Do you HAVE to be medicated?

cashart10 · Nov 27, 2014, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

Hallucinations are a huge deciding factor for most as this is typically used as an indicator for severity, and can be quite disturbing.

I've never realllllly been bothered by mine, they're a hindrance yes, but do they interfere with my actual functioning? No.

Guess I don't mind smelling rotting cadavers, seeing shyt, hearing people screaming obscenities at me, hearing entire conversations, blow by blow commentary, or having bugs crawl all over me.

Well I do mind, I just don't mind enough to want a daily AP.

Besides, believing I was Odin's daughter was actually quite fun.

My pdoc and I have been over this several times and every time she wins, convincing me I can't function without them (it doesn't help that my husband feels the same). But I HATE these drugs and have wanted to stop them since I started taking them again. And, the worst episode I have ever had was unmedicated, so I feel that my wants are reasonable. My delusions and hallucinations have only been harmful and scary for me, never to anyone else. She tells me that could change and that my symptoms are hard on my family. But, I have symptoms on the meds too. My pdoc is relocating (

)and I am going back to my old pdoc so I will revisit this with him. Thank you for sharing.

Victoria'smom · Nov 28, 2014, 12:18 AM

Trippin' I can deal with all that but the bugs!

Laini · Nov 28, 2014, 07:32 AM

Very interesting discussion. Ive been med free, my own choice for 9 wks. Cancelled new pdoc appt etc. Im okay but always at the back of my mind feel like i may go up not down. Its weird but okay. Maybe medication IS there for a reason.!!

Take care whatever you decide to do.. x

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I don't HAVE to be medicated, and my T agrees.

I was medicated for a while, hated it, made my symptoms worse, and in the end, it made me stupid too.

Planet Stupid is a horrifying place, I could never live there full time and never ever indefinitely.

It's one of theeeee most depressing things I've ever experienced. And I've been through some rough shyt.

"Relapses"...this word makes no sense to me with regards to Bipolar... An episode is not a drug, and being medicated to your eyeballs won't even guarantee you are symptom free, so what are these relapses professionals and patients keep harping on and on about?

You cycle either way, so where's the opportunity to relapse...

Remission is very rare, but not unheard of, I myself have experienced it, but recovery is an urban legend. And if there's no recovery, what is there to relapse from...

Sorry, just wondering out loud...

Anyway, unless I'm batshit crazy and COMPLETELY out of touch with reality, I will not be ingesting anymore daily anti-crazy pills.

I'm not opposed to a calming agent during acute episodes, but daily management is no longer an option.

To med or not to med, that is a very individual question. Depends on the person, their brand of bipolar, their coping skills, their support system... Many variables to take into consideration, and a very personal choice at that.

Ultimately, its your choice, whether you want to try meds or not. Unless you live in one of the few places where you legally don't have a say in your treatment.

Does not live on planet stupid and is taking meds for bp and another disorder

ozzy1313 · Nov 28, 2014, 09:11 AM

I takes meds- and every time I have an episode I go see pdoc and she adds another med and/or increases doses. I have zero negative side effects from any of my meds (I'm lucky that way) but it makes me wonder if at some point I will be on a million meds since I am going to cycle anyway.

I know I need some kind of anti depressant- I cannot survive without one. I have come to terms with that years ago. I like my night meds bc I drift peacefully off to sleep.

But it also seems like I am getting more severe episodes as I get older, and my most severe have been this past year- all after starting the drugs listed in my sig. Basically I have no idea about my feelings on medication.

Love&Toil · Nov 28, 2014, 09:24 AM

Very interesting conversation. When I get a mood shift or an anger swing my pdoc always wants to treat it with a med adjustment. Last time I was there we discussed a recent anger episode that was not bipolar related. Not everything is related to the illness. I don't want to pathologize every emotion.

sidney1771 · Nov 28, 2014, 02:56 PM

Let me get this straight. A professional, who is recommending medication treatment based on thousands and thousands of cases where it has been proven to be effective in treating bipolar is not good enough for you? Random people who may or may not currently be bitter, depressed, manic, suicidal, jaded to the core with horrible experiences looking for an outlet to complain to are the people you would rather get advice from? Not the 98% of the other people with bipolar who are on medications happily going about their lives?

When it comes to medication, getting advice from other people is the worse thing you can do. Every pill, every dose, every interaction with every person is completely different. The only person who can decide if you need to be medicated is you, but I strongly suggest that you listen to the professionals and work with them to manage and control your symptoms, reactions and long-term usage. If it doesn't work after giving it a go, you can always stop. Defer to the experts, not us. Just because most everybody here has taken or takes meds doesn't mean that we are experts. The only thing that anyone here is an expert in is what works for them. NOT YOU!

Trippin2.0 · Nov 28, 2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loophole

Does not live on planet stupid and is taking meds for bp and another disorder

I'm not sure why you felt the need to defend your choice to medicate. Because nowhere did I imply medicated people are all stupid.

Maybe if you understood the brain damage I sustained from ingesting Lithium you'd know my post was about ME, and ME ONLY.

But you know what, now you have me automatically attempting to defend my post about MY experience, and I've decided I would rather not, why bother.

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I'm not sure why you felt the need to defend your choice to medicate. Because nowhere did I imply medicated people are all stupid.

Maybe if you understood the brain damage I sustained from ingesting Lithium you'd know my post was about ME, and ME ONLY.

But you know what, now you have me automatically attempting to defend my post about MY experience, and I've decided I would rather not, why bother.

Lol you need to relax I was merely defending myself you should of made it clear you weren't pointing to everyone medicated or not medicated. But hey whatever

venusss · Nov 28, 2014, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loophole

Lol you need to relax I was merely defending myself you should of made it clear you weren't pointing to everyone medicated or not medicated. But hey whatever

why is it each time anybody says they are not medicated cause it don't work for them, some of the medicated people a) cling to their meds cases like ladies to their pearls in better case.... b) in the worst case they look ready to kill the "people like you" with their pill dispensers.

Trippin2.0 · Nov 28, 2014, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loophole

Lol you need to relax I was merely defending myself you should of made it clear you weren't pointing to everyone medicated or not medicated. But hey whatever

I said meds made ME stupid, not meds make people stupid.

So, there was zero point in defending yourself. Zero point in telling me I had typed unclearly, zero point in getting my back up against the wall.

Now u tell me I need to learn how to relax?

Maybe you need to learn how to comprehend, not just read. "Lol"

gayleggg · Nov 28, 2014, 03:55 PM

I've tried it without medication and have found I can't manage my depression without meds. I know there are some who can. I'm just not one of them. You will have to make that decision yourself.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

stellarx · Nov 28, 2014, 03:59 PM

Being medicated helps definitely. You have to commit yourself to taking the meds as scheduled though.

~Christina · Nov 28, 2014, 04:05 PM

Medications <~~~~ Personal choice.

I choose NO ! I can and will manage my unique Bipolar on my terms not on Big Pharmas toxic chemical soup

Goldcrest · Nov 28, 2014, 04:12 PM

I think the only thing you can do is see what works best for you, trial and error.

I have tried a lot of drugs over the last few years and unfortunately am over sensitive to nearly everything. Several drugs have given me difficult side effects that lasted long after stopping the drugs, and some have damaged me permanently. The positive effects have been minor. Those that had any other effect tended to make me go into mixed states or ultra rapid cycling.

I won't be taking any drugs voluntarily in the future. But I envy those who find medication does help them. It is hard for me to manage without any help.

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

I said meds made ME stupid, not meds make people stupid.

So, there was zero point in defending yourself. Zero point in telling me I had typed unclearly, zero point in getting my back up against the wall.

Now u tell me I need to learn how to relax?

Maybe you need to learn how to comprehend, not just read. "Lol"

Popcorn yum

emgreen · Nov 28, 2014, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loophole

Lol you need to relax I was merely defending myself you should of made it clear you weren't pointing to everyone medicated or not medicated. But hey whatever

I think meds must make some people punctuation impaired. I'm on meds, but hope I'm not stricken with this affliction.

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venusss

why is it each time anybody says they are not medicated cause it don't work for them, some of the medicated people a) cling to their meds cases like ladies to their pearls in better case.... b) in the worst case they look ready to kill the "people like you" with their pill dispensers.

All I said is I take meds and I'm not stupid. Sure don't sound like I'm going mental as your delusional statement above appears. Might wanna get that checked out. It appears you have something against people taking meds. Commenting as if they are all "pill heads" the way you imply it..

venusss · Nov 28, 2014, 05:01 PM

I have so much to say, but I will use my experience from Maidan petion stand.

*smiles, says "it is your opinion, we have a democracy.... want a leaftlet or a paper crane?"*

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emgreen

I think meds must make some people punctuation impaired. I'm on meds, but hope I'm not stricken with this affliction.

I'm mostly on my phone typing so I could care less. Where'd all the clowns come from? Yikes

venusss · Nov 28, 2014, 05:25 PM

Apparently, the smart phones aren't that smart.

I am not trying to be a grammar nazi, but as a dyslectic and person for whom English is not a native language... it is straining to read people who butcher the language. Honestly, I think it is incosiderate.

And.........

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/comma...most-important

No matter how smart your phone is, there is a difference helping your uncle, Jack, off the horse and helping your uncle jack off the horse.

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 05:57 PM

Popcorn. Good stuff

ombrétwilight · Nov 28, 2014, 07:13 PM

Well friends, let's keep the discussion related and civil. I hope we don't get our hackles up over this. To each his own, alright? To med or not is entirely personal so let's not judge one another's choices.

loophole · Nov 28, 2014, 07:49 PM

Thank you,,,my own personal situation was based on long term feats of bipolar 1 along side dissociative disorder. Along with being considered a rapid cycled I am was very unstable. Lamictal is not a party pill and is not abused as such. I have take. It for over 2 years and it's been a life saver.. I do believe that literally.. I am unable to curb my anguish and destroying relationships without it. No it's not perfect but it has put a slope on the otherwise dive bomb. I also will stay up for nights on end. Since starting a low dose of seroquel to help with sleep it has aloud me to manage my sleep much better.. I also have dissociative disorder... That's a treat from hell... A very high stress situation will cause me to slip out.. While being fully conscious I will go sometimes up to nearly a week without remembering much of anything. The week will seem like a slide show with many still frames in them. However I can't remember anything that was said to me or I said to them. Events etc are very hit and miss on what I will recall. Last episode landed me in inpatient (not by my decision) which turned into a month long of iop.. Was out of work the entire time as well.. Not fun but was necessary. I'm now on latuda as well and have been episode free for 3 months. Thumbs up

rdadger2003 · Dec 05, 2014, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ombrétwilight

I just saw new T for the second time today and we were discussing my future psychiatric evaluation. She told me that people with bipolar need to be medicated and I was sceptical, so I asked her why and she said it's because relapses tend to get more frequent and twice as bad each time they occur. Is that true? I have never heard of this and was under the impression that a healthy dose of talk therapy is possible to manage symptoms, unless it's the batshit crazy of mania (in which case I agree that meds are needed).

My experience with my daughter and she is a nurse meds are not something she is very regulated with by choice nor does she want the counseling. Her manic episodes are better but she isn't making good choices because she isn't dealing with the main issue of her problems. Medication is hard at first a combination can make you feel so much better.

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