Living with an untreated mental illness can be extremely painful. Your symptoms may prevent you from taking care of yourself and reaching your goals. You don’t have to navigate a mental health crisis on your own, though. Professional treatment can help to get you back on your feet. Psychiatric medication can be a highly effective treatment for people struggling with ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and a wide range of other challenges. If you’re looking for mental health support, you should understand the purpose and benefits of psychiatric medication management.
What Is Medication Management?
Psychiatric medication management is the ongoing process of working with a psychiatrist to find the prescriptions that work best for you. Your psychiatrist will get to know you, your symptoms, and your medical history. Based off of that information, they’ll recommend a medication regimen. After this initial appointment, you’ll continue to follow up with your psychiatrist to make sure the medications are working with minimal side effects. If necessary, your psychiatrist may adjust your medications to help you get the best results.
When Is Medication the Right Treatment?
The only people who can truly determine whether medication is the right option are yourself and your psychiatrist. Medication is a personal topic, and everyone’s needs vary. If you’re not sure whether medication should be the next step in your treatment journey, you should have a discussion with a psychiatrist.
Medication is sometimes the first line of defense in dealing with a mental health crisis. Some mental health disorders are best treated by medications. Your psychiatrist may also recommend medications if your symptoms are causing severe issues with your relationships, self-care, finances, or career. If you’re not ready to try talk therapy or other treatments, medication could be a good first step toward regulating your mental health.
Sometimes, individuals start medication when other treatments haven’t worked. For instance, if your progress with therapy has been slow-going, your healthcare team may recommend that you consult with a psychiatrist.
4 Benefits of Psychiatric Medication Management
Everyone’s treatment needs are different, so no two people will have exactly the same experience with psychiatric medication. However, medication management delivers powerful results for many people. The following are just a few benefits of adding psychiatric medication management to your treatment plan:
1. Fast Results
Some medications take effect almost immediately, and others kick in gradually over the course of a few weeks. In general, though, medication delivers results quickly. This is enormously helpful for individuals who feel trapped or overwhelmed by their symptoms.
When you’re struggling with your mental health, seeking treatment can feel impossible. You may feel so physically and mentally fatigued that you simply can’t put energy into your recovery. Therapy has powerful benefits, but those benefits don’t usually become noticeable until you’ve put in a few months of work. You may not feel ready to commit to such an active, long-term treatment when you feel so low. In this case, medication may be the best option for kickstarting your mental health journey.
Medication management can give you the boost that you need to embrace your mental healthcare. After a couple weeks, you may notice enough of a difference in your mood and energy that recovery finally feels accessible to you. At this point, you and your psychiatrist can discuss adding therapy to your treatment plan if it feels right.
2. Reduces Risk of Relapse
Some patients take medication for a short period of time while they get their mental health back in shape. Others plan to stay on their medication regimen indefinitely. You and your psychiatrist should discuss both your short-term and long-term goals for medication management.
Medications can greatly reduce the risk of a mental health relapse for patients who remain on their prescriptions long-term. Unfortunately, mental health is a lifelong battle. You can develop coping skills and self-regulation techniques that help you keep your mental health in check, but some people feel like medication gives them the strongest protection against relapse.
3. Comprehensive Treatment
Adding medication management to your treatment regimen is a great way to receive more comprehensive care. Mental health is a complicated subject, and addressing the issue from multiple angles can be very helpful. Your psychiatrist offers a valuable and unique perspective.
In many cases, medication and therapy work best when combined. If you already receive therapy, adding medication may help to reduce your most acute symptoms. If you receive medication management, therapy can fill in the gaps and help you achieve long-term wellness. Not everyone needs or wants both medication management and therapy for their mental health condition. However, many individuals feel like medication was the missing piece within a larger treatment plan.
4. Ongoing Support
Medication management doesn’t end with you receiving a prescription. You and your psychiatrist will have an ongoing discussion about your experience with medication so that you can find the best possible treatment. If you report severe side effects, your psychiatrist may adjust your dose or recommend a different medication. If your health needs change over time, your psychiatrist can also adjust your prescriptions accordingly. This ongoing source of support can be incredibly valuable as you work toward your long-term mental health goals.
Psychiatric medication management services are also very important if you’re considering going off your prescriptions. Stopping without support from your psychiatrist can lead to unpleasant side effects and an increased risk of a mental health relapse. If you’re regularly attending prescription management appointments, though, your psychiatrist can help you safely stop taking the medication.
Medication Management Psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, Ca
Living with mental illness is challenging, but support is available. If you’re considering medication for your mental health needs, The Beverly Hills Therapy Group is here to help. Our medication management psychiatrist will work with you to find the treatments that best support you. Whether you’re interested solely in medication or want to explore both medication and therapy, we have the services you need. Contact us today to learn more.
