General
Medication Side Effects
You know, there’s a lot attached to having a mental illness. There’s the illness itself, the emotional burden of it, the complications added to all your decisions and relationships… the list goes on. And then there’s the side effects to the medicines you use to ease the symptoms.
It’s a terrible balancing act. The symptoms alone almost kill you, so you start medication to ease your suffering. But the thing is- there is no perfect medication. No fix all. Everybody reacts differently to every medication they try. And you have to go through the mental battle of “can I live with this side effect?” Or “Is the side effect better or worse than the actual symptom?”
I’ve tried medicine that have no side effects, but that still do nothing to help my Bipolar symptoms. But, I’ve also had medicine that have made suicide look delicious. Through a very long process, I’ve finally figured out the balance for me. I found medication that help to manage my mental imbalances, while giving me side effects that I’m able to live with or at least manage.
My medicine makes it difficult to eat a good amount of fiber, for example. They also make it nearly impossible to lose weight. I have at least been able to maintain weight while occasionally losing a couple pounds here and there, but it’s an uphill battle.
I have also learned within the last couple of years that my medicine dries me out, and has been wrecking my senses. My eyes are now chronically dry- which has lessened the time I could have enjoyed from lasik surgery. I can’t see as well when my eyes are really dry and inflamed. I’m on an eye drop regimen now that will continue till I die or go blind, whichever comes first.
My dentist has been getting after me, too. They are seeing damage to my teeth because I suffer from dry mouth. They tell me repeatedly to use Biotene or something similar (either the lozenges, or the spray) to keep my mouth a little more moist to protect my teeth. I still forget to do that- though I do have both the drops and the spray. I’m working on it.
And then there’s my nose. It’s been a big problem in my sleep apnea (which I also blame Bipolar medication and weight gain for). What has happened is I’m so dried out, I get mucous caught in my air passageways that can’t drain because of the dryness. I have to use rhinocort to get it unstuck so I can breath.
You might be thinking that maybe I’m just dehydrated, but I drink almost 1/2 gallon of water a day to try to offset the dryness and make sure my liver won’t die because of one specific medication used for Bipolar.
Side effects can be a pain… Some people choose to skip medication all together to avoid the side effects, or maybe because they can’t find a medication that works at all for them… (which, honestly, is one of the reasons why I put other management strategies on here). In any case, I believe living with an unchecked mental illness causes more problems than side effects can.
Management Monday: a new strategy to better mental health
Keep your living spaces clean. Physical clutter around you can add to the clutter in your brain, and drive you to an episode or worsen the one you’re already in.
Research
Further Proof of Movement Strategies
Recently, I opened and read a book called Going Home without Going Crazy by Andra Medea. You see, I get a little riled up when I’m with my parents and siblings sometimes, and since I was planning a trip to see them, was trying to prepare and find strategies that might keep me calm. I found that… and more.
Within the first chapter of the book, Medea introduced me to a concept called “flooding”. It is a state where, when triggered, your brain will start flooding with adrenaline. You’ll be in high alert mode, where ears will be turned off, and anger is quick to turn to rage and you’ll end up doing and saying things you’ll regret.
Knowing this in the first 2 minutes of reading made me a little nervous that Medea would know all my deepest, darkest secrets because the book kind of hit it right on the nose. That seems to be exactly what happens to me when I’m with my family… and also them with each other, I’ve observed. Not to the point of rage, but they all take offense with each other and get worked up over small things.
As I continued to read, not only were there more extremely helpful tools to help explain the situation and recognize the flooding, but also resolve the situation. The strategy they recommend the highest to help pull yourself out of the flooding and adrenaline in your head… is movement. Not just any movement, but large muscle group movement. Examples of said movement would be to go out to the garage and pick up heavy boxes or take a brisk walk inside or out. If not able to leave a conversation, try flexing your muscles where you stand or sit. One doesn’t need to have weights to engage large muscle groups, thus allowing you to let go of that plaguing adrenaline.
Though the word “anxiety” was never used to compare with “flooding”, I have enough experience with both terms to know adrenaline is a common denominator. This week, I came across an article from Harvard Medical school (health.harvard.edu) that gives the same advice for managing anxiety as Medea gives for flooding.
Not only should the large muscle groups be involved, but Harvard adds through regular aerobic exercise, those who struggle with anxiety can “develop a tolerance for … symptoms” such as rapid heartbeat.
I can’t tell you how excited I am when I hear or read of such findings. Movement has much more power than we give it credit for. It has power to calm the body and the mind. And I, for one, plan to take advantage of such a dance.
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