Quote:
Originally Posted by Atraxi
You can definitely be medication free while bipolar depending on what type of bipolar disorder you have. If you're the type who ascends mania into some type of psychosis then you should definitely still be taking medications. No medication, whether it be an anti-depressant or mood stabilizer should make you feel like a zombie and if that's the case, your psychiatrist needs to work with you on finding a medication that works with you, not against you.
Knowing your triggers, patterns (if you have them), times of day/night when you're more manic or depressed, how you react to your mood fluctuations (alcohol, painting, exercise, screaming, etc), etc will help you to get a handle on your bipolar disorder while being medication free. Learning good coping skills is essential, and having a daily routine also helps. Another very important thing is to have a good safety net of friends and family who are supportive and patient; anyone who isn't those things, you should probably remove them from your life.
I honestly hope that you can do this because while medication is great for some people, it's not appropriate for everyone and being medication-free is so much less of a hassle sometimes. However, if you do need medication, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that at all and it shows a lot of strength to admit that you need help and are willing to accept it. Also, I'm not a doctor or a licensed practitioner of any sort.
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Thankyou.When I ascend into mania I clean behind the oven and fridge and do all those horrid cleaning jobs etc you generally dont do on a daily basis.The manic episodes are by far outweighed by the depression so I really need to start recognising when I become low and try to get myself motivated again.
If I manage drug free, then all good.If I cant, then hey ho taking my meds is just like putting a band aid over a cut
08-21-2012, 09:28 PM
