This Blog, Its Goals, Its Strategy, and Me, The Writer.

I wish I knew HTML better so that I could really spice up my blog. But it's okay! Welcome (back) to my blog! If this is your first visit, you may be confused, so let me do some explaining! Lately, I have been experiencing several thousand views each day and been contacted by people, especially looking for outreach on tapering, holistic techniques, and modern controversial issues.

What is this blog about?

This blog is called "Medication.. A Part of Life." Now why did I name it such? I named it because my blog is targeting an audience who is concerned with mental health treatment, medications, and taboo topics. Well, mental health treatment usually has two factors to it; therapy and medication management. While Psychiatrists are those who are referred to when a therapist deems someone needs medicine, a primary family doctor can prescribe mental health meds. And they do, in a very, very widely practiced and accepted manner. 

Medication is certainly not always bad, and probably usually good. But side-effects do occur, a common one being completely unhappy. Yes, that's right. An antidepressant, a "chill pill," making you more irritable. 

     Medication in mental health is a game of trial-and-error. For example, a large group of antidepressants are known as SSRI's. Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, and literally hundreds of others. Some work good for people, while others don't. For example, Prozac, known to be the more well-tolerated medication, makes me sick to my stomach. My mother and I both have taken Lexapro and we didn't have to wait 3-4 weeks.. We noticed fascinating results the very next day! My father takes Paxil. He tried Wellbeutrin and Cymbalta, and they didn't work. My mother is also on Wellbeutrin and she absolutely loves it. It literally saved her future. I am prescribed Cymbalta and Lexapro, but quit taking Lexapro. Why? Because they just put me on it and I could discontinue safely. Like my father, I cannot stand Cymbalta. It never worked on me and was somewhat pushed on me. But I take it. I'm tapering, and it has been 3 months (gone from 120mg to 80mg. Don't worry, most antidepressants are not that hard!)

     Medications and their efficiency have a lot to do with a professional thoroughly evaluating your symptoms. They have to do with your weight, diet, if you drink or not, if you sleep well or not enough, pregnancy, smoking, drugs currently taken, and very importantly, genetics. (If a medication is well tolerated among many in your family, a psychiatrist will often choose this to help first.)

     For many of us who have suffered through this vicious cycle of mental health, medication has become a forefront issue in our lives. Those of us using medication for a long-term basis, constant switching, titrating, and experimenting occur, and more than you think.

     Now I am an all-over-the-place kind of person. Thanks anxiety! But you will notice one thing in common.. My blog focuses on medicine and other alternative techniques in an unorganized fashion. Politics are also mentioned, personal thoughts and rants, therapy, criticism, pretty much anything to do with our mental health in some form or fashion, I may discuss!   

     But I'm here to talk about medicine and the latest news. I'm here to try to inform what I learn. I post about issues I learn myself, which helps explain all kinds of posts in no order! And I want to inform!!!

What is your goal?

My goal is to merely inform people of things I have learned. I won't lie... I'm stubborn with the issues I address, and many are pertinent to me so I do the research, and hours of it, and then post. I don't often cite sources but I keep them and if you ever need it, just ask.

     So my goal is to inform people, teaching them about certain things, while teaching myself in the process. I am adamant about many issues such as mental health reform and skepticism of certain medications. I'll post that!

     One of my mental health problems is affiliated with lack of validation. I never finish what I start. This blog is unorganized, not focused on one specific topic, and may catch your eye to never be caught again. But search through my posts and find an interest, and see what I have to say about it!

     I am someone very weary of antidepressants. I never approach it with a thought of good medicine. I approach it critically. Many times I am disproved. If you have gone to therapy and tried, didn't work out, I think Wellbeutrin or Lexapro or Prozac, and Celexa are great. While Cymbalta is on my bad list fervently. It's biased! 

     But if you suffer from mental health, I want you to expand your critical thinking skills and understand psychiatry and pharmacology to a small extent at least. I hope this blog can entice you are lease.

What's your overall lookout on mental health and its current practices?

I believe we don't have enough therapists and therapy should be a pre-req to psychiatry except in extreme or non applicable cases, in which a psychiatrist can write a temporary script until someone sees a therapist and then go from there. Kind of political, huh? Creating a protocol!

     I believe staunchly in going to therapy and I am a staunch proponent of holistic techniques. But I do not downplay psychiatry as I used to.
     Psychiatry is diverse and covers so many possible aspects of one. Are you having attention problems? Is your anxiety out the roof? Is your biological name Lindsey but at night you are Jennifer and know of no such Lindsey girl? Do you have issues eating, or keeping your food in? Are you suicidal? Are you bedridden? Are you so happy that you put down others and feel no remorse? Do you enjoy excessive porn and sex? Are you a drug user? Do you feel sick sometimes for no reason except anxiety? All those are mental health. I am not trained within the scope to address all these issues by any means.
     I am skeptical of the current psychiatric method used in this nation as a result of *some* (perhaps not even a majority) Psychiatrists selling their practicing techniques to pharmaceuticals. I am skeptical, very much so, of the current DSM-5, the ultimate guide to psychiatric treatment here in the US. I approach psychiatry critically while often disproving myself.I hold random views on certain classes of drugs and believe some are over-utilized, under-utilized, etc. My blog is not just about mental health!!! It is about all medications and their mechanisms to help, or lack thereof!
     So what's my outlook? Current practices need to change. See a therapist first. Find a psychiatrist. Have your therapist e-mail your psychiatrist before you even see them. You see them, you discuss your options. You research a lot. You get the help you deserve more than anything.

Who are you?

My name is Kyle, and I am a 23 year old who suffers from  moderate depression, GAD, OCD, panic disorder, situational anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, and a few others. I've tried so many medicines in so many classes. SSRI's, SNRI's, Tricylic, Benzodiazepines (especially and a problem for me right now as I've tried tapering 6 times, and 6 seizures.) Medications promising like hydroxyyzine and holistic Valerian Root, medications that did not work for me and are garbage to me** like Buspar. Opiate/Opioids for pain relief but happen to help with my wellbeing. ADD. Adderral, if my body can take it. I've been put on Promethazine. 

I am a Senior in University getting my Bachelors in Sociology. I am 2 courses away from finishing. TWO. But in the fall of 2014 my parents quit paying rent and made me move home after my roommate caringly explained his concern for my openly suicidal tendencies. I have been home since. I am unhappy still, with depression and anxiety, and since I had to move, my Primary doc here does my Psych meds. He's becoming uncomfortable and it scares me, lest I have a seizure. 

I never knew why I was depressed until I listened to a blog where people submitted basically their feelings, analogies, etc. I did it. I realized I feel like a failure. Didn't finish anything, and feel worthless. Two courses from a degree but can't go back because I owe $16k. Once I pay it off I can! 

    I can't pay anything without a job. Yet no one is calling me, despite my credentials. I worked for a while at an at-home job that was actually legitimate and for a severely anxious and sad person, was ideal. I couldn't even do it; I got fired. Easiest job ever. 

     My parents always complain about this or that but often I don't get it. 

But the old Kyle was one happy guy. Straight A's in University, making the President's list, giving me validation and self-admiration. Had lots of friends and fun. Was such a nice person and people came to me for anything. 2011, somewhere between January and March. A panic attack. Honestly, I wanted a doctor's note! I see an urgent care walk-in doc who puts me on  a regimen of Xanax XR with a refill or two. One day I quit taking it. I later wake up with a dismantled jaw. Had no idea! Thought I was chattering too much. I feel sick the whole day and the next. I get a spiral and right down changes. Boom. Xanax. I google. Am startled. At this point I'm sick, abnormally. I get back on, and the battle a benzo dependency continues to this day.

I am very loving. So compassionate. I'll forgive you for anything.I'm a civil rights activist. I hate bigots. Only people I hate. I'm confused and yeah, lonely. I am spontaneous. I can hide my depression and make my anxiety look humorous. I can go out and have a good time but I am usually a home body. I love politics. One day I want to be a counselor. I feel empty. But I'll make it through. :)

So explore my odd blog and comment, tell me what you want to hear! 

Enjoy!