Lately, I have been reminded that there is the importance of being completely medication adherent. This is brought to light when I become agitated out of concern. Lately I have taken more time to recognize the concern that many have had on me in the past and how it has saved me from some precarious situations in the past.

For the longest time I was dismissive of the fact that I absolved myself from being in some precarious situations that I would find unpleasant. There at times needs to be a reality check and there were many times in the past that I would disregard it. But there is also the reality of those that have given me many chances when I didn’t deserve it at all. I now realize that I was fortunate to be able to return to things as normal even when there were thoughts of leaving some things like day services last year because I was not well and was unwilling to address my mental health finally.

While it did take some time to become more mentally grounded, I currently realize that things like work and day service are lifelines for me. They are extremely valuable to me as other areas of my life have changed drastically. Therefore, by being assured that it is indeed important to remain adherent to my medication regimen, it is also important to understand that there are expectations including medication adherence that needs to be met in order to have the opportunity to do things like go to work and day services.

There are also those peers that I know look up to me for the person when I am the person that I know that I can be when I am my best. It is honestly what keeps me striving for mental wellness and conducting myself in the appropriate way because I know that they look up to me as an example of what it is like to walk the walk and talk the talk as an individual not only on the autism spectrum but also carrying many mental health challenges. I have been through a lot and even some have seen me at my worst. As much as I have let the past go, I have always made a promise to myself since then that I would always be my best so I could never show myself in a way that is unbecoming to those that look up to me.

Yes, dealing with the issues that I deal with have been hard. It seems when you get through one thing, another thing creeps up hard and it is just as hard. One thing that I now realize is that things like my psychotropics is paramount for my mental well-being when there is so much uncertainty and volatility in my life where the unexpected can change on a whim.

It is also by also recognizing that there have been so many chances given to me that there may be a point if I keep repeating the same old behavior that chance to make things right may no longer be extended and therefore could result in a further mental state of decline that I ultimately know is unhealthy for me. I know that as an autistic adult who lives on their own that I too must carry my own responsibility in caring for my mental health and not being ignorant to things because I feel I can. It is part of growing up and being responsible.