Read the article that appeared in the September 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine.
Yoga, journaling, and rest are all ways we can practice self-care. Going to therapy is a form of self-care. But how often do we think of taking medication as a way to care for ourselves?
One of several ways to take care of our mental health is taking medication to manage symptoms. Yet medication is often surrounded by stigma and doubt for those who have never used it. Those who take medication for mental health reasons are often familiar with how frustrating it can be to find the right type and dosage – it is certainly not a one-size-fits-all situation.
This is another story in a series in which I delve into what authentic self-care is by having conversations with local mental health professionals listed in Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’s HELPLINE directory.
Recently I spoke with Marisa Bradbury, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner listed in Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’s HELPLINE directory. She practices at the new Ruther Glen location of Grace Health Services LLC. You can learn more about their services at www.gracehealthservice.com.
I started our conversation the same way I always do – by asking how she defines self-care. Bradbury believes that one must know their self before they can truly care for it. She said this often involves a challenging component: “Sometimes you have to be brutally honest with yourself about what you need and what you don’t need, including people.” Letting go of things and people that we once thought were good for us is difficult, but often necessary.
Bradbury provides psychiatric assessments and medication management services, so I wanted to get her perspective about the role of medication in mental health care. “All members of the mental health care team are extremely important,” Bradbury emphasized. Taking medication is just one of many treatments that people with mental health challenges can try. When I asked about her view of psychiatric medication, she shared, “There are some conditions that you need medication for and there should be no stigma attached to it.”
Starting medication doesn’t mean you will be on it forever. Bradbury explains, “Some people need medication for a period of time and then their coping mechanisms take over and they no longer need the medication.”
There are many ways to treat mental health conditions and everyone’s journey is unique. Most people benefit from a combination of treatments, such as therapy and medication. As we continue to destigmatize self-care and going to therapy, let us not exclude medication from the conversation.
MHAfred maintains an extensive list of local mental health providers that we call the HELPLINE. We keep track of the services offered in the area, insurances accepted, and new client availability. If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred’s programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.
Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.