witout meds???

is it at all possible for someone with bipolar to get her life in order without meds? I just don't understand!! I don understand why I am fighting not taking my meds but I have been off of them for bout 2 months now... I really did not feel any different (I don't think) on thm than off of them. I am just very confused and cannot ge my thughts together and I have been so numb just to survive and make it through another day...will meds really change that? Please I need everyones imput an advice because I am on my last whatever

Winky, I was talking to my T Tuesday about this very issue. I've noticed that when I start feeling good, I "forget" to take my meds, and then start "forgetting" appointments. And I'm fine for awhile. Maybe 4, 5 months or longer. Than the hypo starts up. I start feeling out of control, and I get depressed. So, I run right back to them. I know that for me, I need my meds everyday.

Sometimes, I really don't like the side affects, and I've learned to use some of the hypo to my advantage, i.e. multi-tasking. But in general, I find that my life is sooooo much better when I am taking my meds.

I don't know if this will help in anyway, just what I've been through.

Here's a just in case you need one.

Jeffro

I'm not on meds or in treatment. I would say it's not easy and it takes every bit of sheer will to keep going most of the time. I've never been on meds for long periods. I function on will power. My mom is the one who taught me will power, by surviving 11 years with breast cancer and not laying down to die.

I just refuse to give up. I learn everything I can about my bipolar. I track my moods, I learn reality checking for my psychosis, I take responsability for my episodes, I learn my triggers, I try to stay on my routins and take care of myself.

I often dream some magic will come down and save me sometimes, then I remember that nothing can save me except myself. I'm my own super hero. It's taken me a lot of hard work and vigilance to get this far and I feel I have much more to learn and farther to go. I'm not perfect but I won't give up.

I am truly thinking about giving in because I am not sure how much longer I can handle it on my own!!!!! I have myself so numb that I cannot ever feel enjoyment!!!

Don't give up.

We fight a war every day and the only way you lose is if you give up. You're not alone.

I know exactly how you feel, not wanting to do it on your own. I've been there a thousand times. Don't give up!

I'm with Jeffro. Prior to being dx'd I had a very rocky road. I was having episodes like crazy, mania and hypo scare me. I can be very mean, have road rage and think people are talking abt me. Lithium changed all that. I hate taking meds but I'd rather take them than deal w/ regular episodes. I've read how people go w/ out meds. I'm on a budget so organic food or really healthy food is out. I've tried keeping a mood chart and didn't stick to it. I'm a very strong woman and I don't feel like taking meds take away from my strength.

I used to really resent having to take medications to be "normal", way back when the only things I was on were Paxil and a little Ativan. So I'd go off them for a while, fail miserably at life and go back on, then once over a four-month period I proudly tapered myself off and stayed off for another four months.

Then, WHAM!! the depression from Hell struck me like a hurricane and left destruction and chaos in its wake. By this time the Paxil was useless, so my PCP put me on Wellbutrin with disastrous results.....the stuff literally made me psychotic AND manic. I was seriously considering becoming homicidal when PCP referred me to psych, and since then I've had to resign myself to the fact that I really must take my medications if I want any quality of life whatsoever. Now I thank God for them, for the scientists who developed them, and for the wise doctor who prescribes them for me.

Thanks I needed to hear that! I have been doing nothing but playing with my meds for years now!! I would go on them, start feeling better and take myself back off of them saying I don't need them and each time I get more and more done, self destructive and suicidal!!!! I don't understand why I do it though!!! I get to the point of where I am right now and say ok I need to find a psych and start taking them and then bingo I get feeling better and at f it again!!!! Anyways!!!!

Each time you do that your brain has to find its equilibrium because you aren't naturally producing the neurotransmitters anymore. What you're experiencing is probably withdrawal symptoms, especially if you're cold turkeying the medications and you're on high doses.

If you're going to take medication, try to commit to it for x amount of months..perhaps 6. Then evaluate the effectiveness of the medication with a therapist/pdoc at the end of the period. During that period if the medication is just not working then speak up so you can change the medication and reset your commitment. This will keep you on medication long enough to decide if you REALLY want to stay on it or if you hate it and rather go without. It can also help you figure out if the medication is actually working long-term or if it isn't.

You can also look into alternative lifestyles or learn coping mechanisms from members here. You don't necessarily need to take medication if its not for you.

I know that you quoted "normal", but if 1/5 (maybe 1/4) individuals are reported to experience mental illness at any given time. I'd say that we're a growing minority. I used to believe taking medication would help me normalize, but then I realized I'll be a weirdo for life.

Yeah.......me too.

Meds did help to stabilize me initially. If there were bp meds to use as needed, I'd sign myself up, I would. But maintainence meds are not for me, its hard to cope without I don't deny, but I coped for many years prior to dx so I figure I can cope now too... Some great advice above about giving the meds a time limit before evaluating your progress, I always say do what's best for you

this so much. If meds haven't been working for you all that well, please don't confuse withdrawal for "see, I really need them".

The goal should be to be at lowest possible dose of the least invasive thing anyways (although most shrinks don't feel like that these days. If you okay with being doped up pre-emptively... that's you choice. If not... there are other ways to deal with your quirks).