Lesson 371: Adherence to Medication and Risks
Duration:75 minutes
Topic Introduction (Overview):
After experiencing prolonged mood swings, questions like "Do I need to continue taking medication?", "Do I really have to take medication for the rest of my life?", and "Will stopping medication prove that I'm cured?" often linger in the mind. Some people, due to side effects, shame, lack of understanding from family members, financial pressure, or a temporary feeling that they are "much better," start missing doses, reducing the dosage, or even suddenly stopping medication. Others, in a state of depression or anxiety, may increase the dosage on their own or add other medications and health supplements, all of which can lead to the risk of relapse, or even induce mania, mixed state, or dangerous behavior.
This course will not replace professional medication guidance, but rather help you understand: what "medication adherence" is, and why it is particularly crucial in bipolar disorder; where common medication anxieties originate; what practices are high-risk red flags; and how to collaborate with psychiatrists and pharmacists to find long-term solutions that balance efficacy with minimizing side effects. You will learn to approach medication with a more mature and cooperative attitude, transforming "taking medication" from a source of shame and resistance into a phased agreement with yourself and your brain.
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▲ AI Interaction: What are my real concerns about "long-term medication"?
Please tell the AI your most honest thoughts about medication treatment: for example, "I'm afraid of dependence," "I hate the side effects," "My family doesn't support me," "I want to try stopping the medication," etc. The AI will assist you:
① Distinguish between legitimate concerns that are open to discussion and those stemming from insufficient information or misunderstandings.
② I'll help you compile a list of questions you'd like to ask the doctor at your next appointment.“
③ Reflect on the differences in your emotions and life after taking medication as prescribed and after adjusting your medication on your own.
④ Remind in a gentle tone: All decisions regarding dosage, discontinuation of medication, and changes in medication should be fully discussed with a professional doctor.
○ The Rhythm of Medication: Music Guidance
Choose a piece of music with a stable rhythm that is neither too high-pitched nor too low-pitched, such as a slow-paced piano or strings.
For three minutes before or after taking your medication each day, treat music as a "little ritual," breathing in and silently repeating:“"This is not punishment, but my way of fighting for stability."”
Observe your body's level of relaxation, rather than rushing to judge whether the medication is "good" or not. Let music help you transform the act of taking medication from something forced and resisted into a gentle, bearable rhythm.
○ Herbal Healing Tea: Lemon Balm Soothing and Harmonizing Tea
Recommended reasons:Lemon balm is often used to help relieve tension and mild anxiety, and can help you calm down when thinking about medication, seeing a doctor, or facing a follow-up appointment; a small amount of rose can soothe emotions and help you be more honest with your complex feelings about medication.
practice:Steep 1 teaspoon of lemon balm and 2–3 rosebuds in hot water for 5–7 minutes. It is recommended to sip slowly before your appointment or while reviewing a list of medication-related questions.If you are taking multiple medications, are pregnant, or have a specific medical condition, please consult your doctor first to confirm whether this type of herbal tea is suitable for you. This tea is not a substitute for any regular medication.
○ Ancient Roman Natural Dietary Therapy: Barley and Olive Oil Porridge for Gentle Conditioning
In the ancient Roman diet, barley and olive oil were often regarded as a daily food combination that "stabilizes physical strength and rhythm." Barley provides slowly released carbohydrates, preventing excessive spikes and drops in energy; olive oil symbolizes protection and moisturization, gently supporting the body's endurance.
A warm porridge made from barley, a little olive oil, and a few vegetables is not only a simple and easily digestible meal, but also a reminder that taking care of one's body is an important part of supporting the effectiveness of medication.
When your appetite changes or you have a poor appetite due to medication side effects, these gentle, easy-to-eat food therapies can provide steady support for your body and mind without adding any burden.
Please remember: Any dietary adjustments that involve issues such as blood sugar and blood lipids should be discussed with a doctor and nutritionist.
○ Chinese Calligraphy (Running Script) · "Stability is my way of protecting myself"“
Practice sentences:
Stability is my way of protecting myself.
Key points to note:
- “The word "stability" is written with a slightly heavier but steady stroke, symbolizing the foundation built by medication and daily care.
- “The phrase "It was me" is written coherently, reminding myself that this was an active choice, not something I was forced into.
- “"Give yourself" a little more space, as if you've spread your arms out and are offering yourself a gentle protective shield.
- The overall rhythm doesn't need to be perfectly precise, but rather maintain a smooth flow, like a quiet, forward-moving line.
Mental Healing: Mental Mandala Meditation Text 11
Visualize this mandala in your mind: at the center is a small pill, surrounded by points of light representing the alternation of day and night. The pill is not the ruler, but merely one element symbolizing "helping you maintain your course."
Don't rush to draw it, just quietly observe it—
I saw that I was willing to take my medication on time even during peak periods, and I did not suddenly stop taking it during troughs;
We see "stability" spreading outwards in concentric circles, rather than a rapid eruption followed by a collapse.
A mandala is not about drawing something, but about observing it.
When you learn to observe your relationship with medication, you are no longer just passively swallowing a pill, but are participating in your own healing journey step by step.
Through this practice of "observation," you can gradually move from "fear of medication" to "cooperation with treatment," putting medication back in its proper place—both important and limited; both worthy of respect and requiring your conscious participation in the decision-making process.
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Lesson 371: Drawing "My Pact with Medicine" - Drawing Guidance Suggestions
Purpose:It helps you organize your complex feelings about medication through visual aids, finding a clearer and less conflicting perspective.
step:
① Draw a small circle in the center of the paper and write "My current state" on it.
② Draw a square on the left and write "Drug Treatment". Around it, use color or lines to draw your feelings about it (feeling at ease, scared, annoyed, grateful, etc. are all acceptable).
③ Draw a circle on the right and write "Other care", such as sleep, diet, psychotherapy, exercise, supportive relationship, etc.
④ Connect "me" to the left and right sides with lines of varying thicknesses. The thicker the line, the more dependent you are on it; the thinner the line, the less involved you are. Observe the overall image: Is one side idealized by you, while the other side is ignored or demonized?
⑤ Finally, write a sentence at the bottom of the image:
“"I hope that the treatment will be a pact, not a war."”
Please log in before submitting your drawings and feelings.
○ 371. Log Guidance
① What are my three most genuine concerns about "long-term medication"? What experiences or information do they each come from?
② Looking back, what are the differences in my mood and quality of life when I took medication as prescribed versus when I adjusted or stopped taking medication on my own?
③ When side effects bother me, do I usually endure them, avoid them, or actively communicate with my doctor? Why?
④ What specific issues would I like to discuss with the doctor at the next outpatient visit (e.g., dosage, side effects, relapse prevention plan)?
⑤ Write a sentence:Stability is not about surrendering to anyone, but a protective choice I make for my own life.
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Medication is one of your important partners on your healing journey, but not the only one. When you learn to cooperate with it, rather than fight it, you are also relearning how to take care of yourself gently yet firmly.
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