Quote:
Originally Posted by Soupe du jour
I must third what Nammu wrote and then MuddyBoots. Some of my absolute worst episodes were results of stopping medications. I can even say now if I even forget or skip one dose of my evening medications, I can feel two steps from needing a psych hospital. It's not nearly as much so with my morning medications, but then I haven't missed more than two of them in a week in years.
Have you really sat down and made a list of why you go off medications? What are those aversions based on? I realize sometimes people have concerns that would seem very good reasons, and yet still ones that must be weighed against mental instability. Wanting to deny mental illness...self-stigmatization...medication side effects (a biggie)...chasing mania...thinking you're "strong enough to finally handle it without meds"...wanting to get drunk...immaturity (in some people's cases) or desire to be reckless and/or get attention...and many others. In your case, it's clearly more than just forgetting. There obviously are reasons you are doing what you're doing. What are they? Without you knowing, it's hard to believe you'll suddenly become a dedicated medication taker. Or, that we could really give any form of advice.
|
I think my biggest reason for not taking them is thinking that I am strong enough to handle it on my own, and it often does happen when I am in a particularly strong manic episode. I just get so confident and convince myself that I can handle it but then I come down from the episode and my logic kicks in and I realize the mistake I have made.
I have been trying so hard to talk with my psychiatrist about it but I just clam up when I get the opportunity. I was stable for four years with no issues and then this started, about four months ago.