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3 Things to Ask Your Psychiatrist if You Are Considering Medication

How Long Will it Take for the Medication to Be Effective?

Sometimes medications can take months to have a noticeable impact on your life. Knowing this on the front end can help you develop realistic expectations and have a better idea of whether or not a medication works for you (assuming that you choose to take it). Before starting on a certain medication, talk to your psychiatrist and develop a timeframe that will help you have a better idea of what to expect, when to expect it, and whether or not the medication is working at all.

What Are the Side Effects and Potential Risks?

Sometimes the benefits of psychotropic or psychoactive medications do not outweigh the benefits. Many such medications may make your symptoms more bearable, but they may also come with significant risks for other mental and physical problems. For example, you may have reason to pause if a certain medication alleviates symptoms of depression but has been known to cause severe anxiety and insomnia (which can interfere with your social life, work performance, physical health, and more).

When considering a particular medication, it is also important to inquire about the prevalence of abuse and addiction among people who take it. Some medications, whether they are effective or not, can be habit-forming and are highly addictive. Don’t be taken by surprise on this one.

Is the Medication Known by Other Names or Used for Multiple Purposes?

Sometimes a mental health medication will, indeed, work to combat the symptoms you are experiencing, but also have other effects that are not directly related to your condition. For example, a medication for ADHD may improve your ability to focus, but the same medication may also be used as an appetite suppressant for persons suffering from bulimia nervosa. If you are not aware that the two are one in the same, you may be oblivious to the fact that the medication could result in you losing an unhealthy amount of weight, feeling full when you haven’t eaten, and having difficulty maintaining a proper diet.

Mental Health Care in Chico & Surrounding Communities

At Therapeutic Solutions, we believe in helping people by providing a wide range of solutions. Whether you are struggling with depression, drug addiction, or anything in between, our qualified psychiatrists and mental health providers are here to help you find answers and solutions that work for you. Let us come alongside you and clear the path toward recovery.

Call (530) 899-3150 today to speak to a member of our kind, compassionate team in Chico.

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What if Antidepressants Don’t Work for Me?

You may have to test out a few different treatment options before finding an effective remedy for your depression. With the availability of multiple medications, therapy techniques, and potential root causes, it can be difficult to nail down the right approach. For over 10% of Americans, antidepressants are the remedy of choice. However, antidepressants can be tricky, and it can often be difficult to gauge whether they are hurting, helping, or having any effect at all.

Given the painful, restrictive nature of unresolved depression, it is important to quickly identify which treatments work and which ones don’t. If you are in dire need of a depression treatment that works, spending months on a medication that has no effect can create deepened distress, discouragement, and additional risk of suicide or self-harm.

How to Know if Your Antidepressant Isn’t Working

Many people who take antidepressants report that they see little to no change since starting an antidepressant regimen, and others report that their trusted antidepressant medication no longer has any positive effects. In other cases, an antidepressant may produce strong positive emotions in conjunction with other confusing or negative side effects, making it difficult to tell whether it’s actually helping.

Here are a few signs your antidepressant may be working against you or not working at all:

  • Worsened symptoms of depression: Antidepressants, though intended to improve your symptoms, can actually make them much worse. If you become more deeply depressed and/or experience nervousness, anxiety, and restlessness your antidepressant may be making your depression worse.
  • Reduced control over emotions: If you experience intense mood swings, heightened or disproportionate emotional responses, and a sense that your emotions are controlling you, rather than the reverse, your antidepressant may be loosening your grip on your mental health and deepening your depression.
  • Suicidal thoughts or hallucinations: Sometimes, antidepressants can cause intense suicidal thoughts and tendencies and even produce hallucinations, in some cases. If you are experiencing any of the above, stop taking your antidepressant immediately and seek help right away.
  • Reduced positive effects: If you’ve been taking an antidepressant for an extended period of time and it has stopped delivering the positive results it once did, you may have built up a resistance or an immunity to that particular medication or that dose. However, it is crucial to consult your doctor or other mental health professional before you increase your dose or stop taking it all together.

There are a number of reasons your antidepressant may not be working and a number of ways its ineffectiveness may manifest itself in your life. If you think your antidepressant is not working, has stopped working, or is hurting you, don’t give up hope. There are a wide variety of treatment options for depression, and there are plenty of other techniques and medications out there that may help you cope and resume your normal life.

Treatment for Depression in Chico and Northern California

At Therapeutic Solutions, we believe in providing tailored, personalized care for every client, and we know that no two cases of depression are the same. We are experienced in a number of different treatment options and are committed to providing the highest quality mental and behavioral health services to our neighbors and friends in Chico and Northern California.

Some of the mental health treatments we offer include:

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy: This may be a suitable option if you have not experienced success with antidepressants or other medications. It has proven valuable for patients who have developed a tolerance to antidepressants or who have allergies or other physical intolerances that keep them from using medication.
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: If you have suffered with depression for a long time and are still struggling to find a healthy way out, TMS may provide a helpful alternative. If you have a physical or biological intolerance to antidepressants or have not seen success with medication, talk to one of our behavioral health therapists to find out if this is a viable option for you.
  • Partial Hospitalization Program: If your antidepressants have been ineffective or stopped working and you have been hospitalized or seriously hurt as a result, partial hospitalization may provide a viable, affordable alternative to spending time in the hospital. This program provides participants with access to counseling, personalized care, transportation to and from appointments, and more.

If your antidepressants or other depression treatment method is failing, it is not the end. Our compassionate team is here to help make sure you are treated in a way that is helpful, not harmful, and that you have the opportunity to consider your options in order to find one that works.

Call (530) 899-3150 to speak to one of our friendly team members today.

Additional Reading on Depression

We have treated many people suffering from depression and are happy to provide you with the answers you need. If you have a lot of questions about depression, antidepressants, and available treatments, check out our blog:

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Is There a Connection Between Depression and Allergies?

Understanding the Correlation Between Allergies and Depression

Untreated allergies can make you miserable. Between the coughing, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes, you may feel like a completely different person during allergy season.

Or, perhaps your allergies aren’t seasonal and your symptoms aren’t anything like those of hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Maybe you are allergic to certain foods, animals, or other specific substances, and your allergies make it more difficult for you to sleep, breathe, concentrate, exercise, and perform other normal functions.

In either case, allergies can have adverse effects on your mood and has been linked to feelings of sadness and mental sluggishness.

How Allergies Can Make You Depressed

To be clear, there is no apparent, causal relationship between allergies and depression. However, people who live with persistent allergy symptoms are more likely to have a difficult time meeting the demands of their day-to-day life and may feel general gloomy and lethargic as a result.

Sleep is one of the primary factors in this equation. Allergies often make it more difficult to experience continuous, restful, deep sleep. As a result, many people with allergies are likely to experience negative mood changes. While this doesn’t necessarily mean people with allergy-related melancholy are suffering from clinical depression, it does merit our attention.

How Do I Know if My Depression Is Allergy-Related?

If your allergies are what is making you feel sad or lethargic, allergy treatment may be the best course of action for dealing with your depression. However, if there are other emotional or psychological factors at play, getting rid of your allergy symptoms won’t deal with the root cause of your struggle.

The best way to figure out the right course of action is to identify the factors that are contributing to your depression. You can do so by talking to your doctor about your allergies and your feelings of depression, as well consulting with a psychiatrist.

Behavioral Health Assessment in Chico

Our team at Therapeutic Solutions offers behavioral health assessments to people in Northern California. Even if you are unsure whether or not your depression symptoms are linked to allergies, we can help you evaluate your mental health and all potential treatment options. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with someone who can help.

Take your life and your mood back into your own hands. Call Therapeutic Solutions today at (530) 899-3150 to speak to one of our kind, knowledgeable team members.