Medicines May Help When You Are Having a Hard Time - VLJP
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Transcript:
Medicines May Help When You Are Having a Hard Time
Sometimes when you are struggling with difficult feelings (like sadness, stress, worry, tension, or having trouble with sleep or appetite), it can feel like there is a heavy weight pressing down on you and it’s hard to do what you need to do.
There are medicines that can help that weight feel lighter, so that your feelings are not overwhelming and you have the energy and desire to do the things that are important to you. Some people are scared to take or try a medication because they fear they will be dependent on it forever. This is very, very unlikely. When you choose to take or try a medication, you can work closely with your doctor to make sure that it is right for you.
Sometimes people fear that taking medication means they are "giving into” a problem instead of making it go away. In fact, lots of people from all different cultures and backgrounds take these types of medications, and they are made to support people with addressing the problem. Taking the medication does not mean that you are weak, or that something is wrong with you – it means that you are willing to try something that might help you feel better.
These medicines do not switch off your brain, change who you are, or make you forget all about the things that make you sad or stressed, but they can make it easier for you to cope with those difficult feelings and do the things in your daily life that you want to do. There are many different kinds of medicines to help people feel better. Everyone’s body is different, so you might have to try more than one medicine until you find one that works for you. It is not safe to try someone else’s medicine.
Some medicines may cause problems like headaches, stomach problems, or changes in sleep. These are called side effects. If the medicine is a good match for you, the side effects will go away or become manageable before long.
It can take time to start feeling better after you start taking a new medicine.
With some medicines, you will start off by taking only a small amount of the medicine each day, to give your body time to get used to it and to see if it is right for you. Then your doctor or primary care provider may increase the amount of medicine you are taking bit by bit, to find the amount that helps you the most.
If you want to stop taking a medicine because you don’t like how it makes you feel or you don’t think you need it anymore, it is important to talk to your doctor BEFORE stopping the medicine. For some medicines, you need to slowly decrease the amount you are taking. Stopping suddenly can cause problems.
Here are some questions you might want to ask your doctor or primary care provider if you are thinking about trying a medicine:
What are the usual side effects?
How long should the side effects last?
When will I know whether or not the medicine is working?
Do I need to take this medicine every day? Or only when I’m feeling a certain way?
If I want to stop taking the medicine, what should I do?
Will I have a hard time stopping?
If the medicine works well for me, will I take it forever? Or just for a short period of time?
Medicines to help with things like sadness, stress, and sleep problems work best when you also do other things to help yourself feel better. A combination of medicine and things like talking to a counselor or someone you trust, getting exercise, or being in nature can help you feel better.