Over the past few months, I have been getting my mental health under control. I have been realizing that it is just as important to take care of my physical health in the process. In the past, I have become overwhelmed by the need to do this daunting task. I realized I must take small steps towards making better decisions. I should not be critical of myself when I do not succeed. Instead, I must pick up the pieces and move on.

There have been recent discussions about mental and physical health going hand in hand. Being on psychotropic medications for over two decades, I know now more than ever that that can become a necessity. It can be frustrating for some to the point that they relapse. Twice, I got the idea in my head and did just that. It hurt me deeply. So, I know without a doubt that the medication is here to be a responsibility for my mental health. Equally important for my mental health is the necessity to make better choices. This responsibility arises when it seems like a struggle or laziness to do so.

It can seem just as easy to ignore the reality that you need to care for your physical health. Yet, there is also the reality of seeing the benefits it can offer. This happens when you make those decisions you don’t want to make for one reason or another. It can seem just as easy to just get something that is less desirable because it is easy. Things happen, and I do not want to discount that. Still, it is up to each of us to be mindful of all dimensions of our personal wellness. We realize the importance of mental, physical, and financial health. This happens when we understand that we need a balanced realm of wellness. The benefits can be rewarding. You can see them when you make simple changes.

Sometimes those changes seem unfair. This is especially true for someone that thinks differently, like I do as an autistic person. Eventually, it works its way to having a better outcome in our physical health. It can seem that we struggle with the increasing number on the scale. We also struggle with those pants that won’t fit. It can become frustrating. Deep down, we know we don’t want to feel miserable about ourselves. It is hard to be patient while losing weight. It is also challenging when making better decisions for our physical health. In the end, these efforts make us better at combating the issues. These issues are brought on by the psychotropic medications that we take.

In the end I had to learn the hard way that my psychotropic medication is here to stay. It is up to me to start making better choices to keep my weight under control. I need to manage my physical health to prevent other issues from arising. It can be frustrating at times. Still, in the end, I know that it is for my own good. It is rewarding in ways that I not even realize.