First, I would like to thank everyone who responded to my last column with such nice words. I wasn’t sure I wanted to put myself out there like that, but I’m glad I did. I had so many people come up to me and tell me how much it meant to them. I guess those kind words and encouragement to keep writing is why I decided to share this update.
After starting a new medication in December after meeting with Laura De Kruyf at Osceola Regional Health Center in Sibley, things had improved greatly. I was starting to feel like myself again. My energy was better. My mood was more stable. The fog had begun to lift.
Then came the new year and reality hit when I tried to refill my prescriptions. My insurance company had made tier changes to their pharmacy formulary and both medications were going to cost $350 out of pocket per month. That’s unsustainable.
I called the ORHC Behavioral Health clinic and talked to nurse Keisha Marco about the situation. She got in touch with Laura, who began searching for alternatives. Laura was able to get me new medications by the next day, but here’s the thing. It’s really hard to switch medications like that.
When you find something that works, you start to breathe a little easier. You start to trust that maybe you are on solid ground. Changing medications can feel like stepping back onto unstable footing. There is the physical adjustment, the waiting to see how your body responds and the mental anxiety of wondering if you are going to slide backward.
And if I’m honest, I did go through some lows again. Not as deep as before, but noticeable. There were days when I felt more emotional than usual. Days when I questioned whether this was the right move. Days when I was simply tired of having to manage something that feels invisible to everyone else.
Mental health recovery is not a straight line. It is not a switch you flip. It is not a one-time appointment or one prescription that fixes everything forever. It is adjustments. It is patience. It is setbacks. It is progress. Sometimes all in the same week.
The good news is this: I am improving.
The new medication is starting to level out. The extreme lows have softened. My energy is coming back. I am sleeping more normally. I am reengaging with people instead of pulling away. I am not all the way where I want to be yet, but I am moving in the right direction.
And that matters.
If my previous column was about recognizing the signs and asking for help, this one is about staying the course. It is about advocating for yourself when insurance throws you a curveball. It is about having medical professionals who respond quickly and care deeply. It is about remembering that improvement can be gradual and still be real.
If you are in a low place, please hear this. A setback does not erase your progress. A medication change does not mean failure. A hard day or week does not mean you are back at the beginning.
And if you ever find yourself in a crisis, or even just needing someone to talk to, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call or text 988 from anywhere in the country. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out. You just have to need support.
I am continuing to do the work. I am continuing to show up to appointments. I am continuing to take my medication. I am continuing to talk about it.
Most importantly, I am continuing to stay.
And for now, that feels like progress.
Justin Groen is a sales and marketing representative for Iowa Information Media Group. He lives in Little Rock and may be reached at jgroen@iowainformation.com.