A typology of meaning of psychiatric medication Kia J. Bentley, Ph.D., LCSW Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work [email_address]

Typology of meaning/themes Psychiatric medication as a positive force across several dimensions of experience. Psychiatric medication as tolerated fact of life . Psychiatric medication as primarily an internal and individual experience. Psychiatric medication as a prominent part of the story and evolution of one’s mental illness. Psychiatric medication as basis of gratitude and source of victory over past struggles. Psychiatric medication as necessary for prevention of relapse and protection of humanness. Psychiatric medication as a symbol of differentness and dependency.

Psychiatric medication as a positive force across several dimensions of experience.

Psychiatric medication as tolerated fact of life .

Psychiatric medication as primarily an internal and individual experience.

Psychiatric medication as a prominent part of the story and evolution of one’s mental illness.

Psychiatric medication as basis of gratitude and source of victory over past struggles.

Psychiatric medication as necessary for prevention of relapse and protection of humanness.

Psychiatric medication as a symbol of differentness and dependency.

Seven intersecting circles

Psychiatric medication as a positive force across several dimensions of experience.

Rainbow Glider A horse with wings means freedom, flying Freedom is to feel good, to be able to do what you want to

A horse with wings means freedom, flying

Freedom is to feel good, to be able to do what you want to

Me and My Recovery The fact I take my meds regularly Sun is happiness; that my medications are helping me

The fact I take my meds regularly

Sun is happiness; that my medications are helping me

Teddy Bears Outside All happy Represents warm and fuzzy, summer, warm

All happy

Represents warm and fuzzy, summer, warm

Happiness It’s a beautiful sky with birds and a house, sunny Makes me feel happy I am on my own

It’s a beautiful sky with birds and a house, sunny

Makes me feel happy

I am on my own

Psychiatric medication as tolerated fact of life .

Not Happy but Sad It’s a sad face, suppose to be sad, angry The mouth is not really smiling

It’s a sad face, suppose to be sad, angry

The mouth is not really smiling

Medication Compliant The feeling before I took my medication: Inflamed, the colors I felt This is how I felt after: Subdued, Different, Better

The feeling before I took my medication: Inflamed, the colors I felt

This is how I felt after: Subdued, Different, Better

Psychiatric medication as primarily an internal and individual experience.

Night of the Butterfly This is a theme and imagery I’ve been working on The striving to change, movement, to go forward; to be free, free of bonds The figure is human kind

This is a theme and imagery I’ve been working on

The striving to change, movement, to go forward; to be free, free of bonds

The figure is human kind

The Happy Pill Jar The picture shows that side effects are a nightmare How important side effects are

The picture shows that side effects are a nightmare

How important side effects are

What I am All About Its me, before and after taking my medication Frowning then smiling I am focused, up to speed Without it, in a bad mood

Its me, before and after taking my medication

Frowning then smiling

I am focused, up to speed

Without it, in a bad mood

Graph Paper Anything can go on there Could be a tree and dirt road, equipment Stability

Anything can go on there

Could be a tree and dirt road, equipment

Stability

Psychiatric medication as a prominent part of the story and evolution of one’s mental illness.

Tough Times Never Last Then : The sun never shines. The evil kid that had been possessed; felt like the devil was inside. Life has no purpose, not a happy situation Now: Belief in God is key. Self worth is important. Can’t lock him up

Then : The sun never shines. The evil kid that had been possessed; felt like the devil was inside. Life has no purpose, not a happy situation

Now: Belief in God is key. Self worth is important. Can’t lock him up

Hospital Help Drugs off the street Something hanging from a tree Me in the hospital with needles Praying hands, trying to save myself Never knew anything, nobody’s gonna answer X’s on the windows because I was locked up and didn’t want to be

Drugs off the street

Something hanging from a tree

Me in the hospital with needles

Praying hands, trying to save myself

Never knew anything, nobody’s gonna answer

X’s on the windows because I was locked up and didn’t want to be

Psychiatric medication as basis of gratitude and source of victory over past struggles.

The Different Feeling of Medication It’s a happy mouth; a happy face I want the picture to be even happier than it is

It’s a happy mouth; a happy face

I want the picture to be even happier than it is

Sunrise at Dawn Its dawn with the sun rising from the ocean Breaking away from schizophrenia and depression It’s a new day

Its dawn with the sun rising from the ocean

Breaking away from schizophrenia and depression

It’s a new day

Change I was confused, then anger and rage Now happy and I know more about my medication, before I didn’t I’ve changed a lot!

I was confused, then anger and rage

Now happy and I know more about my medication, before I didn’t

I’ve changed a lot!

Violet Blue The sun’s rays, the colors and the life force they represent Live life as colorful and there is hope for everyone; doesn’t matter who you are

The sun’s rays, the colors and the life force they represent

Live life as colorful and there is hope for everyone; doesn’t matter who you are

Recovery In Progress Me in recovery, feeling liberated Very pleased with my medication I don’t feel depressed, paranoid or lonely

Me in recovery, feeling liberated

Very pleased with my medication

I don’t feel depressed, paranoid or lonely

Psychiatric medication as necessary for prevention of relapse and protection of humanness.

My Mind My medication is like rods of cadmium and uranium, to keep me from a runaway fission reaction My medication keeps my mind from exploding

My medication is like rods of cadmium and uranium, to keep me from a runaway fission reaction

My medication keeps my mind from exploding

Godsend I have a connection and didn’t before The sun is bright, shining down on us. My kids are happy If I don’t take care of myself…

I have a connection and didn’t before

The sun is bright, shining down on us. My kids are happy

If I don’t take care of myself…

Psychiatric medication as a symbol of differentness and dependency.

Moods of a Psychiatric Mind These are brain waves, thought processes The meds are the round circles The waves are even keeled

These are brain waves, thought processes

The meds are the round circles

The waves are even keeled

Before and After Unhappy face to a happy face I was an angry kid Its not my fault I know more about myself, I know what I need to do I know I need to take it the rest of my life

Unhappy face to a happy face

I was an angry kid

Its not my fault

I know more about myself, I know what I need to do

I know I need to take it the rest of my life