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Tardive dyskinesia can be a side effect of some medications used to treat mental illness. Learn more in this video.
Transcript
Can tardive dyskinesia affect my mental health, and what can I do about it?
Nearly one in five adults, or 20%, of adults living in the United States have a form of mental illness.
A mental illness can have significant impact on the activities we enjoy, how we manage our emotions,
and how we think and behave. Mental health is essential for both your cognitive
and your physical well-being, and there is help. Mental health and mental illness can
be treated with either forms of therapy, medications, or a combination of both. Some of the prescriptions that we
use for treating mental illness are known as psychotropic drugs. The prolonged use of psychotropic drugs
can lead to tardive dyskinesia. Tardive Dyskinesia is also known as TD. TD is the involuntary movement that generally affects
a person's head, face, eyes, lips, and jaw, but TD can also affect your arms, fingers, legs,
and your trunk. These involuntary movements can cause discomfort in social settings.
If the symptoms of TD occur. Please allow your doctor to know immediately because they can adjust the dose or change
the antipsychotic medication. Even if your prescription is changed, the effects of TD
can be permanent. Because Tardive Dyskinesia, TD, is a side effect of medications
that are used to help mental illness, you may be hesitant to speak up to your doctor. Because these medications provide relief,
some people fear altering the dose of your medication or changing medication could negatively impact the treatment of your mental disease
if not treated properly. If you have TD, it is imperative to work with your doctor to manage your condition.
But there's also lifestyle changes that you can make that can help your overall mental well-being.
Let's start with your physical health. Remain physically active, and try to spend time out in nature.
Improve your diet, and, of course, get enough sleep. Doing so increases your mood and your energy levels,
and it reduces your stress levels and improves your overall well-being. Try relaxation techniques.
Go for a walk, try yoga or breathing techniques, and meditation, and listen to music.
Purposely taking time out of your day to relax and focus on something calming can improve your overall mental well-being.
Last but not least, have a support network. It's important that you find a trusted family member or friend
who can listen. And join a peer support group. There are support groups with other patients
who have TD or have had TD treated successfully. Living with TD can be scary and uncomfortable,
but you're not alone. There are many steps that you can take to better manage your mental health and your condition.
Work with your health care provider to develop a personal plan that will work best for you. [MUSIC PLAYING]
