I'm sure for all of you who have experienced taking any type of medication, missing a day or two can really mess with your system, especially when it comes down to medication for your mental health, so this is your reminder to take your medication!
I have been on my mental health medication for around three to four years now and I can definitely tell when I have missed a day, or two, or three...the problem is I often forget to leave it somewhere that I regularly see in the morning. Really, I should put the medication in a place where I will know that I will take it and I advise you to do that also! For example, in the bathroom, near your hairbrush or even by your car keys.
When I miss my medication for a few days I experience dizziness, the feeling of being spaced-out, lack of concentration, sickness and headaches. I don't feel that my mood changes that much unless I have missed my medication for a few days, not on purpose, but just out of forgetfulness. After a few days I do notice a change in my mood, which can be quite severe. I'll often face increased anxiety and depression and even suicidal thoughts. I remember the times when I have been extremely irrational and it has been scary because you feel completely out of control. I won't go into detail of the exact experiences, but just remember to take the medication! I think if I was to come off my medication more slowly, I would be able to control the reduction rather than going cold turkey and I think that is what causes the problems when medication is missed.
If this post reminds you of anything, please remember to take your medication as there is nothing to be ashamed of and missing medication for a long time can have adverse effects. However, I am aware that certain medication itself can cause increased anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, but even so it is never advised to go completely cold turkey. Remember to follow your doctor's advice.
What are your experiences?
Dear 16-year-old me,
You're made of tough stuff. You may not feel like it now, but I know you are. You're in the middle of your GCSE's and you're feeling like you're fighting a losing battle, but I promise if you keep working hard you'll get where you want to be. I'll be honest, that even if you try your absolute best, there is no guarantee that you will be at the top, but you will certainly be close if work hard at your graft.
I know everyone is saying that life isn't all about exams and education right now, even though it feels like it is. If I could teach you anything right now, it would be that your mental health is the most important thing to look after during this time. There is so much pressure from the moment you get into school but please don't destroy your health over some exams. Just try your best, work hard and please look after yourself. It is not worth trying to end your life over.
Those negative comments from your peers? There will always be those in your life. But, you're doing well to fend them off and have strong sense of belief which will carry you throughout your life and be really meaningful to you. In years to come, you'll remember these people and their negative comments, but it won't matter as much as it does now. You will be striving ahead to be where you want to be and perhaps they won't be.
If you have the chance, spend more time with your family. You may still be in contact with some friends that you're with now, but your family is still important. Please don't get overwhelmed with everything in life to the point where you don't have much time for them as they won't be around forever. As you get older, the more you'll begin to realise this. Even if they drive you up the wall - just take a moment to think and put yourself in their shoes.
Try to save money and not spend it on things you don't need! It's actually really useful when you get older (!)
Finally, you've been through some rough times which you have faced head on and have come out of the other side. I'm not going to tell you that the future is going to be plain sailing, but just keep it in mind that you do have the strength to make it through, and through this journey you will meet some amazing people and will begin to understand what is really important in life. It's going to be a hard few years to get to where you want and keep your mental health stable, but you will get there and your hard work will pay off. You will grow, you will become more confident and you will get there.
I am speaking from my 22-year-old self now and I am far away from knowing everything, but I hope this would've been useful to you and any young person reading!
Keep going,
This is a topic that some may regard as sensitive or even private, but I feel that it's extremely important to talk about.
If you're a woman, it's more than likely that you've dealt with contraceptives in one way or another. By that, I mean hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, coil, patch, implant...the list could go on. Not every woman on the planet will have experienced these first hand as you may not have needed to, or wanted to, but I'm pretty sure that you've at least heard of it. Over the last year it has come to the forefront that there may be a connection between hormonal contraceptives and mental health and I am inclined to agree. People may use contraceptives for a range of different reasons, whether that be to lessen the symptoms of menstruation, to trying to reduce acne and preventing pregnancy. But, whatever the reason there may always be side effects as a result.
I've spoken to many of my friends about these hormonal contraceptives and there have been mixed reactions. The problem is, is that every single person will have different or even no side effects to these contraceptives and so no one story is the same. The contraceptive which might work for one person, may not work for another. But, I still feel that there appears to be a correlation between at least mood and the contraceptives.
From my personal experience, I started on one contraceptive pill which I had to take every day. It seemed to serve me well, as I had little to no side effects, apart from weight gain. Speaking to my other friends, they had also been on similar and it was also okay for them. However, I did notice a change in my mood. Having underlying depression and then having what I felt were many mood changes, made it difficult to tell whether it was my depression or whether it was the pill. Ultimately, I changed to another pill and it was much worse, especially with physical side effects as well as mental. It eventually got the point where after a few years, I decided to come of the hormonal pills altogether. For me, I couldn't handle the changes in mood, eating habits, weight gain, body temperature changes, acne...the list could go on. Although these side effects were small in my eyes, the mental element was really the one that concluded the decision for me, alongside the eating habits and weight issues. A year after coming off the pill, I finally had regained regular periods. Most importantly, my mood changed. I no longer felt as groggy, as down and emotional. I felt that a weight had been lifted and I felt so much better in my body. I feel that it did have a huge affect on my mental health, in negative terms and I'm wondering how many other people have noticed changes in their mood too. I just felt like there was almost a fog that I was experiencing in my brain and I was certainly more emotional and this changed when I no longer took the pill. This is only my experience, and it may be suitable for other people, but as far as I am concerned I never want to use a hormonal contraceptive again for those reasons, as long as I can help it.
I'd really like to hear you experiences. Feel free to comment below.
I'm sure for all of you who have experienced taking any type of medication, missing a day or two can really mess with your system, especially when it comes down to medication for your mental health, so this is your reminder to take your medication!
