IN THE MEDIA

Why Are We Ashamed to Need Medication?

Folks: a Pillpack Magazine
April 24, 2019

We compare the outside lives of others to the inside lives of ourselves," explains psychotherapist Colleen Koncilja LCSW. "When we do this, we will most often come up short. People 'look' like they have it all together on the outside. We don't know that they too have moments when they feel like they are crumbling, upset, suffer, or struggle to deal with life's stressful situations. What we see on Facebook are happy moments, perfect makeup, and the best times of someone's life. Mental illness and medication for it sure don't blend with those perfect facebook moments, and the internal pressure to be like everyone else can be so powerful that one denies their illness and their need for treatment."

How 'Pill Shaming' Hurts Those Who Take Medications for Mental Health

Healthline
October 18, 2018

"Treatment adherence to medication is one of the most difficult challenges for people who have a mental illness," Colleen Koncilja, a licensed clinical social worker with a private therapy practice in Illinois, told Healthline.

"Taking medication is a continual reminder that one has 'something wrong' with themselves that needs to be treated," Koncilja said. "People can often struggle with negative beliefs about themselves, thinking they are 'less than' if they have a mental illness or if they need medication."

"That can be a powerful deterrent if someone is already ambivalent about taking medication," Koncilja said. "Often, side effects subside after our bodies acclimate to the medication, but some do persist. Like any treatment, the pros need to outweigh the cons."

"Mental illness is not a moral failing or a lack of motivation, and it doesn't only affect people who don't try hard enough," Koncilja said. "Instead, mental illness is a chemical imbalance in our brains, and in order for us to not experience symptoms or active illness, we need to seek out and receive ongoing treatment."