#edrp originals

[edrecoveryprobs]

I've recently started treatment at an IOP. I now need to meet with a psychiatrist as the next stage of treatment. I was wondering if you could speak to the pros/cons of medication use both during and after intensive treatment. My therapist seems to be very anti meds but I'm looking for multiple opinions.

Pros:

meds for me are really stabilizing. They make me functional, they keep me on an even keel when the chaos of life happens

Meds just generally make me feel like I’m able to participate in the world like a real person. It’s hard to describe. 

as-needed meds give me some measure of control over my extreme emotions. It’s like a weapon I can use against panic attacks so I don’t feel so powerless in the face of triggers.

daily meds can become like a ritual of recovery which can in itself be really helpful

requires you to have regular contact with a treatment professional, good in general as part of intensive treatment aftercare

Cons: 

consistency in taking them can be surprisingly difficult for some people

getting them refilled requires some level of adulting (going to the pharmacy, keeping psych appointments) that I don’t really have yet (see above)

some people have side effects that are annoying. especially the first 2 weeks of antidepressants, which sometimes increase suicidal thoughts. It usually goes away but keep an eye on it and keep talking to your doctor about it / follow their advice.

I’d say while you’re doing intensive treatment would be the time to try them, if you’re thinking about it. You’re already meeting with a psychiatrist regularly, medication management/accountability is already there, and it can really help bolster the other things you’re doing to recover. Either way, keep communicating with your doctor, do your best to take them as recommended, and keep track of your mood/other symptoms if you do try it.

Anyway that’s my personal,non-professional experience. Best wishes with your recovery