I was just talking to a friend this morning about the profound difference in her thirty-two year old daughter now that she is on the right mix of medication. This was not so for the ten previous years and it was a torturous experience for both mom and daughter. The system was not accurately accessing the degree of illness and the medication was not adequately treating the illness. It wasn t until mom became more aware of other pharmacological options and became an advocate for her daughter that things changed for both of them. My point is twofold.
Medicine continues to make strides in effectively treating serious mental disorders.
Each year makes a difference in effective treatment. Advocacy and education are equally as important. That s where each of us can make a difference. This difference occurs on many levels personally, communally , and nationally.