[wildflowerchild25]

So my mind seems to finally be at ease, at least for now, no doubt due to the abilify. but now i seem to be moving and speaking at an ultra-slow pace, so much so that it is quite noticeable to those around me. Even my students have asked me why i'm moving so slow (they're not exactly a tactful bunch!). I also feel like i am having muscle weakness/stiffness.

so now the question is, do I continue on as a robot with a sound mind, or do I risk the rollercoaster again so i can have a sound body?

it seems truly unfair that this is what we must choose between so often.

i will be talking to my pdoc about this this week hopefully. whenever she can fit me in. dunno what can be done besides maybe backing down the dose a little. maybe i can live with the less extreme mood swings that come with the lower dose...better than the craziness of unmedicated me!

That's a hard position to be put in. A sound mind or a sound body? Wish I could say something profound right now, but nothing is coming to mind. That's my meds working on me. My thinking is slowed way down.

Just know that you are alone, and there are friends here.

[A Red Panda]

I don't have any advice, but I thought I'd pop in and say that my darling group of students consistently point out to me when I use the wrong word, and have informed me this week that I've been very forgetful lately (they had to tell me the date, and remind me of our schedule, and informed me that I wrote the wrong weekday on the whiteboard, etc etc). I'm grateful for it, they get a little laugh and I get corrected!

[ultramar]

so now the question is, do I continue on as a robot with a sound mind, or do I risk the rollercoaster again so i can have a sound body?

Wow, this is so well put --med side effects vs how the meds help us, this describes the quandary we're often in really well and I get it. I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you and your pdoc can find a therapeutic dose that doesn't give you these side effects -I know how frustrating it can be!

[bluewave7]

I struggle with the med bog too. I get on meds, gain weight, feel slowed down, stable, and unexciting. However, my husband said I was functional now and still exciting. I don't feel it though. I want some hypomania at least. Maybe an energy drink?!! Maybe it's the drama I miss. I used to paint all day and write poetry. Now I hang out on the Internet, read 10 year old library books and pack up the house for the move. It's so boring!

I have been walking since yesterday and it is helping me with the sluggishness and boredom...and hopefully with the weight issue.