Tips for Not Missing a Dose of Medication

To be fully effective, medications should be taken on the schedule they were prescribed. Poor adherence to a medication schedule can lead to delayed recovery, decreased quality of life, or other negative outcomes.

Here are some tips for staying on track with a medication schedule.

• Set a medication reminder. Remembering when to take medicine can be difficult, especially if you take several at different times of the day. Here are some helpful reminder strategies.
• Set a recurring phone alarm. There are medication reminder apps for Apple and Android phones that you can download.
• Mark when a dose is due on a calendar. Check it off when you’ve taken the medication.
• Ask your support team to give you reminders.
• Use a weekly pill box.
• Incorporate your dosage schedule into your daily routine in a structured way that would alert you to the need to take the meds. Put your morning med bottle(s) by your cereal bowl, or take morning meds before an established morning activity such as walking the dog, for example.

Adding a new activity such as taking a pill to an established routine can be difficult but these tips can help you remember to take doses when they are prescribed.

Use your support system as well.

Your support system may include your spouse or partner, family, friends, church, peer support groups, or advocacy groups. These people can help you improve your overall health by reducing your stress and anxiety.

They can offer: 

• Assistance with harder-to-take medications such as injections
• Emotional support
• Reminders when it’s time to take medication
• Transportation to infusion center for specialty meds

Maybe it’s side effects.

Unpleasant side effects can make you less likely to take medications as prescribed. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if a side effect occurs. They may be able to change your prescription to a different medication or provide options to alleviate the side effect.

Consider the purpose of the medication.

The overall goal of medication is to improve your future health. If you find yourself wondering how your medicine helps and then feeling like you don’t want to bother taking it, check your mood because if you have new or worsening feelings of depression that are interfering with your recommended medicine schedule, you need to consult your healthcare provider.

Panel Discussion of Fear within Specific Disabilities

What fears are unique to persons with eating disorders, cancer, and brain injury? What fears are in common among these different types of disabilities? How does understanding the nature of a disability-related fear determine the most appropriate treatment? The panelists will compare and contrast fear among people with varied disabling conditions.

Moderator: Cicero Kit

Panelist: Dr. Kathryn Post is a nurse scientist in the Massachusetts General Hospital's Cancer Outcomes Research & Education (CORE) Program. She is also an instructor at Harvard Medical School and an advanced practice nurse who cares for patients with breast cancer.

Panelist: Dr. Leigh Brosof is a clinical psychologist specializing in research on and treatment of eating disorders. She supports patients and families with personalized evidence-based treatment. She also treats co-existing disorders such as anxiety, depression, and OCD.

Panelist: Gloria Kraegel is the Team Leader at Brain Energy Support Team, and Chief Groundskeeper at Etopia Sustainable Communities. With BEST she creates supportive and engaging opportunities, both online and in Second Life, for neurodivergent persons and their loved ones to build skills and systems for success.

Ms. Jen Johnson

Ms. Jen Johnson, LCMHC is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, mindfulness teacher, speaker, photographer, and writer. Her areas of expertise include stress, resilience, grief, chronic illness, and climate mental health. Jen is the author of Everyday Mindful on Substack that explores being resilient in an uncertain world. 

Ms. Jen Johnson will present at 10:30 a.m. May 15th on Learning from the Land: Growing Emotional Resilience in the Climate Crisis.  In this heartfelt and grounding presentation, we’ll explore how the climate crisis impacts our emotional lives — from grief and overwhelm to resilience and response. Through the wisdom of the natural world, you'll learn practical tools for navigating climate anxiety, tending climate grief, and staying emotionally rooted in times of deep change. This session invites you to reconnect with your inner strengths and your place in the living world.

 

Panel Discussion 12:30 p.m. May 15th about Peer Support and Fear

Facing fears together is powerful. Peer groups can be powerful tools in helping us cope with our fears and at the same time come with risks.

Moderator: Itico Spectre

Panelist: Viola Mole is part of the Linden Department of Public Works. She heads up the team of Second Life Mentors, who assist new avatars coming into Second Life.

Panelist: Pet Karu runs the Fearless Lovers and Empowering Relationships groups and the Bonded Adventures sim in Second Life. As a life coach, she embodies authenticity in both her lives.

Panelist: Kip Yellowjacket is an experienced online English trainer specializing in IT and business retraining programs, and academic exam preparation for native German speakers. He is the founder of Virtlantis, a pioneering virtual world language learning platform.

Panelist: Demelza McGinnis is a retired RN who has helped both patients and new nurses deal with their fears. As a mother and grandmother, she cares for children with disabilities.