On the Fence: Medication & Teens
Ivy Griffin
Perhaps you have considered medication for your teen or perhaps someone else suggested it might be worth looking into. And maybe on this subject your feelings are mixed, or you have historically been hesitant to consider the idea. I encourage you to explore and consider your resistance- where does it stem from? Was it a bad personal experience, a horror story about a friend or family member that tried, or is it a lack of knowledge on the subject?
Medication is a valid choice and can make a difference for someone’s mental health, however it may not be the answer for everyone. It’s also important to remember that medication is not a magical fix, and that it can take time to find the right medication and the correct therapeutic dosage. With that in mind let's dive into some basics to consider if you, like many parents, find yourself on the fence about medication.
First and foremost therapists CAN’T prescribe medication. In the state of California only psychiatrists and doctors, commonly referred to as your PCP or primary care provider, can prescribe mental health medications. If you have been or are now considering medication services for your teen I encourage you to consult with a psychiatrist or your doctor.
Consultations are opportunities to utilize a professional's expertise. They can answer questions and concerns regarding medication benefits, side effects, and give you a clinical opinion on whether or not there is enough medical necessity to warrant medication at this stage. The other plus to a consultation is that you are not locked in, a consultation isn’t an agreement to begin medication, it is an opportunity to research and gather more information so you can make the most informed decision for your teen.
Now often when asked my opinion about whether or not I feel medication would be helpful at the current stage I like to explore with my client and their families some key factors together:
Frequency-how often do the symptoms occur (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
Intensity- how intense are the symptoms to your teen when they occur (you can rate on a scale of 10)
Duration-when symptoms occur how long are they lasting for (a few minutes, a couple hours, days)
Impairment-how many areas of your teens life do the symptoms impair (ability to function in school/work, making friends, engaging with family, ability to sleep, appetite)
Family history-is there a genetic component that might be at play
Goal of medication-if we were to pursue medication is there a specific aspect we want to address (some medications can address multiple diagnoses or concerns). Is our goal realistic-are we wanting to eliminate all symptoms or make the symptoms more manageable.
A gentle reminder about why I stressed exploring the factors together: It’s easy to assume that we know or can tell how frequent, intense or impairing our teens' symptoms are; however not all mental health issues occur on the surface level where we can see. Though we might feel our teen’s symptoms happen once or twice a week we may only be seeing the symptoms when they get to a boiling point. Your teen may be struggling with more internal symptoms than you may realize. So it’s important to make efforts to communicate with your teen and to listen to their perception when it comes to these factors.
These are just some basic components to consider if you find yourself on the fence. However if after considering these factors you remain uncomfortable with the idea of medication it may be appropriate to explore with your teen and their therapist other means of support you can implement to help better reduce symptoms, and bolster protective factors.
With warm regards,
Megan Bell, LMFT # 114303
Thrive Therapy & Counseling
2131 Capitol Ave, Suite 306
Sacramento, CA, 95816