[balance]

Do you all take medications for your bipolar disorder?? Is there someone here that is able to go on without medications??

[ScooterBug]

For me, I can go a while without medications, but eventually it catches up and an episode will make me realize that I have to be medicated.

I have been off my medications for my pregnancy and was ok for 90% of my pregnancy, but last month I had a manic episode and it was REALLY tough.

Everyone is different though ... it's something that you need to figure out with different medications and just trial and error.

I hope that helps!

[venusss]

I am au natural. For most of the part I deal well.

Herbs, zen, spirituality, philosophy... those are my tools. It is possible to do...

I still do have episodes, occasionally *thoughts*, moodswings.... I learned to deal with them and be somehow "confortable" with them.

I use medications and despite what any one says, I will not make it without them. When I did not have meds, and when I have gone off meds things get very dangerous very quickly. The psychosis is really too much, and I almost completely loose touch with everything no matter how hard I try.

I know one person that does well with no meds or therapy, but sometimes I wonder if the diagnosis is correct, as I've never seen any apparent mania or hypomania symptoms. I think it can be done tho, depending on the severity, and the individual.

Also there is a theory of the bipolar kindling model I can already see my illness progressing, and if this theory is accurate I'd gladly not want to help move it along by having more episodes than I have too.

[jack123]

I have tried to manage my symptoms medication free and only crashed every time without it.

[Sterrin]

Yeah to meds for me! I'd been depressed so long it was such a huge relief. The meds give me a chance to put my energy elsewhere, even were it possible for me to get off them.

I have a book that lays out steps to create a drug-free BP management plan. It is called the 'Wellness Recovery Action Plan®' by Mary Ellen Copeland. The book I have is available at amazon as well as at the author's website.

mentalhealthrecovery.com

Lysias

[sugahorse1]

I sought psychiatric help when my depression became too much for me to handle. From there on, I got my dx of Bipolar. I know I could never go back into such a dark place, so I really am grateful for my meds

[DamianV]

Originally Posted by Anika

I use medications and despite what any one says, I will not make it without them. When I did not have meds, and when I have gone off meds things get very dangerous very quickly. The psychosis is really too much, and I almost completely loose touch with everything no matter how hard I try.

I know one person that does well with no meds or therapy, but sometimes I wonder if the diagnosis is correct, as I've never seen any apparent mania or hypomania symptoms. I think it can be done tho, depending on the severity, and the individual.

Also there is a theory of the bipolar kindling model I can already see my illness progressing, and if this theory is accurate I'd gladly not want to help move it along by having more episodes than I have too.

I'm with you on this one. There are meds that are "optional" and others are not. I definitely take my mood stabilizers/anti-convulsants and never skip a dose since my last episode. Mania is NO FUN for me. The klonopin i use as needed and still not sure where the seroquel fits in..... sleeping aid i presume?

With the meds these days the side effect profiles are practically non existant so might as well keep the disorder from causing a mess...

[Warrioress]

I hate taking meds, but I've stopped taking them abruptly a few times and the result has been disasterous. The hypomania is pleasant, true, but the suicidal depression that follows is way too unpleasant.

Yes on the meds, balance, I do.

Anika made some good points. Among which: kindling.
I very much believe in the kindling theory. I've lived it.

I am also... let's just say that when people can manage without, I can't help but think that they probably simply have a milder case (which, don't get me wrong, that's great! It's only problematic when extrapolated.) Or, as Anika notes, possible misdiagnosis. Also, I've observed that often it is age-related. See above: kindling. When I was young, I went through a considerable number of years of living super-healthy. Very. It did not protect me from increasing problems (especially in extremity and frequency of depression) as time went on. If you'd asked me then? My answer would be considerably different. It would also be without the benefit of hindsight. My progression was very clear. I did not take meds (in fact, was undiagnosed despite very big and clearcut signs - long story), until the last few years, so kindling had an unimpeded run to play out. Wish I knew then what I know now. Could have saved me from a couple of decades of ever-increasing problems.

(As a sidenote, spans of remission - times in between episodes - can also masquerade as an alluring "proof" of being able to do without. Incidently, I had more and longer ones when younger.)

Not saying what anyone should or shouldn't do. Just sharing my personal experience, because I think it's relevant to the question.

So yeah, I'll take the meds. They've made a big difference for me.

[Direction]

I'm currently med free...took meds for 6 years with little success. The most success I've had is from the 'Wellsness Recovery Action Plan®' by Mary Ellen Copeland that lysias mentioned.

[okayone]

Since my bipolar was diagnosed, I must stay on the meds. Bipolar never goes away even though I thought many times it did, got off the meds, and there it is back again. Once you have it - it's all yours to take care of and be mindful to take care of yourself.

I hadn't heard of the kindling theory before. Looked it up online and like Innerzone, I have also lived it. For decades. I take my meds because I never want to go back to the very dark places that I have been and hopefully continue to avoid the destructive behaviors from the hypomania. My meds have saved my life.