I am not on a huge amount of meds. I also have MS and I suffer from severe fatigue. When I was diagnosed, I tried no meds and now I am on a low dosage.

I am in therapy and limit my caffeine,alcohol and try to get enough sleep and some exercise.

Are any of you opting for no meds or trying to manage with other methods?

[Mikeyboy]

I've tried several medications, each one having side-effects that made their use not possible for me, including lamictal, which I had high hopes for. I've had bad reactions to meds since I was a child, so I've always been a bit paranoid about taking anything, so trying several psych meds that gave me bad reactions turned me off to it. However, I'm very much not coping and I'm finding it very difficult to function in daily life lately, so I'll be seeing my psychiatrist again soon to discuss trying something else. SSRIs and mood stabilizers have not worked well with me. We discussed possibly using an antipsychotic the last time I saw her, but I have some serious reservations about that. But something has got to give at this point.

[Blue_Bird]

I'm on meds and in therapy.

[p123]

I wonder what would happen if everyone in here worked out hard for an hour a day?

[Trippin2.0]

I stopped taking meds 3 years ago, there's very few of us here who take nothing, a few who's busy working toward being med free and 1 member who's pdoc agrees to medicate her as needed...

[nomzod]

The way it was explained to me (by my psych teacher in college) if you go to a psychiatrist and say, "I think I might be depressed/ADD/PTSD/something generally wrong" they will talk with you for a while, get you involved in some therapy, and maybe discuss medication after you've sorted your brain out. But there are two problems that will make the psychiatrist immediately reach for their prescription pad.

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

[surfacetoair]

Refusing to stay on meds caused me to basically throw away a big part of my life. Life got better when I accepted that I was going to be swallowing pills for the rest of life. About a year ago, therapy became a component and depending on why you try it and what your expectations are, it can be great. Meds serve a purpose as far as stability goes, but if you have life events causing depression, or your moods are linked to PTSD, a therapist comes in handy.

[Nightside of Eden]

Originally Posted by p123

I wonder what would happen if everyone in here worked out hard for an hour a day?

I do exercise for about 45 minutes most days. It has no appreciable effect on my bipolar disorder.

I only take meds now. I've tried therapy in the past and it made me feel worse.

[Disorder7]

Right now I just have benzos for panic.

Abilify made me vomit, Lamictal caused edema, SSRIs gave me constant headaches. If I can find a med which doesn't result in a nasty side effect, I'll take it.

[CozyMellie]

Originally Posted by p123

I wonder what would happen if everyone in here worked out hard for an hour a day?

I'm with you on that. In addition to taking meds, working out regularly has definitely benefited me. It helped establish a routine for me. It strengthens my mind (boxing is definitely a mind sport). My self esteem is boosted after a really intense workout. But at least once a week though, I really don't want to go, and try to talk myself out. However I have a little note I put on my car dashboard that says "remember, you always feel better after a workout." Which is true for me. I always leave the gym feeling at least 1% better than how I did going in. And sometimes that makes all the difference in the world.

[StayinAlive]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

I am not on a huge amount of meds. I also have MS and I suffer from severe fatigue. When I was diagnosed, I tried no meds and now I am on a low dosage.

I am in therapy and limit my caffeine,alcohol and try to get enough sleep and some exercise.

Are any of you opting for no meds or trying to manage with other methods?

I resisted meds for a long time, many years ago. When I finally got my current diagnosis and meds to treat it, my world became much better. I was able to do things I never dreamed possible, such as getting a master's degree and buying a house. I still have some very bad times, but nothing like before the meds. I would never, ever stop them voluntarily. Actually, I sometimes feel so good that I convince myself to cut back, or stop, one of my meds. I always go back. Pdoc supports this -- I never ask in advance and he never tries to stop me. I guess he knows what will happen. I never stop all meds.

Interesting question. We are all different.

[Victoria'smom]

I'm currently in-between therapists and psychiatrists.

I'm on 2 meds for my bipolar both are under theraputic levels. The viibryd has made my brain mush but it also makes me incredibly uncomfortable if I'm not eating or drinking regularly. So that's a forever Med and I have no bad reactions to the low dose lamictal except for intended longer, lighter moods and swallowing the stupid pill. I am trying to detox from my meds but have to do it slowly. I was never able to get use to the effects medicine did/does to my moods and it has made me a worse person because of it. I've currently got it cut to.half of my meds every other day. My former pdoc and therapists were willing to work with me without meds. So hopefully my new treatment team is willing to work with me too.

I want to be Med free with just an as needed med but I would need a much larger professional soupport team involving often/ always being in intensive out patient. As it was on meds I had 2 therapists, psychiatrist, reg Dr and an occational dietitian that also worked with my other family members professional teams for complete care . Try to find meds that help with your MS symptoms and bipolar.

[Nammu]

Currently I'm on meds but no therapy-- insurance issues. The meds I take are ok and the best combo I've ever been on. A low dose of AP and ave dose of Lamicatal with ambian.

Before this I had no meds but weekly therapy appointments and I feel I did much better with that. I had a life and I was involved with people and community.

I'm bipolar II with PSTD and the docs have said when I'm back in long term therapy they would see how it goes with discontinuing the meds again. I hate being chained to doctors and pills.

[gubernova]

I take meds and go to therapy. But of course, lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Exercise, going to sleep at the same hour, avoid negative people, prayer, etc.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Just recently diagnosed Bipolar II. I've been in therapy for 5 years, and just started meds a week and a half ago. I'm already feeling some benefits. For me, I feel so much better already on the meds, that I can't see myself going off them. If I start having intolerable side effects, I'll talk to my pdoc and see what we can do, but I know that being un-medicated doesn't work - been there, done that, nearly didn't survive. I'll probably stay in therapy long term as well. I still have some things that I need to work out, and I know that I need the support of my therapist.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

Just recently diagnosed Bipolar II..... but I know that being un-medicated doesn't work - been there, done that, nearly didn't survive.

With all due respect, you cannot say "done that", because in actuality you didn't do that at all, so your statement is very misleading.

You were undxd and unmedicated, so it obviously couldn't have worked because you never knew what you were up against.

Whatever you thought you were doing pre-dx, it certainly wasn't living with bipolar umedicated...
Knowledge is power afterall
*Just my 00.02c

I forgot to add that I'm seeing a T weekly as of the beginning of this year. I'll only see him till December and then hopefully start DBT come January. It has helped immensely.

And I agree, if I had a PRN med, like a benzo or something I would use it too. I'm not against meds, daily med management is just an ill-fitting model for me, and unfortunately not many pdocs prescribe to any other model of treatment.

[venusss]

No meds, no therapy.

Don't really believe in the first for me (for many reasons. Chemistry will not magically fix my problem... I cannot afford to mess with my brain. If I could find something that would surely make me feel better right here right now, I mighta take it. But from what I know, it'š years of finding combo that works........... until it stops working. Not an option).

And cannot afford the second one, timewise and moneywise.

[ozzy1313]

Originally Posted by p123

I wonder what would happen if everyone in here worked out hard for an hour a day?

I work out when I am depressed, I work out when "normal", I work out when hypomanic. Doesn't change anything mentally.

I am a much better person on meds and don't ever plan on stopping them.

I think therapy can help, but it seems in my case it's more chemical than anything else.

[BlessedRhiannon]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

With all due respect, you cannot say "done that", because in actuality you didn't do that at all, so your statement is very misleading.

Thank you for so effectively invalidating and dismissing my experiences without knowing anything more about me than the brief statement I posted. I'll go back to my happy little corner in the psychotherapy forum now.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

Thank you for so effectively invalidating and dismissing my experiences without knowing anything more about me than the brief statement I posted. I'll go back to my happy little corner in the psychotherapy forum now.

No offense, but it really sounded as generalizing.

And as much as I am happy for you that your meds work.... week and half isn't nearly enough to judge. And I actually remember Trippin' endorsing meds for me loooooooooooooong time ago. So who knows... minds change.

[tealBumblebee]

I opted for no meds. Because my parents chose to overlook my needs growing up (only saw a pDoc and a T because it was mandated and the moment no one was looking, they took me out); I've developed (paraphrasing T's words) "exceptional coping skills as a means of survival". I figure if I could make it that long and be okay, then I know i'm capable of it so meds just aren't a necessity, and now no longer an option (because i'm antimeds) for me. I do have a T though, and she helps me a lot.

[Ms.Beeblebrox]

I'm off lithium since June. Never had therapy for BP. Doing well for now. Never really noticed any difference since I stopped my tiny doze of lithium.

[Trippin2.0]

Originally Posted by BlessedRhiannon

Thank you for so effectively invalidating and dismissing my experiences without knowing anything more about me than the brief statement I posted. I'll go back to my happy little corner in the psychotherapy forum now.

If I knew you were going to be offended I wouldn't have bothered to say anything.

I didn't invalidate nor dismiss your experience. I merely rectified your grammar as it was misleading, and this is a poll afterall.

Incase I was somehow unclear, I'll try again. Because I'm nice like that.

You said you were only dxd recently, which means you didn't know you were bipolar whilst unmedicated.

Which in turn means you didn't know what you were battling or that you even needed ammo, nevermind which ammo.

Which obviously means you had a hell of a time. We've all been there, that moment the shyt hits the fan, your world is crashing around you, you can't make sense of any of it and you wonder wtf is wrong with you, and or whether or not you've gone completely mad...

Pre-dx is an ugly ugly time for most of us, its why we go see a pdoc...

Now...
There's a difference between being med free bipolar whilst managing the symptoms and being without meds because you don't know you have a problem, are in denial or refuse to take care of yourself.

People who fall into the first camp fare better than those in the others, because we're effectively taking care of ourselves.
Just without meds.

Hope that was clearer, and up to your standard of posting.

I'm really sorry that you saw reason enough to get upset and retreat to a different forum, but I was just pointing out that there's a stark difference between actively being unmedicated and being unmedicated pre-dx.

I'll stop posting now as I'm apparantly chasing people away from this board and that wasn't my intention. I'll stick to lurking.

Take care

[venusss]

Trippin' you are chasing anybody away. You are one of the people who make this board special and unique from others. Please, stay.

[NWgirl2013]

Trippin' sounds pretty clear and logical to me too, just sayin' ...

And that is my favorite sort of response and the ones I like to see in Any forum; someone who took the time and effort to give a real response.

Please keep posting Trippin', I think you have fans!

P.S. Pardon my intrusion: didn't mean to hijack your thread BlessedRhiannon