I often find myself amazed and inspired in my work at a hospital. Seeing so many people come through the emergency room or intake offices struggling with suicidal thoughts, profound depression, substance use disorders and trauma who somehow find a way to carry on reminds me of the strength it takes to live with mental illness.

Living with mental illness can be debilitating, leaving one both mentally and physically exhausted. Depression can cause a lack of sleep or too much sleep, changes in appetite, trouble with concentration and memory. Substance use disorders literally can change the structure of the sufferer’s brain. Trauma can leave one with painful memories and flashbacks. The resilience of those living with these illnesses astounds me. To carry on takes courage and bravery.

Coming to the hospital to say you need help with mental illness can take a lot of effort. Many of the people I meet are at wit’s end and no longer can manage on their own. We try to get them the help they need, be it inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization, outpatient services or substance abuse treatment. Thankfully, many people follow our recommendations and get the help they need. Unfortunately, some people choose not to follow through on the doctor’s recommendations.

What I often see is people who come for treatment for only a short while and while they are in treatment, take their medications and speak with a therapist or counselor. Often, after leaving the hospital, patients choose not to carry on with therapy and medications. Frequently, these folks end up back in our emergency room wondering how things got so bad again. They fail to follow up with the doctor’s recommendation for continued care such as taking medications as prescribed, seeing an outpatient therapist and meeting with a psychiatrist for medication management. There are many reasons for this, but I urge you to follow your doctor’s recommendations following discharge from inpatient or partial hospitalization or substance use treatment. Believe me, you will be better off for it.

There should be no shame in seeking treatment and continuing to take medication and speaking with a therapist or counselor following hospitalization, but sadly there is stigma attached to treatment. Only you can decide to follow up with treatment. Only you can make the decision to move from mental illness to mental wellness. The future is up to you.

It pains me to see so many people stop taking their medication and stop talking to a therapist because they think they are “cured” of mental illness. Taking medication and speaking to someone about what troubles you is what gets and keeps you well. Please do not stop doing the things that keep you feeling better. Please take into consideration what the doctor ordered for you. We all want to see you get well and stay well. Medication and therapy, along with coping skills, exercise and proper nutrition, can keep you from sliding down the slippery slope back into mental illness. Follow the doctor’s recommendations and, more likely than not, you will continue on the path of recovery.