A Quote From Candice's Parents
A quest for an understanding of mental illness as deep as the roots of an oak tree; and a desire to develop connections as strong as it's branches.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Natural Treatment for Anxiety and Depression; My Trial Treatment
Rehabilitation of individuals with various types of mental illness is a family and social responsibility. Attempts to treat mental illness by drugs alone will not be successful. For this reason, the stigma that is associated with mental illnesses has to be discarded. Loved ones must not discriminate against people with mental illness because this can make the problem worse. Love and support is the best way to start looking toward a cure. Research and treatment have made tremendous strides over the past decades, in light of previously used primitive treatment methods. However, I do not know anyone who has been through the long and difficult road back to health, personally or with a loved one, that does not believe that we still have a miles to go. As our family has endured numerous personal challenges of the most extreme, compounded with the demand of our daughters mental illness; I have personally battled with varying degrees of anxiety from mild to more severe. While I do not share my daughters' same mental illness struggles, anxiety is not a frivolous matter. It has caused me many a sleepless night with the only end result being complete exhaustion the next day. My symptoms have differed from shortness of breath, nausea, headaches, tension , and irritability. At the advice of my family doctor, who herself had positive results with Zoloft during pregnancy, I tried anti-anxiety medication on two consecutive occasions. I took Zoloft for a total of eight weeks with no success. I returned to the physician suffering from the same effects only to be recommended to Cymbalta which I proceed to take for another four weeks. Cymbalta conceded to be more harsh than the previous medication. My experience with anti-anxiety medication concluded that, for me, the side effects of the medication were worse than the actual anxiety and made no difference in my anxiety symptoms. My side effects varied from severe headaches, dizziness, indigestion, and fatigue, among others. My best results were achieved with meditation, breathing exercises and relaxation music. I am beginning a new alternative treatment program to help with my anxiety symptoms, I will keep you all posted over the next couple of weeks in regard to my degree of success. If anyone has had success or failure with either medication or any additional treatment please leave feed-back with blog. We are looking for feed-back on any type of mental illness. God bless you and may you have the best of luck in your medical seekings.
Free or discounted medication:
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT
I trust if you are reading this blog you or someone you know is living with mental illness. It is a very important and integral part of healing to work together with medical professionals on a treatment plan and to take the prescribed medication. It is the opinion of some individuals that success can be found in alternative treatments, i.e. hypnosis or acupuncture, however it is only advisable if integrated with traditional westernized medicine. With today's rising health cost and the state of the economy, receiving adequate health care can be a challenge. Additionally, individuals with mental with mental illness can find it difficult to maintain employment thus making health care difficult or impossible. Below I have included a list of resources for free or discounted medication. I hope you find these resources helpful and wish you all the best of luck on your path to healing and wellness.
Free Prescription Drugs
Free Medicine from 270+ Programs For Low Income, Uninsured Under 65 - http://www.scbn.org/
Patient Assistance Programs
Join the millions of people who are receiving Free Prescription Meds. - http://freemedicinefoundation.com/
Save on ADHD Treatment
Receive up to $50 off an approved ADHD treatment for your child.- http://www.vyvanse.com/
Free Drug Card -USA
Save up to 75%, no fees, download card online. As seen in USA Today. - http://www.freedrugcard.us/
Prescription AssistanceOver 1400 medications available Annual income under $42k to qualify - http://www.myrxadvocate.com
MORE INFORMATION: Try switching your prescriptions to generics that are covered by the WalMart/Target/Walgreens programs. There are always generics that aren't in the covered lists. If you do encounter a prescription not, covered try using a mail-order company. Xubex is a great resource and additionally is much less expensive than buying some generics at pharmacy cost. For example, you won't find Zolpidem, genereic Ambien on any of the pharmacy $5 lists, because it's a controlled substance. Xubex has it on their 90 days for $30 list. A substantial savings that beats out any pharmacy. I am sure you would be surprised to find out that Xubex offers a free 30 day supply of your medication. The catch, you ask? To get you to try Xubex's prescription service. Their list of medications that are covered is extensive. One element to using mail order that is a minor draw back is that it can take two weeks to receive your prescription, so please prepare accordingly. One last resource not to be overlooked is to apply directly to the drug companies, Astra-Zeneca and Glaxo.
If you have any information that might be helpful to some who is sharing the same challenge, please post a comment to this blog.
Trusted resources on mental illness:
About NAMI: Support, Education, Advocacy, and Research
From its inception in 1979, NAMI has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
For three decades, NAMI has established itself as the most formidable grassroots mental health advocacy organization in the country. Dedication, steadfast commitment and unceasing belief in NAMI's mission by grassroots advocates have produced profound changes. NAMI's greatest strength is the dedication of our grassroots leaders and members. We are the families, friends and individuals that serve to strengthen communities across the country.
NIMH:
About NIMH
NIMH Vision
NIMH envisions a world in which mental illnesses are prevented and cured.
NIMH Mission
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure.
For the Institute to continue fulfilling this vital public health mission, it must foster innovative thinking and ensure that a full array of novel scientific perspectives are used to further discovery in the evolving science of brain, behavior, and experience. In this way, breakthroughs in science can become breakthroughs for all people with mental illnesses.
My Blog List
Disclaimer
The purpose of this blog is muti-faceted. It serves to share and express our emotions. To inform and to educate, and to be educated. Also, to fund our daughters' care, be it medical or basic. We are paid by our advertisers as you take the time to read their very important messages. Additionally, you are enabling us to provide quality care while continuing to keep her living in the safety of her home, as her physician works to find the right balance with her treatment. We graciously thank you for helping us achieve our goal.
I use Fluoxetine Hydrochloride, a Lightpod, and NLP/hypnosis CDs (courtesy of Richard Bandler). Results vary on a day to day basis - seemingly varying on different food and drink that I have had during the day, which does suggest that diet is as important to mental wellbeing as it is to physical wellbeing.
ReplyDelete