Just Starting Psych Meds? Here’s a Guide to Help You

June 30, 2016 / Christine Deneweth

Editor’s Note: We at EF recognize that the direct link between antidepressants and suicidal thoughts/behaviors is debated. We want readers to know that, should you choose the path of psychological medication, the close supervision of a doctor can mitigate any risks.

Do you have questions about taking medication for your mental health?

It’s not always easy to find answers – but sometimes learning about other people’s experiences can help. So here’s a comic that covers one person’s perspective and suggestions for starting out with meds.

This might be able to point you in a helpful direction in terms of the process of taking medication, what to do about side effects, and more.

If nothing else, we hope this reminds you that you’re not the only one with these questions – so it’s perfectly okay if you don’t have it all figured out yet. And it’s great that you’re looking for options to take care of yourself!

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

Click for the Transcript

Panel 1

Text: A Guide to Medication – Christine Deneweth

Panel 2

Crass talking. She has short curly hair, glasses, and a green shirt.

Crass: My name is Crass, and I take psych medication every day!

Panel 3

Crass talking.

Crass: I recently had a friend start medication, and I was able to give her advice and help her understand what being on medication is all about. Here’s the story.

Panel 4

Crass and Emi sitting out the couch. Emi has long red hair, glasses and a black shirt.

Text: We were at her house, and she saw me taking my meds. We started to talk about the medication process.

Panel 5

Emi talking.

Emi: Hey Crass, does your medication work well? I’m thinking about starting antidepressants, but I’m kind of nervous.

Panel 6

Crass talking.

Crass: My meds are great! I found the perfect combination. That’s great that you might start on meds, but there are some things to take into account.

Panel 7

Crass talking.

Crass: They take some time to kick in. Two months is the usual amount of time.

Panel 8

Emi talking.

Emi: Really? That long? I was hoping they would work faster! I’ve had a hard couple of months.

Panel 9

Crass talking.

Crass: I know you’ve had a hard time lately, but deciding to take meds is a huge step towards healing. But it takes time for them to work and it takes time to heal.

Panel 10

Crass talking.

Crass: There are also side effects like weight gain or loss, irritability, and changes in sex drive. It depends on what you take. But if you don’t like one of the side effects, talk to your doctor.

Panel 11

Crass talking.

Crass: If you think you might have a more serious side effect, read the bottle and do some research. Talk to your doctor immediately.

Panel 12

Emi talking.

Emi: At least there are several options of meds to take. If I don’t like how one affects me, I can switch.

Panel 13

Crass talking.

Crass: That’s right! Not all meds will be the right fit anyways. It may take a couple of tries to find the right fit.

Panel 14

Crass talking.

Crass: Always document your experience so you can track what’s going on with you and if you need to switch meds.

Panel 15

Emi talking.

Emi: That’s a good idea – because the meds could make my symptoms worse.

Panel 16

Crass talking.

Crass: That’s true. Sometimes the meds are really not the right fit and can make things worse. I was on antidepressants and they made me suicidal.

Panel 17

Crass talking.

Crass: But as long as you document and keep your doctor in the loop, things should be fine! I promise! I was able to stop taking the meds that were making me suicidal because I talked to my doctor.

Panel 18

Emi talking.

Emi: Okay, I feel a lot better now. As long as I keep track of my progress and communicate with my doctor, there’s no need to worry!

Panel 19

Crass talking.

Crass: Exactly! Just don’t forget to take them either! Set an alarm on your phone as a reminder until you’re in the habit of taking them.

Panel 20

Crass talking.

Crass: Also, take them as prescribed! Be careful not to overdose! If you do get help or call 911.

Panel 21

Emi talking smiling.

Emi: I’ll be careful! Thanks for all of the advice! I feel a lot more comfortable starting my meds.

Panel 22

Crass talking smiling.

Crass: I’m glad you feel better! Meds make a world of a difference if you use them right and keep track of what’s going on with you.

Panel 23

Emi talking smiling.

Emi: Thanks for all the help! Soon I’ll be feeling my best!

Panel 24

Crass talking smiling.

Crass: I’m always here for you along the way there!

To learn more about this topic, check out:

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Christine Deneweth is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism. A queer cartoonist and artist, Christine lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan. She is a cartoonist for Eastern Michigan University’s newspaper the Eastern Echo. She writes children’s books about mental disability and has a comic strip that has been published for five years. Comics can be found on her Facebook page, and art can be found on her Instagram @crassaster. Check out her work here!