[Capriciousness]

Just wondering how people would feel about there being a "cure".

[Curiosity77]

Interesting question. I don't know who I would be if I hadn't had all the experiences related to really crazy moods. So much chaos, adventures, depressions, everything. My life would be a lot less suffering, but i would also loose some of my insights and some of the most exciting, intense parts. It's hard to imagine what cured would feel like. I think my bipolar makes me extremely sensitive to my surroundings, other people, and situations. That sensitivity is a blessing and a curse. Small things really hurt me, but I can also see connections between things that other people miss. I think I would probably take the pill, but i would hope that the pill wouldn't take away the best parts of me with the disorder. It would be nice to know what normal feels like.

[Capriciousness]

I am not sure what I think. There are cute shirts you can buy that say "peace, love, cure bipolar disorder" and that is a very nice idea. I guess I just worry that whatever had to happen in my brain to "cure" it of the bipolar would alter it beyond just the awful bipolar symptoms I would like to get rid off. That somehow parts of me are attached to the bipolar and that removing them or fixing it all would change me too much.

I mean I guess if the definition of this cure was that it only would get rid of the bad parts than sure that would be great. But in reality I feel that bipolar is more complicated than that. This is probably a larger discussion of bipolar and identity etc and should have its own thread but I feel that who I am is considerably tangled up in the bipolar. A cure just seems too simple for what is going on. I don't know. Just throwing out ideas and thought when I should be trying to fall asleep. Well of course....I mean I am bipolar

I will say tho that i am all for improved treatments!

[Capriciousness]

Hey curiosity77 I agree with what you said. I feel that way too. If meds didn't cut it for me anymore and there was a cure pill sitting there and I was in pain and my family needed me. It would be hard not to take it. But it would not be an easy choice.

Like you I have had this for so long and it has shaped me and I don't know how much of me is me because I am bipolar. If they find a cure I too hope that it would somehow leave me intact.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm not sure what I'd do if there were such a magic pill. So much of my life experience and my interpretation of the things I've seen, done, and been are all inextricably linked with who I am as a person who lives with bipolar. If I could keep all the passion without the suffering, then sign me up---I'd take it in a heartbeat. But if it meant giving up the parts that have made me compassionate and created this interesting life I lead, then....well.....I'd have to think about it, but I probably wouldn't.

I'd take it in a heartbeat.

[greylove]

Another heartbeat here.......

Yeah I would take it - if the cure had no serious side effects.

Im interested to know if answers depend on your BP type, if you have more ups than downs, I can see why you might not want a cure, but more severe downs than ups, I dont understand why you wouldnt take it.

[Crazy Hitch]

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is oh hell yes!

[Roblovescats]

Don't tease me. There is nothing I like about being bipolar 1. Mania is never hypo for me and I hate what it's done to my life. Yes. In a heartbeat.

Sent from the dark side of the moon

[gayleggg]

Yes, I would take it, if it would take away the depression part, too. Absolutely.

I was 43 when bp showed up, I'd love a pill that would make it go away. I miss me.

[Capriciousness]

I think I am overthinking it in a way. Yes if a cure meant it would just fix the broken parts if my brain and that would mean that the crappy abnormal brain activity would never happen again. Then yes. I really would take in and spend whatever needed to be spent and go wherever I needed to go. Like I said I am all for better treatment which I guess may not be different from a cure. I would be happy to take a safe and effective pill for the rest if my life and perhaps that is a form of "cure".

My weird other feeling is just that the broken parts couldn't be fixed without altering my brain in other ways. Like if you have a tumor wrapped around your bile duct and you can't remove it because it is so entwined and it would kill the bike duct. But I guess if it was damaging it wouldn't be a very good cure now would it. I am just making it more complicated playing around with what a cure means or would be like etc. I there was a way to make the bipolar torment go away I would do it. I am also proud to be bipolar. So shrug.

This is basically a science fiction discussion anyway.

[Phoenix_1]

Probably. It depends on the side effects.
But would I still be me?

[Victoria'smom]

I would give it to my son.

Myself, I'm going to have to think about it.

[gris212]

Yes!! I would want it to cure me and most of all the pain and deepening depressions. I love the highs, but I don't care for the lows. I have a better grasp on my illness than my mom, I suffer with her rages, it brings on my anxiety and sadness. If a magic pill could make all those awful feelings disappear, then yes Ill be the 1st in line!

[wing]

Why not, nothing else works.

[venusss]

So, would it mean I would unsee places I seen.

Heck, I would probably undo my years in the USA as exchange student cause I applied when manic, I would never learn English this well and would probably not have my current job. I would not be passionate to this level and would not travel to Kosova, Albania or Crimea. If I weren't urged to travel to escape, I would not meet some great great great people. Most imporantly, I would not meet one great person that changed me to better.

I would be a different person. And I am afraid I mighta be the kind of person I don't like.

[reesecups]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Yeah I would take it - if the cure had no serious side effects.

Im interested to know if answers depend on your BP type, if you have more ups than downs, I can see why you might not want a cure, but more severe downs than ups, I dont understand why you wouldnt take it.

Same here. I'm BP2 and have far more downs than ups.

[GardenGirl729]

I would take it. However, it would be scary as I have never felt "normal."

I would definitely take it because my depressions are horrible - - I wouldn't wish them on anyone

[nowIgetit]

I would take it. I've suffered with horrible bouts of depression since I was a child and have never had the mania that feels good...maybe hypomania sometimes but mostly my "ups" tend to be short-lived rage-y, irritable, anxious, jittery times with long bouts of depression and occasionally a few weeks of normalcy here and there. BP 2 here.

[~Christina]

No. Bipolar is part of me..I am happy with who I am, Sure I struggle at times but everyone, BP or not have good times and bad .

[Yoda]

for bipolar and ptsd and adhd - yes, yes and yes

but wait.... what if my creative spirit and my stamina to work long hours stems from those attributes?

Can I do a trial on the pills and then decide?

In a New York minute!