It simply comes down to this: do you want to operate with a healthy brain or an unhealthy brain? Which do you prefer?
At my therapy office in Sterling, Colorado, many people are seeking out treatment and not wanting to be put on any medication. Rather, they are looking to find a way to get better without having the assistance of a medication. This is absolutely fine with me. However, how do you know when someone may need the assistance of a medication?
The United States of America is the most medicated country in the entire world. Plus, there are more children on medication in the United States than all the children on medication in the world combined! Shocking, I know!
However, I am not absolutely against medication. I am an advocate for medication as a last result or when absolutely necessary. So, how can you tell if you need a medication?
Let me give you an example. There is a part in your brain that allows you to shift your attention from one topic to another. If this area is overworking, then you get stuck in negativity and can have extreme difficulty in changing your thoughts. In other words, your brain is not allowing you to simply change your thoughts and so you remain stuck!
The health of your brain is what allows you to do anything (walk, talk, think, remember, change thoughts, etc.…). No matter how knowledgeable you are at catching your thoughts and then changing your thoughts, if there is a problem with your shifter, then you will continue to struggle. However, if you were to add a medication to aid that area of the brain, then you would give yourself a better chance to cope by now having the ability to change or shift your thoughts. Without the medication, you can talk about how to cope until you are blue in the face because you are not capable to truly perform. With the medication, you now have the ABILITY or CAPABILITY to change your thoughts.
Let’s try an analogy and see if it helps to understand. Your child begins to struggle to see the board in school. You take them to the eye doctor and find out her or his vision is not 20/20 and may need glasses. The doctor may give you a choice if your child’s vision isn’t too far from 20/20 because they can still see fairly well and may be able to cope by moving closer to the board and slightly squinting. However, if your child’s vision is too far from 20/20 then the doctor will recommend glasses to assist the eye in seeing the board. Even if they move closer to the board and squint (trying to cope), they will not be successful at seeing the board because the eye no longer has the capability of perfect vision without assistance of glasses.
If the brain no longer has the capability to perform healthy functions, then medication will be necessary for the brain to perform at a healthy level; just like glasses were needed to assist your child’s vision.
If your child needs glasses, do you shame them into thinking that something is wrong with them and they are a crazy person because they have to put their crazy glasses on? Then why does our society shame people that need mental health medications? If you need correction or assistance to function in a healthy way, that is being smart not crazy!
You see, no matter what you do to try and cope, if the brain does not have the capability to perform, you will be unsuccessful without a medication. So here lies where I usually can tell if someone may need a medication. After several attempts at learning to cope and deal with troubling symptoms and they continue to struggle, then a medication or supplement can be necessary. However, if they are able to adjust, adapt, and cope after a few sessions, then they may not need a medication.
Most of my patients do not need medication and after a few sessions are able to cope and feel better. Plus, even if one of my patients may need a medication, there are various alternative ways to naturally boost the chemicals needed for their brain to function properly. It simply comes down to this: do you want to operate with a healthy brain or an unhealthy brain? Which do you prefer?
ABOUT CHRIS SWENSON
Chris Swenson is a licensed therapist who helps people overcome and face life’s most treacherous challenges. His office is located in Sterling, CO. For an appointment please call Chris at (970) 522-0796.
If you would like to begin recieving the Rhino Wellness Center Newsletter, then email that request to chriss@rhinowellnesscenter.com