[Hydrophobic1212]

Okay, so... This is hard to work with my parents about, but I don't know how to make them realize this is a good thing...

I have been off of my medication for about three months now and counting. I had to go off them due to my pancreatitis and I am not allowed back on anything until my doctor sees my lab results, as I have forgotten to fax them to him.

HOWEVER, this is the best I've felt in a really, really long time. I still get mood swings and depression, but honestly, that's how I've always been. Medication has only helped me somewhat in my entire lifetime of taking it, and what I experience now is nothing serious. Just the occasional "Oh, I"m sad about something so I'm going to cry it out" then I feel better soon after and am totally fine. My anger has been in check more so than it ever has been, and the best part about all of this is I CAN FINALLY THINK CLEARLY. With my past jobs, school, social situations... My medication made me very withdrawn and I wouldn't be able to do much of anything. Work was hard because customers would make witty remarks and I could never reply back and would only blush and look down. I was very quiet and I didn't do a good job.

Now, however, I'm very outgoing and positive and very helpful and able to do my job properly now that I don't have a cloud hanging over my head.

My psychiatrist told me once before, when I was younger, that my case didn't seem that severe and that he could honestly see me off of medication someday. I think that time might have finally come, and I talked to him about working on it, and he's okay with it.

It's just convincing my parents it's a good idea, is what's going to be tricky. I COULD go back on a smaller dose, but I HATE how they make me feel and I honestly feel better now.

I'm thinking I could offer to do it, but agree to seeing a therapist often to track my progress or something like that? The only reason my parents are so worried is because my uncle's brother died due to being unable to take care of himself due to his mental illness and being off his meds. I have assured them that will not happen to me and I know it won't because he was far worse off than I was. I am more than capable of taking care of myself and able to live on my own while he could not.

Any thoughts?

[gayleggg]

If you are not living with your parents why do you have to explain whether or not you are taking meds? And if questioned as simple, "my doctor thought I would be fine without them at this time." I gather from what you said you are an adult. The choice is yours. Just let your parents know if you have to say anything that you are still under a doctor's care.

[~Christina]

You are an adult ... You dont need to explain to them if you are or arent on meds .

[Victoria'smom]

If you really feel you need to explain tell them this is your next goal in treatment. That the therapist will track your progress and they really need to leave the doctor advice to the Dr.