What people get wrong about coping skills and medication
As I reflect on my own mental health journey, there are a few things that stand out.
A few things that I wish I’d had known earlier, and would like to share with you.
Looking back, I realized there is an overemphasis on 2 main things.
Coping skills
Medication
What do I mean?
I do want to make it very clear that I am not against any of the things I am mentioning, and there is value in learning coping skills and taking medication. However, at least for me, my view of coping skills and the way they were taught limited my ability to grow and heal.
Let me explain
When looking into mental health resources, many people (including professionals) advocate for working on and building coping skills.
So far, so good.
My issue is not with coping skills; however, it is the overemphasis on coping skills.
Making me, at least, believe that this was a big part in getting better.
However, I now believe after healing, coping skills are just something that helps you “cope” and get through a situation.
Just to get through
Not to thrive
Not to live
And not to heal.
Metaphorically speaking, coping skills are like a scaffold or a temporary support. They are valuable and helpful, but best used when seen as a temporary support or relief.
The same can be said about medication. Medication can help, but it is not a solution on its own. And if something's not working, just increasing the dosage or adding on another medication is typically not the solution. Although people may be tempted to do so, and truthfully, something I had done myself.
If you have read this far, you may be wondering, well if coping skills and medication are not the solution and they are just temporary supports, “then what isn’t a support?!?”
What I’ve realized, and what has worked for me
Coping skills and medication are best used as a relief and support that helps give you the ability to work on improving yourself, fundamentally allowing you to heal.
Anxiety and Depression are indicators.
This meant that something fundamentally was not right with my life. And fundamental changes needed to be made.
A new way of thinking, acting, and therefore living needed to be created to heal.
For some, this might be a combination of large and small changes, and for others, just a series of small changes.
Never underestimate the power of small positive changes that you build upon. (I remind you of this because likely, not everyone will need to go through such a drastic form of transformation, and maybe all you need are a few critical / fundamental changes)
3. What isn’t a support is? I believe what isn’t a support is… a sustainable, healthy way of living based on the 8 dimensions of wellness.
If you don’t know what the 8 dimensions of wellness are, I highly recommend you read this article here 👉 Learn more
I am very excited to soon write a deep dive into the different aspects and examples of the 8 dimensions of wellness in practice. As well as real-life examples from my own life and others, whom I have spoken with while sharing my mental health journey.
