Medication Compliance
Taking your medication the way your doctor prescribed is called this.
What is medication compliance/adherence?
Calling a friend when you’re feeling down is an example of this coping type.
What is seeking social support?
Showering and brushing your teeth are part of this routine.
What is hygiene (or personal care)?
What is the purpose of psychiatric medication?
helps balance neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that affect mood, anxiety, focus, and behavior.
A negative belief about someone with mental illness is called this.
What is a stereotype?
This is one reason someone might stop taking their medication, even if it’s working.
What is experiencing side effects/symptoms?
Coping skills like drawing, stretching, or listening to calming sounds are examples of this strategy.
What is self-soothing?
This type of self-care helps prevent burnout and includes setting limits with others.
What is boundary-setting?
Does medication work right away?
No. Most psychiatric meds take 2–6 weeks to build up in your system.Stimulants for ADHD may work faster (within hours), but antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications take time.
When a person feels embarrassed about their diagnosis, they may be struggling with this.
What is internalized stigma (or self-stigma)?
This type of medication can last weeks and helps people who struggle to take pills daily.
What is a long-acting injectable (LAI)? (Or injection)
This technique focuses on changing negative thought patterns to reduce distress.
What is cognitive reframing (or cognitive restructuring)?
Keeping track of your medication and appointments is a form of this.
What is medical self-care or health maintenance?
What if I feel nothing after starting a medication?
It’s normal. Many psychiatric medications build slowly.
You might not feel a big change — instead, symptoms may gradually become less intense.
This public action helps challenge stigma by encouraging people to speak openly about their mental health.
What is mental health advocacy (or awareness campaigns)?
This executive function skill, often affected in mental illness, makes it harder to stay organized and remember meds.
What is impaired memory or planning (or executive dysfunction)?
This structured method of handling stress involves identifying the problem and creating a plan.
What is problem-focused coping?
This term describes the internal voice that encourages or discourages self-care efforts.
What is self-talk?
What’s the difference between therapy and medication?
Medication helps your brain regulate mood or attention.
Therapy teaches coping skills, problem-solving, and ways to manage emotions.
This type of bias can occur in healthcare, where mental illness is blamed for physical symptoms.
What is diagnostic overshadowing?
This term describes adjusting medication without professional guidance, often leading to poor outcomes.
What is self-medicating or non-medical dose alteration?
Using coping skills as a form of avoidance rather than processing emotions can lead to this long-term issue.
What is emotional suppression or delayed healing?
This psychological barrier often prevents people with depression from initiating even basic self-care.
What is executive paralysis or amotivation (due to low energy or hopelessness)? (Or lack of motivation)
How do I know if my meds are working?
Fewer emotional outbursts
Improved mood
Better concentration
Less anxiety or irritability
Improved sleep
The change is often gradual.
Historically, people with mental illness were confined in these now-controversial institutions, contributing to stigma that persists today.
What are asylums or psychiatric institutions?