Even though illnesses requiring medication, such as Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Schizophrenia, have a biological and/or genetic basis, the adjustments and accommodations that individuals make often negatively impact a person’s sense of self esteem. This is often true because often, before or until the illness is diagnosed, a person may assume that the problem is within his control, and therefore mistakenly assume a personal sense of failure for the associated symptoms, as if he “should have” been able to control them.

Therapy can be an important tool in encouraging greater compliance in the ministering of medication. Education of relapse symptoms, potential pitfalls of noncompliance, and other issues c an be of significant assistance towards helping people stay on a regular regimen of medications, as well as understanding resistances to compliance. Some psychiatrists monitor compliance individually and others have created medication monitoring groups with great success.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross M.D. has designated a five stage process of mourning which includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. A condition which requires medication may represent a loss to a person’s sense of who he is, and thus may require a protracted period of necessary mourning which parallels normal mourning, in order to finally recognize the importance of compliance through consistent self care. 

FINDING THE BEST MEDICATION: A JOINT EFFORT

Finding the best medication is a joint task for individual and psychiatrist, and can be a  long and arduous process requiring several trial and errors, so it is very important to have open communications with the psychiatrist.

Since each person’s chemistry and make up are unique, it is necessary to determine which medication is best suited for each individual. Reactions to medications may differ from person to person. Often family members sometimes find that if a medication was suitable for a sibling or parent,  the chances are better that that particular medication may be best for them.

It could very well be that medication will not work for you. The temptation, however, might be to give up prematurely, when, in fact the best medication for you just hasn’t been tried yet. Persist, though, and keep the lines of communication open with the psychiatrist, so that a mutual decision can be reached about the next best course of action.

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