Medically reviewed
Congratulations! It’s been two weeks since you started your journey to better mental health. While it might sound minor, you should be proud of making it this far! Building habits to improve your mental health can take time, but you’ve already taken the hardest step by reaching out for care. Hopefully, any side effects you’ve experienced have subsided and you’re on your way to feeling better.
Now it’s important to start thinking about building healthy habits around taking your medication. To get the best results, you must take your medication every day, even if you don’t think you need it. Behavioral health medications work by building up in your body over time to create lasting effects. The easiest way to ensure this happens is to make a schedule and stick to it!
Here are some tips to help you take your medication every day:
- Set a reminder to take your pill at the same time each day
Taking your medication around the same time each day will help your body adjust faster, hopefully decreasing side effects and speeding up the time it takes to start feeling relief. Use the alarm on your phone or set a reminder with your digital calendar of choice.
- It’s okay to be discreet
Some people end up missing medication because they don’t want others to see what they’re taking. While we at K Health believe there’s no shame in getting treatment for mental health, we recognize that there’s still stigma. If you’d rather be discreet, try replacing your pill bottle with something else to store your medication. Before throwing out the bottle, take a photo of the directions in case you ever forget.
- Choose a specific spot for your pill container
Having a visual reminder to take your medication will help make sure you don’t miss a day! Pick a spot where you know you won’t miss it, like next to your toothbrush, coffee maker, or house keys.
- Put them back in the same place
Make sure you put your pill container back where you found it. For example, if you take your medication with food, it makes sense to store your pill container near that food.
- Plan ahead
It’s easy to miss a dose or two when you’re not home! If you know you’ll be out when you normally take your dose, pack one in your bag. If you travel, make sure to take enough of your medication with you to last the entire trip.
- Don’t skip a dose because of illness
It’s safe to take behavioral health medications at the same time as other medications, but you can always ask if you’re unsure.
- Don’t double up if you forget a dose
Life happens, and it’s okay if you forget to take your pill for a day! Doctors advise that you don’t need to make up for that missed dose. Never take two doses at once.
- Speak up about side effects
If you don’t want to take your pills because they’re giving you unwanted side effects, we’re here to help. Reach out and we can find a solution to make you feel better.
We’re here to support you. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your doctor on the app.
