I hope you've had a wonderful start to a new year so far.
Today, I thought it would be helpful for me to answer a common question I encounter, which seems simple but is actually quite complicated to answer: how long will my treatment last?
I'll try to answer this question as simply and as succinctly as I can in the following holistic update.
Also, this week's podcast covers another common question I've been asked to answer: You've Made Medication Withdrawal Mistakes: Now What!?
I hope you'll find the discussion helpful.
Have a wonderful week!
How Long Will My Treatment Last?
Answering a common but complicated question
When a traditional psychiatrist is asked, "How long will my treatment last?" it's often reinterpreted to mean, "How soon will I stabilize on this treatment, i.e. medication?" The answer to that question is usually a few weeks. But the real answer to the original question is, "Generally, indefinitely."
As a holistic psychiatrist when a patient asks, "How long will my treatment last?" I reinterpret that question to mean, "When will I be able to come off my medication(s) safely, heal all my underlying conditions, and be free from being a psychiatric patient?"
The answer to that question depends heavily on the patient, of course, and the burden of dysfunction at all levels of being that exists at the beginning of treatment.
I have experienced patients heal holistically (without needing a medication) from psychotic and depressive symptoms within two weeks. On the other hand, I have some patients whose parents are grateful for small gains and an absence of mental deterioration in their children after many years of treatment.
The best prognostic circumstances for a short and successful recovery period are:
brief onset of mental illness
no prior exposure to prescription medications
youth
adherence to treatment recommendations (supplements and energy work)
supportive family network
low social stressors
healthy lifestyle and diet
commitment to working hard and openness to learning
The worst prognostic circumstances for a long or unsuccessful recovery period are:
multiple episodes of severe mental illness or poor medication withdrawal outcomes.
advanced age
prolonged period with mental illness
inability to adhere to treatment recommendations
unhealthy lifestyle and diet
chaotic or unsupportive family network
stressful work, school, or relationships
poor work ethic and inflated sense of entitlement
Like a Sherpa tasked with helping someone climb the mountain of mental illness, I am simply a guide. I cannot carry the person up the mountain. I cannot level the path along the way. I cannot change the direction of each person's unique path to wellness.
How long will it take for each person to walk it? As long as it takes for the person to:
master the lessons the illness was meant to teach
heal the underlying causes, at all levels of being (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social), of the mental illness
resolve the body's dependency on the medication(s)
experience three additional months of healthy functioning without needing any medications.
Psychotropic medications can avert catastrophe temporarily, but to create lasting, true freedom from mental illness, there are no shortcuts along the path to well-being other than to truly heal.
Despite all the challenges, however, I am always joyfully surprised by functional and energy medicine's ability to lighten and ease the path to wellness.
May your new year be filled with growth and joy.
The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast (Ep. 50):
You’ve Made Medication Withdrawal Mistakes: Now What?!
Check out the teaser here.
In my holistic update article from December 14, 2021, “Top Five Mistakes During Medication Withdrawal,” I described five common mistakes that lead to poor withdrawal outcomes. For those who've already "been there and done that,” the next, and most important question is, “now what!?”
This podcast presents five practical suggestions to help people restabilize mental health and lower withdrawal side effects. You’ll come away with a much clearer understanding of why withdrawals can be so rough and how to fix a fiasco like a holistic psychiatrist.
Click here to listen to the full episode of this podcast.
Click here for all The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes.