John's Medication Reduction and Alternative Therapies

The techniques associated with Positive Behaviour Support, dietary changes and person strength, ambition and determination have helped John, a person supported at Fairford Court, make significant positive changes to his life and reduce his use of medication.

John has lived at Fairford Court since 2015, where the team supports him around his mental health needs. John was determined to make positive changes to both his physical and mental health and wanted to cope with negative thought processes through the use of alternative therapies.

Working alongside medical professionals and the team at Fairford, John chose to reduce the level of medication he was taking, while being mindful of continuing to positively manage his mental health needs.

Working with Ben Adkins, Positive Behaviour Support Lead at Accomplish, John learned different ways of helping control the negative thought processes he could experience and improve his well-being. These techniques included breathing exercises, meditation, and communication methods to help John talk through his thought processes instead, reducing the chances of negativity escalating.

Alongside these techniques, the team at Fairford Court introduced a food diary so that John could be more aware of what he was eating and the direct co-relation that diet – and not just medication – can have on a person’s physical health and well-being, including their weight.

Since reducing the levels of medication he was taking, John has seen improvements to his physical and mental health. He has lost weight and is better able to recognise and address negative thought processes. He has incorporated coping mechanisms to help him when he is feeling anxious or has negative thoughts.

John said: “I feel mentally, physically, and spiritually a lot better. I’ve lost weight and have more energy. Through cooking, meditation and learning more about my emotions and how I express those, I feel like I am better tempered and less irritable. I find it’s easier to control my frustrations through using the different coping mechanisms I have learned.”

Zoe Loizou, Registered Manager at Fairford Court, said: “John was adamant that he wanted to work very hard to manage his physical well-being as well as the negative thought processes he could experience and we wanted to support him in every way possible to help him achieve his goals.

“John is aware that still taking some medication is important for him. We have been pleased to support him in using alternative coping mechanisms to help him improve his mental and physical well-being. “

Accomplish