Just as people with diabetes take insulin or someone with high cholesterol may take a statin, medication can be an important part of maintaining mental health and wellness. Often medications are used to help to restore chemical balances in the brain.
Not everyone with a mental health issue will benefit from the use of medication, but many people do. It’s important to speak with a doctor or licensed mental health professional to see what treatment is best; every person is different and the side effects of medication can vary from person to person.
Types of medication:
Anti-Anxiety
These medications help to manage the symptoms of anxiety, which can include panic attacks and extreme fear as well as physical symptoms such as shaking/trembling, fast heartbeat, and sweating.
Antidepressants
This type of medicine is often used to treat depression but also used for anxiety, pain, and insomnia. These medications can take time to begin working.
Antipsychotics
These medicines are used to manage conditions that affect the mind, called psychosis, causing a person to have hallucinations and a loss of contact with reality.
Mood Stabilizers
These medicines are often used to treat bipolar disorder, a condition in which a person experiences very intense mood swings. Sometimes mood stabilizers are used in the treatment of depression and other issues, too.
Stimulants
These medicines are frequently used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults because they have a calming effect that allows people with ADHD to focus.
For more information about medications used for mental illnesses, visit the National Institute of Mental Health.