treatments
The past, present and future of psychiatric diagnosis and beliefs about treatment in every culture and pocket of society.
Alcohol Instead of Medication Is a Bad Idea
Alcohol promises fake stability for us mentally ill alcoholics. You see, it calms you down well-enough, but medication does a far better job of that. Alcohol leads to fraudulent stability since drinking counts as self-medication because mentally ill people are in a lot of pain either way. Alcohol really doesn’t help, especially if you treat the drinker well while they are drinking. Alcohol sometimes makes people curious as to what it would do to your body in large quantities—that’s why I stayed alcoholic for so long, because I was in general, curious. In college, I was drinking to fit in.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Psyche
Insight on My Need for Meds
From the age of 12, I had insight as to why I needed medication. I’d see doctors at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital where they would help me manage my diabetes. There was enough proof even then that I was competent enough to care for myself even if my mother tried to find some excuse, a primordial need, to take away my legal rights to custody of myself while I was a child. Even as young as 10 I knew I needed medication, but I didn’t get my first set of meds until the age of 20.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Psyche
Adulting with Depression
It's been one month since I've been on antidepressants. Now if you know me, or read my article on medication (see below for it), you would know that I have always had a fear of taking any form of medication. Fear of how it might change me, how I would feel afterwards, and how I would act once I started taking them. But I had to accept what was and that was this: I couldn't control the chemical imbalance in my brain. I couldn't control the fact that there were things I wanted to accomplish in life and I felt like my body simply didn't live up to my mind's capacity. I couldn't control the days where I was feeling super low and the other days where I was erratically high and moving at all speeds. It was all very inconsistent and super depressing, so I caved. Or so it felt that way.
By Aurea Gonzalez7 years ago in Psyche
Top 10 Things to NOT Do in Rehab. Top Story - August 2018.
10. Don't fight with the doctors, nurses, social workers, or maintenance staff. While on the surface this seems like a rather obvious concept to most of us, most patients—whether it is their maiden voyage into this realm of treatment or they are a well-seasoned traveler—enter such facilities first needing to detox from their substance of choice, and no one does so exactly the same way, from recovery time to adjusting to (possibly) new meds. And, of course, everyone is at a difference level of reality in terms of accepting their situation, and their course of action is usually the default setting of some combination of anger, confusion, depression, indifference, hostility and remorse.
By Daniel McCaffrey7 years ago in Psyche
How Electroconvulsive Therapy Changed My Life
I am currently undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Yes, the famously controversial treatment that everyone seems to fear, even people on here. Well, I have recently come to a conclusion that is quite big for me.
By Alexandra Amethyst8 years ago in Psyche
Ten Horrific Mental Health Treatments Throughout History
The taboo around mental illnesses is fracturing. People are encouraged to speak openly about their struggles without fear of the repercussions; the world’s stance on mental health is drastically changing.
By Charlotte Williams8 years ago in Psyche
You Do Not Understand My Eating Disorder
Dear reader, Here's to the people who have shared this statement over and over again. For those of you who do not know me I suffer from anorexia. Anorexia is an awful illness that creates an intense fear around food and gaining weight (medical definition). Eating disorders vary from person to person. If you only hear this from me, hear this...I did not choose Ana, she chose me and she does not define me.
By Therese Kortesmaki8 years ago in Psyche
