The Personification of Medication
Therapy is one of Dr. Cindy Carr’s Four Pillars of Healing, and in 2019, knowing how much I resisted medication, she introduced me to Hannah Hall. Earlier that year, I had stopped taking my meds—and soon after, I spent nearly two weeks in a mental health unit in Richmond. Even after that, I struggled with the idea of going back on medication. It made me feel unworthy, like needing it meant I was broken. And yet, when I eventually started again, I couldn’t deny it was helping. That contradiction became a constant mental battle.
Hannah helped shift that. She introduced the idea of personification of medication—encouraging me to imagine the medicine as a supportive presence rather than something shameful. That simple reframing changed everything.
Instead of dismissing my feelings, Hannah gently leaned in. She asked me to try something that, at first, sounded strange—“Draw your medications,” she said. “All of them. Give them shape, give them color. Then, give them a voice.”
I didn’t know it then, but that moment would become a turning point in my healing. What started as a simple drawing exercise turned into something deeply personal, emotional, and transformative.
And so I did. One by one, I gave my pills a form. I gave them names. I started talking to them.
At first, it felt odd. But slowly, those conversations became healing. I thanked my medications for the things they did right—like calming my mind, balancing my mood, and giving me clarity. I also grieved the things they got wrong—the side effects, the fatigue, the emotional dullness that sometimes crept in. But then I realized something profound: just like people—like family and friends—when the good outweighs the bad, it’s worth holding on.
These medications aren’t just friends on the journey. They are part of me. They’ve become part of my identity. They are my chosen family in the fight to stay grounded, clear, and safe.
Each of my three medications has a role to play. Each serves a purpose. And now, every so often, when I take them out of my pill holder in the morning, I smile and whisper, "Good morning. Thank you."
That small act of mindfulness—of gratitude—has transformed the way I view medication compliance. I know how hard it can be to stay on meds. I know the fear, the frustration, and the shame that can come with accepting a lifelong diagnosis like bipolar disorder. But I also know the consequences of not taking them. So now, when I speak to others who are struggling to accept their diagnosis or resist their treatment plan, I share this story. I share it because medication is okay. It’s a companion. A lifeline. A tool—not a punishment.
Mental illness can be deeply isolating—but healing doesn’t have to be. Therapy has helped me reclaim agency over my diagnosis and reshape my relationship with what once felt foreign or frightening. I still go today, and it continues to guide my growth in powerful ways. Just like we turn to physical therapy to heal the body, mental therapy is essential for the mind. It’s not weakness—it’s intentional, courageous care for one of the most vital parts of who we are.
Dr. Carr’s Four Pillars model—psychiatry, therapy, family, and faith—is profoundly true. Each pillar supports the others, and I’ve learned that true strength comes from tending to all four. Thanks to therapy—and especially one life-changing exercise where I personified my medications—I will always remain medication-compliant. That practice helped me understand their value on a deeply personal level, shifting how I relate to treatment as a whole.
The trust I built through therapy has strengthened my relationship with my psychiatrist, and the stability I’ve gained through medication has allowed me to fully engage with my faith community and show up more fully for my family. Click here if you would like to read more about my story, From Chaos to Strength: My Bipolar Journey to Healing and Redemption.
-Christopher Aldana
Mr. Lamictal stabilizes my mood, Ms. Prozac lifts depressive lows, and Mr. Klonopin calms anxiety. Together, they help me manage bipolar disorder with balance and clarity.