This week, 'Therapy Begins with T(ea)' steeps on common questions & concerns that come up when considering medication and offers a full body check-in to help remind you of the many ways you (can) take care of yourself.
Therapy Begins with T(ea) is a weekly newsletter based on the themes that come up in my sessions as a therapist who specializes in conflict & attachment in romantic relationships, shame & imposter syndrome, and our psychological relationships with money. Each week consists of a 'steep' in thought reflection, an accompanying body based check-in, and tea card intentions for the week to come. Its intended use is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for individualized medical or mental health treatment.
'Steep' in Thought (3-5 min)
medication: physical health, Yes. mental health, no?
Antibiotics, antacids, pain meds, vitamins, probiotics, birth control. We take medication for our physical health without batting an eyelash, but when it comes to our mental and emotional health, our stance falters. Maybe we’ve seen the positive changes friends and family have experienced with medication, and we support it wholeheartedly, but when that spotlight turns on us, we hesitate.
Deciding to take medication for your mental health is a deeply personal decision that is best made intentionally, with the guidance of a healthcare professional and with the full knowledge of what benefits and pitfalls you can expect before, during, and after. So today’s Steep will discuss some of the most commonly asked questions and concerns around medication that clients bring to session.
common questions & concerns
How can it help me? I use the visual of a ship in water a lot with my clients to help explain the function of psychotropic medication. Picture the middle of the ocean -- sometimes the waves are smooth, other times ‘The Perfect Storm’ worthy. Would you rather be on a sailboat or a ship in that ocean?
Medication won’t change the waves, but it can upgrade your boat to better navigate them. Therapy and other practices help you learn how to steer and can even help change the waves themselves. They can work together.
Will I have to take it forever? It can be a daunting feeling, to consider starting something you don’t know when (or if) you’ll end. We’re used to seeing medication through a medical model -- you get a prescription, you take it for a known period of time, symptoms go away & you move on. Our bodies & brains don’t work like that. Consider shifting your perspective towards a wellness model -- that medication is one tool of many that you can integrate into your practice of holistic & functional wellbeing.
Does it mean I’m weak? This one hurts my heart to hear; it makes me angry at our society for making us believe this. We’re not meant to do everything, be everything, meet every need of ours on our own. Many mental health issues stem from trauma (childhood, relational, community, societal, etc.). One of the hardest parts of trauma is that even though something was done to you, you carry the burden of having to heal, which can be so isolating. Medication (along with therapy, support, indigenous & cultural practices) can help buffer that burden. This week’s full body check-in reminds you of all the ways you (can) take care of yourself.
Full Body Check-In (2-4 min)
Find a comfortable place for your body and take a strong breath in. Often, we breathe into our chest, but for right now, let your belly fill first and then your chest. And then let it all out through a deep sigh. We’re going to focus on breathing in the first part of this check-in, but use the other techniques from past check-ins (like using your senses to orient yourself) if that helps you regulate.
Keep breathing. In slow, out slower. Instead of focusing on your nose & mouth or your chest & belly, tune your attention to the palms of your hands. Imagine breathing through your hands, the air coming in through your palms, warming your body, and then leaving through your fingertips. Repeat that cycle and notice how it feels. Now try breathing through the soles of your feet. If they’re on the ground, imagine the air coming in through that point of contact and then releasing back down into the ground. You can try breathing through any other parts of your body if you’re curious.
If and when you feel ready, start to detach your focus from your breath and ask yourself: how do I take care of myself? Notice what images, words, emotions reply back to you.
What do you feel when you ask yourself that question? If it’s difficult to answer, or if all the ways you don’t take care of yourself come forward first, take another breath and let those pass by. Start small (there’s power in the small). Did you eat food yesterday? Did you drink water at all? Brush your teeth or wash your hands/body? Did you let yourself rest by sleeping? Were you able to move your body? Can you do any of those things today?
What else comes to mind? How can you take care of yourself? What seeds can you plant for you? How can you show yourself joy? Patience? How can you let yourself play this week? What parts of you could use more gentleness? What about more firmness?
We can take care of ourselves through food, sleep, hygiene, connection, introspection, laughter, therapy, medication, movement, and stillness. Set an intention for one (or a few) of these aspects of self care this week.
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