WEBVTT 00:00:00.146 --> 00:00:02.306 A:middle If you decide to get medication, 00:00:02.306 --> 00:00:05.446 A:middle we probably would start off meeting for the first time 00:00:05.446 --> 00:00:09.396 A:middle every couple weeks or so, just so that I can make sure that 00:00:09.396 --> 00:00:11.416 A:middle the medication is working well for you 00:00:11.416 --> 00:00:14.196 A:middle and that you're not having bad side effects 00:00:14.196 --> 00:00:17.036 A:middle that mean that this is not the best medication for you. 00:00:17.036 --> 00:00:19.386 A:middle We'll check in, we'll talk about, 00:00:19.386 --> 00:00:21.186 A:middle are you taking the medication every day? 00:00:21.186 --> 00:00:23.716 A:middle How are you taking it? 00:00:23.716 --> 00:00:27.216 A:middle Any problems that you may have on the medications. 00:00:27.216 --> 00:00:30.156 A:middle And if you feel like you are getting some benefit, 00:00:30.156 --> 00:00:32.746 A:middle then we probably will bump the dose up a little bit. 00:00:32.746 --> 00:00:36.486 A:middle And so each time we will adjust the dosing to make sure 00:00:36.486 --> 00:00:38.706 A:middle that you're getting the response that we're looking for. 00:00:38.706 --> 00:00:40.026 A:middle And it comes in stages. 00:00:40.026 --> 00:00:42.106 A:middle For some people, first they may notice 00:00:42.106 --> 00:00:45.036 A:middle a little bit less irritability, then they may notice 00:00:45.036 --> 00:00:48.236 A:middle a little bit of improvement in their sleep, less anxiety, 00:00:48.236 --> 00:00:50.926 A:middle less depression, and it builds over time. 00:00:50.926 --> 00:00:55.696 A:middle So once we know that the medications are helping 00:00:55.696 --> 00:00:58.196 A:middle we probably would spread out your visits. 00:00:58.196 --> 00:01:00.806 A:middle And if things are very stable, we may see each other 00:01:00.806 --> 00:01:02.886 A:middle every couple months, every few months, 00:01:02.886 --> 00:01:04.876 A:middle just depending on how well you're doing. 00:01:11.086 --> 00:01:16.016 A:middle Instead of being more avoidant, more on guard, 00:01:16.016 --> 00:01:21.006 A:middle more anxious, more irritable, 00:01:21.006 --> 00:01:23.126 A:middle all of those symptoms should be less. 00:01:23.126 --> 00:01:26.616 A:middle And so when you're less irritable, less on guard, 00:01:26.616 --> 00:01:31.736 A:middle less, you know, set off by things around you, 00:01:31.736 --> 00:01:35.096 A:middle well, now you're able to instead of being set off or irritable, 00:01:35.096 --> 00:01:37.676 A:middle you're able to be spending more time with your family. 00:01:37.676 --> 00:01:41.536 A:middle You're able to handle situations out in public or in crowds 00:01:41.536 --> 00:01:43.546 A:middle better than you were before. 00:01:43.546 --> 00:01:45.536 A:middle I'm not saying that you will be 00:01:45.536 --> 00:01:48.216 A:middle perfectly at ease in these situations. 00:01:48.216 --> 00:01:51.336 A:middle But if it can drop the level of anxiety 00:01:51.336 --> 00:01:55.366 A:middle from, say, a 10 to even a seven, a six, a five, 00:01:55.366 --> 00:01:59.266 A:middle that's a huge difference in your day-to-day functioning, 00:01:59.266 --> 00:02:02.156 A:middle and able to just live your life and be with your family. 00:02:08.046 --> 00:02:10.776 A:middle You may think, "Hey if I start taking something today, 00:02:10.776 --> 00:02:12.346 A:middle I'm going to feel better tomorrow." 00:02:12.346 --> 00:02:14.536 A:middle Or, "I'm going to feel better in a few days." 00:02:14.536 --> 00:02:18.156 A:middle And unfortunately, one of the downsides of medications 00:02:18.156 --> 00:02:19.976 A:middle is they often take several weeks 00:02:19.976 --> 00:02:22.146 A:middle before they really start to be effective. 00:02:22.146 --> 00:02:24.736 A:middle The metaphor I like to use to explain 00:02:24.736 --> 00:02:27.126 A:middle what to expect to people is a hot air balloon. 00:02:27.126 --> 00:02:29.196 A:middle And if you've ever seen a hot air balloon, 00:02:29.196 --> 00:02:30.366 A:middle you know, what do they like to do? 00:02:30.366 --> 00:02:33.446 A:middle They like to be up in the sky floating around. 00:02:33.446 --> 00:02:35.286 A:middle Before you start treatment, 00:02:35.286 --> 00:02:38.846 A:middle imagine you're a balloon sitting on the ground, deflated. 00:02:38.846 --> 00:02:40.866 A:middle How you feel is the basket. 00:02:40.866 --> 00:02:43.806 A:middle What other people see is the balloon. 00:02:43.806 --> 00:02:46.796 A:middle When you start treatment, it's like turning on the hot air 00:02:46.796 --> 00:02:48.086 A:middle to start filling up the balloon. 00:02:48.086 --> 00:02:51.086 A:middle Now, if you've seen a hot air balloon, those are big balloons. 00:02:51.086 --> 00:02:53.876 A:middle This is the time that you're waiting for it to kick in, 00:02:53.876 --> 00:02:55.756 A:middle to fill up the balloon. 00:02:55.756 --> 00:02:59.626 A:middle Well, once the balloon's full, the basket's still on the ground. 00:02:59.626 --> 00:03:02.456 A:middle At this point, what happens to a lot of people 00:03:02.456 --> 00:03:04.576 A:middle is their friends, their family, their co-workers 00:03:04.576 --> 00:03:06.896 A:middle will start saying to them, "Hey, you're looking better!" 00:03:06.896 --> 00:03:09.296 A:middle Well, this usually makes the person irritable 00:03:09.296 --> 00:03:11.426 A:middle because they don't feel any different yet. 00:03:11.426 --> 00:03:14.286 A:middle So rather than having an argument over something, 00:03:14.286 --> 00:03:17.576 A:middle recognize, I want you to know now, that's a sign of hope 00:03:17.576 --> 00:03:20.386 A:middle because it's just a matter of time before the balloon 00:03:20.386 --> 00:03:21.696 A:middle lifts the basket off the ground 00:03:21.696 --> 00:03:23.986 A:middle and you start feeling what they're seeing.