I think going off medication can be done so long as one understands not only what is necessary to safely discontinue them, such as a slow methodical taper, but is willing and able to do what's understood to be necessary to remain stable. I believe a strong knowledge base of when to intervene with coping mechanisms (psychlogical and physiological) is integral to success.

It requires building habits to where it is normal to eat right, to exercise regularly, to go to sleep at the same time every night. It comes down to discipline. Being resolute when the pressure is on. It's doing what's hard, even if hard seems to have no end.

It starts with giving up caffeine. Giving up favorite foods, always being the designated driver, laughing in good humor when teased about going to bed early (old man/senior <my name>). It's accepting that in order to feel as close to normal as I can I will have to accept a change in lifestyle which is not normal.

I've spent the past seven months in withdrawal from Mirtazapine and Temazepam. I've since learned that I don't need an AD to be free of my treatment resistant depression and that I do not respond well to Benzodiazepines - benzos are like poison for me. I now find myself wondering if I need my mood stabilizer. I think it's worth finding out at this point.

I'm frankly tired of carpet bombing my mind with psychotropics. There are better treatments which address my bipolar, they're just harder to implement than swallowing pills. However, this approach is working better than anything I've tried before, and I've tried a lot of medications during the last eighteen years.