Is this true?

Article on this very site: "Bipolar disorder is probably the main psychiatric disorder where medication is absolutely essential. I’ve had people ask me if there’s any way to do this without medicine. [My answer is] absolutely not."

Why is that? Can't the triggers be all controlled for?

I have something bipolar-like going on for me (though it is not simple mood swings, it is coupled with some sort of overthinking in a weird way, though usually far from schizo delusional thinking) and the last time I got an episode I almost called up a psychiatrist for meds but then I decided to give myself one last chance to control it without meds.

I've been paying attention to sleeping enough every night and that helps. (Unfortunately my energy only extends as far as ensuring enough hours of sleep but I have not yet made myself go to bed early and get up early. So I ensure enough hours by allowing myself to sleep in real late but this works so far.)

Have not had an episode for 1.5 months now and that's a record. Some emotional moods still want to come up especially when once I did not sleep enough but I can recognize and control them now.

Am I just being delusional in thinking that I can put this under control permanently? Should I expect it to rebound back stronger later or get worse in whatever way?

This is all assuming I'm really bipolar, if I am it's the milder form for sure, though I did have two psychotic episodes with full on racing thoughts and real hyperactivity before but I removed the trigger for those. Now I just have the overthinking and the mood swings.

Also I did always crash for a short while after each episode finish. For the psychotic episodes, I crashed by getting sensory overload, which I never have otherwise. For the other episodes simple depressive crash but short lasting before returning to my baseline which in itself can be seen as mild atypical depression.

Well that's about it, let me know your thoughts please.

Some people feel they need meds to get by with this disorder.
Some people feel confident that they can manage without meds.
For some people, the meds really help them keep their symptoms under control.
Some people are med resistant.
Everyone's different.

For me, the typical 6-8 hours of sleep per night is essential. And that's not going to bed late and sleeping in late. It's going to bed at around 11 and waking up around 7 ideally.

Thinking that you can get it under control on your own without meds may or may not be, as you say, "delusional." It may or may not come back stonger. It may or may not get worse.

Many of your questions would be better answered by a professional. We aren't doctors and can't diagnose you. Pretty much everyone could see in themselves a symptom or two from any disorder. You should probably just set up an appointment for an evaluation, describe your symptoms to the doctor and see what s/he has to say.

I would say call and go see a psychiatrist because ultimately they are the professional who can make a diagnosis. I mean, sure, one can "self-diagnose" depression because it's usually quite obvious, but other symptoms can occur in many disorders. When I first went in for evaluation, I had no idea what I had. I knew I was depressed. I knew I had had psychotic episodes. But things like mania/hypomania can often be confused with anxiety/panic attacks or whatever. People can become psychotic in any number of disorders.

The only way to know for sure is sit down and have a deep conversation/evaluation by a professional/professionals. My evaluation/diagnosis was no short visit. Plan on clearing your schedule for this and remember you have to be completely honest with the doctors evaluating you; no matter how embarrassing the symptoms (for example, hyersexuality) may be. My evaluation consisted of two evaluations: first by a psychologist then a psychiatrist. They asked me if I was okay with trying psych meds. Truthfully, nobody can force you to take medication. I voluntarily began taking medication because I didn't know what else would help. And though it has helped me, it has also robbed me of some of my personality (or so it feels).

I wish you luck in your journey. It may be long, but it will be for the best. Medication or not, it can be a relief to finally get that diagnosis and from there, the proper form of treatment (for you) can truly begin.

Hey tiger-- I'll just speak from my own experience. I've been dealing with bipolar for years (although I was only correctly diagnosed last year. For 15 years I had the same pattern. I would get meds to deal w/the depression. When the depression went away I'd decide I didn't need the meds anymore. Some time after stopping the meds I would become hypomanic, and when that episode ended fall into even deeper depression. So for me, meds are essential for my stability.

I'd agree with cmorales that a professional diagnosis is crucial. They may find features of your disorder that you may not even be aware of, and that may lead to a different kind of treatment. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck.

Thanks but, I did not ask for a diagnosis here. I described my symptoms just for the sake of giving more context to my question and for the sake of comparison if applicable, etc. I wanted to hear from people about their thoughts on the topic, which is, I repeat, not about me being diagnosed. I really do not understand what this forum is for if not for discussion of stuff like this? To get informed about things more, about other people's experiences and so on. In this case I am specifically interested in hearing if anyone here has experience about going without meds and under what conditions. The article surprised me with this categorical statement that meds are absolutely required.

Thanks for writing about your experiences.

Did you not get informed about other options then other than asking if you are OK with taking meds?

I'm not worried about being forced to take medication, I'm not dangerous to myself or to others so not getting hospitalized against my own will and I suppose that's the only case where you'd be getting forced to.

Thanks to you too. That makes sense. I guess in my case if I have any depression it is not too bad, just whatever baseline I already have that I am used to, so that may be helping in my case in terms of me feeling like I don't need meds just yet.

To be honest, I didn't really ask about other options... though I did begin therapy about the same time as my meds. I was just so desperate when I went in I was willing to try anything. I also lived untreated for about 15 years. My life was a mess; I was self-medicating... but, now, of course, I miss it. Yes, it was a mess, but it was my mess.

I know it's very unorthodox, and taboo, but I (personally) found (and still find) cannabis to be very helpful in regulating moods when needed -- though not something I would openly suggest to someone who is regularly psychotic (my psychosis comes and goes and I can usually feel it setting in and so I know when to avoid it).

Also, I found a book a few months ago that has been quite helpful called:
"Overcoming Bipolar Disorder -- A Comprehensive Workbook for Managing Your Symptoms & Achieving Your Life Goals" by Mark S. Bauer, Amy M. Kilbourne, Devra E. Greenwal, Evette J. Ludman w/ Lind McBride

Overcoming Bipolar Disorder: A Comprehensive Workbook for Managing Your Symptoms and Achieving Your Life Goals: Mark Bauer, Evette Ludman, Devra E. Greenwald, Amy M. Kilbourne: 9781572245648: Amazon.com: Books

I thought I had PMDD, then borderline personality disorder. And I resisted going for help because I had previously tried talking to a counsler that sucked (without being politically correct). So I did a lot of reading on med-free self treatment for the two disorders I mentioned above. I took many supplements, exercised, meditated, and recognized my negative thoughts and made a point to change those. It helped for a short period of time, but my extreme irritability and sensory overload could not be controlled. So I finally gave in and got help. And ended up with a bipolar diagnosis. I was close but no cigar, if you will, in trying to diagnose myself and treating myself.

Once you get a professional diagnosis you can then decide which avenue you are going to take for treatment. Meds or no meds. Lots of people can control their symptoms by doing what I had tried before reaching out for help. I, however, am not one of those people. I have to take medication. Also, if you ask for help you will also be able to talk to a therapist/counsler to learn coping skills you may have never tried. Medication is considered only a tool in your treatment plan, its not the end all be all even if thats the route you choose to take. Either way you go you would benefit from getting professional help.

I understand you werent asking whether or not you should seek help for a professional diagnosis, but if youre asking about meds or no meds, you should start with getting a professional diagnosis so you can make a wiser decision.

I know you probably don't want to hear this BUT though we know a lot from our own experiences...only a psychiatrist can evaluate and help you understand what exactly is going on with you. Sure we can give insight on our diagnosis but everyone is so different and only a professional can gather what is going on with you and tell you for sure what label there is for it.

I hope you find what youre looking for.

I have a friend who is bipolar and went off her meds for 10 years before having a very destructive manic episode. She was very depressed for at least the last couple of years. If you're bipolar, it's possible to be off meds, but once you hit the wall only meds will bring you back down. There is no cure.

Borderline PD also features emotional dysregulation, but the goal is to prescribe medication over the short term and focus on DBT as a treatment.

I am looking for more than just sticking a label on myself, though ...

What I meant was....

Once you see a professional, and get a diagnosis-you can then find the path you need to take to get stability.

Except if they fail to diagnose you... but yes I understand your idea, thanks

I don't get triggered by things I can change. The weather? the seasons? If i get insomnia and can't sleep? Hormone fluctuations?

These are things that affect me personally and I need meds to help.

Thanks for sharing your story/experiences.

Ohh I see, so part of it depends on whether the trigger is something outside your control. Makes sense. By hormone fluctuations I suppose you mean your period? I tried to find a connection to mine and didn't manage to find any except for the two most severe episodes which did only come out due to another trigger beyond the timing of the period itself (that other trigger was under my control).

Period, menopause, etc. The normal "female getting older."

So yes, I can't control the world so no matter how careful I am, I need meds.