Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if the prescription drugs you depend on becomes unavailable? Wouldn't you freak out?

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone over what-if scenarios in my head

- what if there is a major natural disaster and the medicine that I take becomes unavailable
- what if there is a world war
- what if I am stuck in the middle of nowhere
- what if _________

Not really. "What ifs" rarely occur, and if they did, everyone's life would change almost
immediately. I'd rely on the "Lemon Thing" probably.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by genetic

I'd rely on the "Lemon Thing" probably.

Say what?

Originally Posted by Yoda

Say what?

It's just a way of making the tissues and fluids of the body more alkaline
for better feeling tone, Yoda. Lol.

[Victoria'smom]

I try to stay a month or 2 ahead. We often have situations where our meds are not available.

Originally Posted by genetic

Not really. "What ifs" rarely occur, and if they did, everyone's life would change almost
immediately. I'd rely on the "Lemon Thing" probably.

Hi genetic. The 'lemon thing'? What exactly is that and how will it affect you?

Hi, Chelbten.

I've posted a thread on this called "The Lemon Thing And Why It Works For
Some of Us" on the Depression forum. I think it's probably back on maybe
page 6 or 7 by this time, but it does explain it thoroughly.

In essence, what it amounts to is squeezing 2 fresh lemons into about 6
ounces of water, then drinking it. If your feeling tone hasn't improved within
4 hours, repeat the process. That should alleviate much of the acid build up
that occurs in people who must take medications and who eat a western diet.

The theory behind it is posted on the thread I wrote earlier, but I will
mention only that it relates to the fact that all medications are digested leaving an acidic ash (or residue) which must be removed. When the meds are taken 7 days a week, it often puts a heavy burden on the kidneys to keep up; and because the lemon (although it tastes very bitter and is a citric acid fruit) is digested as one of the most alkaline foods we can ingest. (So is the lime.)

The use of the lemon occasionally for relief of acidic build-up simply gives relief and calms feeling tone for some of us. It may not work for everyone, but don't give up after one day. Try it if you wish for a couple of days before you decide that it is or isn't going to help. Thereafter, you might
wish to use it only occasionally for relief.

Good wishes.

[venusss]

Honestly, this is one of the too many reasons I don't take anything.

long time ago I made survival guide for various unlikely situation. Answer for "what if you are in country where a revolution/rebellion breaks out" was in all seriousness "support the rebels". Things changed since, but I kinda plan to make it through whatever may happen. And I cannot comfort myself with "nothing will happen", cause things do happen.

[LadyShadow]

You know what, I will be without the meds and let the spins and wheels fly. Im on the lowest dosage possible, so I think its just keeping me balanced. I know I can turn manic but if I'm worried about living or dying tomorrow, I think I will let my mania take over so I can think and function more efficiently.

[MzSchell]

I have actually gone without my medication for several days before and it was not fun.... however, I was so faint-headed and "brain-zappy" that I couldn't focus much on anything... Perhaps in an apocalyptic situation, this could be considered a blessing in disguise... always a silver-lining, LOL

[moremi]

I have actually thought the same thing about the end of times and no pharmacies or doctors. Scares me a lot because i know what happens about week three with no meds.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

[Nessa213]

In a highly stressful situation I turn manic. So in an apocalyptic situation I can only assume that I'd become the leader of a underground gang as we scrounge through the fallout wasteland of what was formerly the US Midwest.

More likely, it will be my lack of blood pressure medication, coupled with the pressure from a mutinous member in my gang, that will lead to a heart attack at the age of 42. (I'm guessing.)

[Resident Bipolar]

If there was a medication shortage, I'd buckle up and enjoy the roller-coaster

RB

[~Christina]

If the Apocalypse happens...

I seriously doubt Medications are even going to matter at that point, and having crates of lemons around seems unlikely and useless when looking at the big picture.

I think the only important matters will be food /water/shelter.

The 'apocalypse' refers to any situation that you find yourself in where your meds are not readily available, whether you are stranded on vacation and run out of meds or in a hurricane such as the recent catastrophic ones in the U.S. where many are displaced for months no homes, food, shelter, prescription. I too always try to make sure that my prescription does not run below two months. It's hurricane season and that always puts me in preparation mode.
Thanks for sharing guys

[liveforfish]

I thought of this while watching the Tsunami movie The Impossible. I wonder what I'd be like in a disaster without meds.
Kind of a scary thought.

[lolitahiddleston]

Originally Posted by PlatinumHeart

You know what, I will be without the meds and let the spins and wheels fly. Im on the lowest dosage possible, so I think its just keeping me balanced. I know I can turn manic but if I'm worried about living or dying tomorrow, I think I will let my mania take over so I can think and function more efficiently.

Yes I agree some people are always prepared for the apocalypse. Last year, a group of misguided Christians believed the end was nigh. A dozen years ago, Y2K was all the rage. Back when the Mayans were making predictions, so were the Essenes, a reclusive Jewish sect during Christ’s time on Earth. They thought the final battle between good and evil was coming any day now — more than 2,000 years ago. I truly believe when this occurs-not if-WHEN this happens I'll go down with a BANG!

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Chelbten

- what if there is a major natural disaster and the medicine that I take becomes unavailable

Oh! You might die from a major natural disaster, and then you would not need the medicine - problem solved!

On a more serious note - many pharmacies offer three month supplies. Get a three month supply, subscribe for recurrent refills or, if that is not possible, put reminders for yourself to request refills - and start worrying about things that have a higher likelihood of happening.

Originally Posted by Chelbten

Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if the prescription drugs you depend on becomes unavailable? Wouldn't you freak out?

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone over what-if scenarios in my head

- what if there is a major natural disaster and the medicine that I take becomes unavailable
- what if there is a world war
- what if I am stuck in the middle of nowhere
- what if _________

The 'apocalypse' refers to any situation that you find yourself in where your meds are not readily available, whether you are stranded on vacation and run out of meds or in a hurricane such as the recent catastrophic ones in the U.S. where many are displaced for months no homes, food, shelter, prescription. I too always try to make sure that my prescription does not run below two months. It's hurricane season and that always puts me in preparation mode.
Thanks for sharing guys

Originally Posted by Chelbten

The 'apocalypse' refers to any situation that you find yourself in where your meds are not readily available, whether you are stranded on vacation and run out of meds or in a hurricane such as the recent catastrophic ones in the U.S. where many are displaced for months no homes, food, shelter, prescription. I too always try to make sure that my prescription does not run below two months. It's hurricane season and that always puts me in preparation mode.
Thanks for sharing guys

___________________________________
I think most thought of the apocalypse as the end of the world, Chelbten,
which may be why some responses advocated drastic measures such as
dragging one's club back to the cave to protect one's supply of everything.

In a case such as the one you mention, you'd need to have a psychiatrist's
approval to fill prescriptions for 3-6 months in advance, probably. I don't
know of one who would even consider that.

Some cute responses on this thread, I think.

[faerie_moon_x]

Originally Posted by Chelbten

Have you ever wondered what would happen to you if the prescription drugs you depend on becomes unavailable? Wouldn't you freak out?

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone over what-if scenarios in my head

- what if there is a major natural disaster and the medicine that I take becomes unavailable
- what if there is a world war
- what if I am stuck in the middle of nowhere
- what if _________

Dwelling on the what if's of a huge disaster that may never happen is not a good idea. I used to have massive panic attacks because I read an article about how the world was going to flip poles in 2003 or something. Anyway, I had just had a baby and the world was about to come to an end. This article was written by a scientist and touting how a pole flip may have been part of the reason the dinosaurs were extinct. It took me about six months to recover from that one article.

Well, as we all know, the poles didn't suddenly flip and we're all still here. I learned that freaking out over "what ifs" is a bad idea.

So, think of it this way:

The reason most people with bipolar are medicated is to fit into the "box" of society. That grand idea that everyone must work a 9 hour a day job, smile and say "fine" when asked "how are you?" Everyone must live in a house with a white picket fence, have 2.3 children, wake up at 6:30 a.m. and go to bed at 9:30 p.m. We must all listen to the same pop music, watch the same t.v. shows, graduate college and dilligantly pay our bills quietly and without complaining. We all have to color inside the lines. If you happen to not fit into this box, you are less somehow.

So if tomorrow the zombie apocolyps or whatever comes, all those lovely box dreams will die. Your high anxiety might keep you alive longer because you're more likely to react to things out of place, giving you a stronger fight or flight response. Your mania might give you the drive to run faster, longer. Your depression might get you to hunker down and stay silent where no one else is going to find you, thus the hord / bandits pass you by unnoticed. Paranoia will aid you in keeping strangers at arm's length and not trusting too quickly. And delusions / hallucinations can suddenly install you as someone with foresight and wisdom, just like the shamans of earlier times. Thinking of it that way puts a new spin on things. right?

[wing]

I think I'd look for other BiPolar people and form a support group! We could hang on to each other.

I can see it all, now, Wingin'it.

Some would be running with their clubs for the cave for more supply; the shy, quiet artists (not a Van Gogh, Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, etc., just the homemaker who is an artist and creates lovely floral paintings) fleeing as fast as possible from the cave dwellers and trying to find some place clean, well-lighted, and quiet (as Ernest Hemingway would say).

I'd be scared to death to be with the 93% of bipolar patients who never seek help for their illness and never take any prescribed medication for the volcanic explosions or tear-flooding hours.

My first question in such a case might be to ask the cave man or cave woman standing next to me, "are you taking any medications for help?". Then, we might talk friendship if the answer is "yes". Otherwise, it would probably be every one for himself/ herself; forget the togetherness of loving personalities; it would genuinely be the survival of the fittest. And in such a case,the "fittest" would always be the one who carried the heaviest, strongest club.

As "Dubble Monkey" would say, it would probably be a free-for-all. He's really a very sharp dude on this forum, Wingin'it. You should get to know him.

God help us if we ever have an apocalypse of the type imagined on this thread by several. There would be no need for the 7 plagues of the Bible.