture.
2. Mark your first dose with something intentional.
A few ideas to make space for honoring this step forward:
If there is a walking labyrinth nearby, go for a visit. You might even consider walking into the labyrinth, taking your first dose while in the very center, and then making your way back out again. This can be a beautiful symbol of your commitment to showing up for yourself as you make your way out of the darkness.
If this idea is intriguing to you but you don’t have access to a walking labyrinth, you can create a similar experience by tracing a labyrinth with your finger.
Turn on your favorite music, close your eyes, and just listen for a few minutes before and after you take your first dose.
If you have a loving and supportive person in your life who you feel comfortable sharing this with, ask them to help you do something special on the day you take your first dose. They may offer to cook you a nutritious meal, give you a relaxing back/hand/foot massage, go for a walk with you in a beautiful place, or some other meaningful gesture of support.
Take 3 long intentional breaths, take your first dose, and then take another 3 long breaths.
Spend some time near water the day you take your first dose. Whether you live near the ocean, a lake, a river, a stream, a pool or jacuzzi , or a bath - spending time in or near water can help our minds relax in a special way.
Spend some extra time doing something that makes you feel like yourself. Reading a favorite book, snuggling with your little one, eating a favorite food, talking a walk in a familiar place, having an orgasm, spending time with loved ones - any of these can help to encourage more oxytocin to help aid in your transition as you cross this threshold.
Use one of these ideas, or come up with something that feels right for you. Just make sure to carve out a little space to acknowledge this step toward healing.
3. Be gentle with yourself.
As your body adjusts to a new medication over the first several weeks, you may experience some side effects. Hopefully most, if not all, of these will fade as you acclimate, but often the beginning can be fairly intense.
It’s also important to remember that mood changes usually don’t start right away with a new medication. It may feel difficult to experience side effects while also feeling like you’re not getting any benefit from the medication. But hang in there! Change is probably around the corner. You can always check in with your doctor if you’re still not feeling any positive benefits after a few weeks.
If you are really struggling with side effects, remember that you can contact your doctor and ask for a lower dose to start with. Since everyone is different, the process of finding the right dosage - and/or the right combination of medications - will take some time to figure out.
You may be coping with some big feelings around this time. If possible, plan for more practical and emotional support as you begin this process. Sometimes your sleep can be disturbed too, so prioritizing rest can be really important. If you need extra help taking care of your baby or yourself during this time, don’t be afraid to reach out to your loved ones for support.
4. Keep a log or journal of how you feel as you begin treatment.
This doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just take a moment each night to write down:
Your overall mood that day on a scale of 1-10
Any side effects or physical changes you noticed
Any medication changes that day (different dose, different time of day, etc.)
Any other notes you want to keep track of
This can be a helpful reference for speaking with your doctor, as well as serving for a record if you want to look back later.
5. Remember your “why”
Remind yourself of the reasons you made this choice. Remember, this isn’t just a positive step for you, but for everyone who loves you.
Consider making your phone’s lock screen and/or background image something that points toward the future. A quote that resonates with you, a photo of your little one or another loved one, a beautiful place you’ve been that brought you a sense of peace - create a visual reminder for yourself that you won’t always feel this way.
