Charity Begins At Home

When the topic of emotional and mental problems arises, it has become an unfortunate assumption in our society that a pill can solve all problems. This is simply not true and I'd like to open your eyes to the reality of depression, anti-depressant medications and all of the gray area in between.

First things first-- diagnosis. The DSM-IV TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition Text Revision), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the most updated manual describing in great detail virtually every mental disorder and is used by every mental health professional in the United States and many other countries. The DSM helps us make diagnoses based on a multidimensional approach to incorporate all of the possible contributions to a person's mental state.

Q: Who makes these diagnoses?
A: A medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, clinical social worker, or other competent mental health practitioner.

Once the appropriate diagnosis is made, based on the criteria set for the disorder, a plan of action is devised. This may or may not include medication management, which brings me to my point.

Once a qualified practitioner makes a diganosis, such as depression for example, he/she may find that through the patient's reporting as well as the level of severity as stated by the DSM, medication management may be helpful short term. At this point a psychiatrist will prescribe medication or a non-medical pratictioner will refer the patient to a competent psychiatrist. The short term medication management often lasts up to 6 months and its purpose is to alleviate the severe impacts of the depression to allow simultaneous talk therapy to take effect.

Simultaneous talk therapy is pertinent to recovery regardless of the illness.

It is possible that the client's mental state is more severe and longterm, and with the psychiatrist's and counselor's close and watchful eye, medication is managed for as long as deemed necessary in the best interest of the patient.

In many cases medication management is not needed at all as cognitive-behavioral talk therapy may be all the help the patient needs.

A few words about psychotropic drugs

I have seen miraculous changes in people as a result of proper medication management. They go on to live productive lives and find themselves again. When talk therapy is implemented as an equal part of treatment, poeple learn to cognitively and behaviorally manage their symptoms, should they arise again, resulting in less of a need for medication.

I believe that medicine has come a long way and we can surely reap the benefits. However, let us not forget that within us is our own medicine-- the presence of mind to know we need help, to ask for it, and to learn from our teachers and heal ourselves.