[sunnydisposition]

Anyone care to share a story of a comeback from a hopeless place. the thought of life without meds seems like an impossible delusion right now. Yet there's a part of me still believes it can happen.

[*Laurie*]

In all my many years of being connected in with mental health communities, therapy, medical treatment, groups, etc.- I have not heard of anyone who is 100% recovered. I have, however, known a lot of people who lead stable, rewarding lives. Those people inevitably have worked hard to be stable. It doesn't seem that there is an easy way to live with mental illness; by the same token, I find it rewarding to work at being healthier and I've known many people who feel the same way.

I think its very much possible to get to a point of no more meds. I've seen people do it themselves. My med level is down to PRN and not daily, so sometimes I need more, sometimes I need less. I've gone months without meds.

I think the key is learning coping skills so that you can learn to manage your anxiety on your own. Are you in therapy now?

[*Laurie*]

Yeah, definitely possible for some people to eventually get off meds.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by Anonymous37894

I think its very much possible to get to a point of no more meds. I've seen people do it themselves. My med level is down to PRN and not daily, so sometimes I need more, sometimes I need less. I've gone months without meds.

I think the key is learning coping skills so that you can learn to manage your anxiety on your own. Are you in therapy now?

No therapy. There are very few of them (therapists) in our country to begin with. What few there are, they don't have experience in treating anxiety. Its a very hard to place to get real help if youre living with a mental illness in India.

I've never heard of cures; but, I have heard inspiring stories of people coming back from the darkness to living enriching lives with rewarding careers, healthy relationships, and positive activity. But in ALL cases these people have been able to do so with effective ongoing treatment by way of medication and therapy. They are not cured, rather they are successfully managing their illnesses.

[*Laurie*]

Ravdeep, I'm curious about something. I've always heard that India is a very spiritual land. Is it true, and does spirituality help you cope with your mental illness?

[avlady]

I've heard of people going off their meds because they thought they were cured, but didn't realize the meds were making them stable, so they would go off of them. I am one of them. i feel a lot better on my meds and people tell me if i tell them i'm on meds, they say you would never know it.

[sunnydisposition]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Ravdeep, I'm curious about something. I've always heard that India is a very spiritual land. Is it true, and does spirituality help you cope with your mental illness?

Indians are very spiritual creatures. You know how people always ask, do you believe in God? Well thats never been a question for Indians. They believe, like they know it for a fact, without a sliver of doubt, that God is there, always looking out for them. Their faith is so strong that nobody buys health insurance for their families, house insurance for the houses they own. They refuse to believe that God will let anything bad happen to them. So they leave it all, their life, their health, everything to the largesse of God. Ever in trouble, they pray to God for help and sleep restfully assured that somehow everything will turn out okay now. This one time My mom found a lump on her breast and she went for getting it tested. The results were going to come a week later. And i swear to God she was calm as a sea all throughout the week. No anxiety, no sleeplessness. Just her usual cheerful self. I on the other hand was freaking out. And sure enough the tests came back okay. She got a clean bill of health from doc. Its everywhere, you can see it in their eyes, so convinced that nothing bad will ever happen to them (Health wise). Its as if they have a written guarantee from the creator himself that they will live a long healthy life.
Probably why depression, anxiety are so rare out here.

The reason i refer to Indians as they in this context is coz I am very different. Never took to any religion. Despite my parents efforts. I am a kind of an anomaly in this aspect. Life would have been much easier if i was like everyone around me. A simple prayer would absolve all my worries and i'd be at peace.

[sunnydisposition]

And guys, when you say there are no cures, your'e referring to the bipolar disorder right? or does plain old anxiety ( no bipolar) falls into the same uncurabale category?