As an A.P.R.N. (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) I have the training and legal authority to prescribe medications within my scope of practice - mental health.
Medications are great when they work, but like most other treatments, they are not always effective and sometimes have side effects.
Sometimes people are in so much emotional pain they just want a pill to take away the pain. I understand this. However, no such pill exists.
Understanding the limitations of medications is a good start. Having said this, I have seen many people benefit from certain medication therapies to the extent that they tell me things like:
"I feel I got my life back."
"My husband is back to his old wonderful self."
"It feels so good to be able to sleep."
It's important to be realistic about what medications can and cannot do. Medication can be a part of recovery but I've never seen medication be the "one thing" that makes a difference. There needs to be a host of other efforts as well.
Holistic healing, for example, offers spiritual well-being, nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep and intellectual activity, art and more.
