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Journey to Awareness (Part 1)
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ January 15, 2026
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
Mom's Story: Journey to Awareness (Part 1)
I often ask myself how it could have taken seven long years to realize that Nikki’s treatment plan was not what it should have been.
Looking back, I see now that my perception was clouded by the trust I placed in her healthcare providers. Even when doubts crept in, I convinced myself that the professionals surely knew better than I did.
I also believed that Nikki would be able to understand what was happening to her—that she would recognize if her diagnosis was right or wrong. But the truth is, most of the time she couldn’t.
The side effects from the medications were so severe that Nikki couldn’t fully grasp what they were doing to her—both physically and mentally.
There was a time when she changed completely. The way she dressed, the way she acted, even the way she ate—it all shifted. She began drinking heavily, obsessively. My daughter was no longer herself.
Still, she held onto hope. She trusted what she was told, and she passed that trust on to me. I supported this trust in the blind attempt to support my daughter.
From the outside, I watched her suffer—her body and mind weighed down by pain. I saw her cling to the promise of relief, even as those promises from her providers proved empty, day after day.
I felt powerless. Many nights I cried in secret, my tears carrying both grief and hope. Hope that someone would finally see what was happening. Hope that someone would ease her pain. But no one ever did.
Over time, though, something shifted. That blind trust in her treatment began to fade. Nikki started to notice the cracks. She became more aware, more observant, more certain that something wasn’t right.
And with that awareness came strength—the strength to take charge of her own care, to begin her journey toward self-help and healing.
Steps Toward Awareness
First: Remove the Blinders
- Don’t just accept a diagnosis or treatment plan
- Ask questions
- Research what is being told and prescribed
- Realize other factors may be a contributor to the situation
Second: Prescription drugs may cause side effects
Certain drug prescriptions may produce side effects that mimic or even trigger symptoms associated with other conditions such as:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Mood instability resembling bipolar disorder
Psychotic features similar to schizophrenia including hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking
Always familiarize yourself with the possible side effects of any prescribed medication.
Monitor for changes in mood, behavior, or cognition that could indicate adverse reactions.
Remember not all side effects are common to everyone.
Discuss your symptoms with a healthcare provider making sure they listen to you.
Have someone advocate for you if you cannot.
Most importantly, trust yourself.
Third: Prescription medications may cause or increase negative behaviors
Medications can sometimes lead to unintended changes in mood, behavior, or coping patterns. It is important to recognize these shifts early.
Some possible negative behavioral effects include:
- Increased Negative thoughts
- Excessive and/or uncontrollable alcohol/ recreational drug consumption
- Depression
- Anger
- Irritability
- Stress
- Social anxiety
Question anything out of the ordinary.
Track changes in behavior and discuss them with a healthcare professional.
Remember that even subtle shifts can signal important side effects.
Fourth: Everyone is different
Not all individuals respond to medications in the same way. Variations in biology, lifestyle, and health conditions can alter how drugs affect you.
Factors that may cause differences include:
- Drug interactions – combining prescriptions or over-the-counter medications can change effectiveness or increase risks.
- Chemical Sensitivities – ingredients may cause negative effects to some but harmless to others especially inactive ingredients
- Health conditions – such as thyroid disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Vitamins and supplements – can negatively interact with prescription medications
Key notes to awareness
During Nikki’s treatment, no one ever stopped to ask why she was having so many negative reactions to the prescription drugs. Looking back, I realize there were important things that should have been considered before starting her treatment plan.
1. Thyroid Disease
Nikki’s dad had already been diagnosed with Graves’ disease before she began her prescription drug treatment. On top of that, there was a family history of thyroid disease on both sides.
Not long after Nikki withdrew from the prescribed drugs, she herself was diagnosed with Graves’ disease.
Why this matters: Thyroid disease can easily be mistaken for mood disorders because the symptoms overlap. It can look like:
- Depression
- Sudden mood changes
- Heightened anxiety
- Nervousness
- Irritability
To make matters worse, certain medications can mask thyroid disease, making it even harder to recognize. This is why diagnosing thyroid issues before beginning a drug treatment plan is so critical.
2. Chemical & Food Sensitivities
From a young age, Nikki showed signs of sensitivities. She would break out in severe rashes and have physical reactions—sometimes from food, other times from chemicals.
She reacted to things like pool chemicals, bleach, and bug spray. Later, after withdrawing from the prescribed drugs, Nikki was diagnosed with a glutamate problem. Today, she follows a gluten-free, organic diet to help manage her sensitivities.
She also has been diagnosed with nickel, cobalt and balsum of peru allergies as well as sensitivities to dyes, preservatives and smells.
Why this matters: Chemical and food sensitivities can mimic mood disorders and other conditions. They can cause:
- Memory fog
- Confusion
- Physical difficulties
- Irritability
- Depression
- Mood changes
Even preservatives in prescription drugs can trigger reactions in people with sensitivities.
Sadly, these sensitivities are not always acknowledged by the medical community, which often leads to inadequate care.
Final Reflection
If these factors—thyroid disease and chemical sensitivities—had been considered from the start, Nikki’s journey might have looked very different. Awareness means asking the right questions before treatment begins, and recognizing that what looks like a mood disorder may actually be something else entirely.
As we continue with our story next week, we will again focus on the importance of awareness in a treatment plan.
Through our story, we provide you with the information needed to navigate through the health care system and find a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Everyone is different. Let’s not forget that!
It is important to remember:
Questioning, helps you obtain knowledge.
Knowledge becomes the key to awareness.
And awareness leads you to a successful journey for a happy and healthier lifestyle.
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♥
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– Albert Einstein –
Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
Medical Disclaimer: We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the Website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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