Quote:
Originally Posted by NoIdeaWhatToDo
...But if I start on meds, will I always have to be taking them? For the rest of my life?
|
No more than you would have to start on being med-free and always have to
not be taking them. It's not an irrevocable decision. Keep an open mind. One can do themselves a disservice by being too rigid on either side of the question. (That said, there are
really good reasons people are compelled to be taking them. There are places hellish and dangerous. If taking some med keeps one from going back there, they're going to be a big fan, you know? There's intense, then there's having your own mind scare the **** out of you.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoIdeaWhatToDo
And my understanding is that they would help smooth out the cycles - the big downs and ups. Does that mean I have to give up the good stuff...the productivity, the creativity, the energy? What happens when that goes away - what's in its place? Do I just not experience the world as intensely as I do? ..
|
No, it wouldn't mean you had to give up the good stuff. As you will hear again and again, everyone is different. There can be cases where things do dull out. BUT, it might be simply a matter of not having the right meds/dosages etc for that individual. Personal experience regarding the subjects you ask about...I have not experienced any dulling of my creativity. At all. In fact, a case could be made that I get
more done since medicated, because it's evened out. I won't tank out for months and months on end where
nothing is created. I have more "useable time" so to speak. "As intensely"…. heh. I hardly know how to answer that one… my life still can get more intense than I can handle.
"The energy"… well, I tend to still rate pretty high in that category (unless depressed of course). I do still cycle, but it's made it more manageable because they don't go on for soooooo long. (The depressions had just gotten longer and more entrenched as the undiagnosed and unmedicated years went by.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~Christina
...If you do decide to try a medication .. see a Pdoc .. NOT a GP they just dont know enough about Psych meds .. This is a case of not cutting corners...
|
YES, YES and YES. It is WAY too complex for a GP to have a sufficient handle on. Personal experience on that one, oh yes. <shudder>
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trippin2.0
...Like Christina said, quite a few of us rely on coping skills, therapy, body surfing etc, to survive the ups and downs. I would just like to add that this method is practically IMPOSSIBLE to employ if you have low / no self-awareness and insight, because you have to be a step ahead of your very own brand of the Bipolar Beast...
|
EXCELLENT POINT!!!