[topgun263]

I live in Saudi Arabia and diagnosed with Bipolar 1 with Psychotic features. I recently recovered from Mania and in the past four months I was hospitalized twice.
My Mother and Brother also have Bipolar disorder and they don’t take any medications like me. My Mother’s first Bipolar was triggered at age of 25 and the second was triggered at 55!, only two times in life and she doesn’t take any medications.
It seems like my Brother and my Mother has learned to control their moods with prayers and Quran but in my case I am still struggling, my bipolar triggered 4 times in 4 years.
I usually go to mania for very long time and don’t realize that I have problem so I don’t take medications, so usually it gets prolong to 3-4 Months, after which I have to be hospitalized.
During Mania I consider myself as savior and a secret agent and rest of the people seems Enemy (secret agents) to me. I usually have irritable mode during my mania but thank GOD I don’t usually swing to depression (depression happened only once after my first mania). I feel myself lucky that I don’t go to depression, because it was extremely killing when it happened to me once.
My Pdoc used to put me on Depakene (Depakote) and I used to feel very numb (may be because of higher dosage), so I never took my medicine after recovery because of its interference with my life. But recently I was introduced with Lithium.


I am looking to explore more options like meditation, prayers etc but this time I have a fear in mind that My Mania don’t gets triggered again, since I usually commit lot of blunders in office.

Now that I have recovered, It's been 3 weeks since I am taking lithium Possibly the highest number of days I have taken any medicine.

Here In this forum I am seeing people taking medicines but still having problems, it makes me in doubt that medications is not an ultimate solution.

Will I be able to live productive life with medications? Is it possible to have mania triggered when you are on medications?


I am studying as well as doing job. I want to be absolutely normal in my life with no numbness.

[Christopher1990]

I dont believe prayer is going fix your bipolar. Do as much research as you can on the internet, theres not much out there, but there is some information. diet is very important. meditation, and exercise. 3 biggest factors IMO. I'm still on medication, but hope to get off eventually.

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[LorrieTorrie]

I'm very interested to see what type of responses you get, because I too wonder the answer to those questions. I suffer from BPAD1 as well as BPD and I have been seeing my new therapist for about two months now. She believes that through mindfulness, diet, proper sleep hygiene, and following a schedule I can learn to live med free. My last hospitalization was a year ago, and in the time since then I've had some struggles, but I will admit that since I've been seeing her I do feel like I might be able to do this.

Now, my psychiatrist wants me on Lithium for the rest of my life. Those were his exact words. He said that because of my history, he honestly believes that medication is necessary for me to live a productive life. He thinks that mindfulness is a great tool to possess, but I won't be able to benefit from it as much without medicine.

I personally think that both may be necessary (at least in my case) to help me achieve the level of stability that I want. I am tired of relapsing, and ruining my life. I rapid cycle (probably more so thanks to BPD) and I am at the point where I just want to be better.

I wish you luck in whatever path you choose!

You know, I've often wondered this. It's like can we still be cycling nutz, but to have ones faith, belief, train of thoughts, thinking process, ones own personal values keeps ones behavior centered on a singlular path of acceptable behavior when we hit the twilight zone.

[venusss]

Not sure you can control the moods. Herbs and meditation help, prayer, maybe... as long as you don't turn self-destructive in your religiousness... but most important is to control how you react to the moods. That creates the biggest fall out that leads you into a vicious circle. Mood swings, anxiety, restlessness, other quirks... by themselves are difficult and tough, but not necessarily life-wrecking.

Originally Posted by topgun263

Now that I have recovered, It's been 3 weeks since I am taking lithium Possibly the highest number of days I have taken any medicine.

[...]

Here In this forum I am seeing people taking medicines but still having problems, it makes me in doubt that medications is not an ultimate solution.

[...]

Will I be able to live productive life with medications? Is it possible to have mania triggered when you are on medications?

[...]

I am studying as well as doing job. I want to be absolutely normal in my life with no numbness.

I took lithium for 20 years until it began to clog up my kidneys (a seldom-cited long-term side effect) and I had to switch to Depakote. The numbness you describe is admittedly unpleasant but you eventually get over it.

Medications are not an 'ultimate solution'. There is no cure for bipolar disorder and you can suffer a relapse (i.e. an abrupt and severe manic episode, followed by a depression, and so on) even while fully-medicated. Relying soley on prayer and meditation seems very risky given the possible consequences of unmitigated manic or depressive episodes.

You should be able to live a productive life while medicated, especially if you can work with an experienced and compassionate doctor who is willing to work with you to find a drug or combination of drugs that help you to function and stay out of trouble. "Absolutely normal with no numbness" is a lofty goal under your circumstances, but I can't say it's impossible. Studying and working a job simultaneously is a lot of potential stress for a manic depressive, and I've learned that it's vital to keep stress to a reasonable minimum and maintain what others on this site have called 'sleep hygiene', a strict regimen of full nights of uninterrupted sleep. Emotional or somatic stress can rapidly bring on a manic episode

Good luck, hope this helps.

Jon

[ComfortablyNumb5]

If mood control without meds was possible for us, we wouldn't be here. And yes people often still have mood swings while on meds. That is when you call your pdoc and change meds or dosage. It takes awhile to find that right cocktail for you. It sounds like your pdoc is using the basics in meds to treat you which is fine but I wonder if his selection is limit in your country?With lithium just remember to get your blood tests done regularly and drink a lot of water. Please don't try prayer as your go to for bipolar. I promise it won't help the chemical imbalance you're experiencing in your mind. That's great that your mom went that long with only 2 episodes but maybe she struggles in her own mind everyday. Maybe there's more about her and your brother that you don't know. You chose to seek medical attention and don't feel bad about it. This is a good thing. Is therapy available for you as well?

Dx: BP2, PTSD, bulimia/anorexia
Risperdal 4mg
Trileptal 300mgs
Buspar 45mgs
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvance 70mgs PRN

[venusss]

if mood control WITH medication only would be possible, we wouldn't be here. We'd pop pill and go on with our lives without any need to discuss what is going on inside.

Just saying.

Also, not every single mood swing warrantees need to call pdoc. If it was so, some of us here would never get of the phone.

[topgun263]

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

If mood control without meds was possible for us, we wouldn't be here. And yes people often still have mood swings while on meds. That is when you call your pdoc and change meds or dosage. It takes awhile to find that right cocktail for you. It sounds like your pdoc is using the basics in meds to treat you which is fine but I wonder if his selection is limit in your country?With lithium just remember to get your blood tests done regularly and drink a lot of water. Please don't try prayer as your go to for bipolar. I promise it won't help the chemical imbalance you're experiencing in your mind. That's great that your mom went that long with only 2 episodes but maybe she struggles in her own mind everyday. Maybe there's more about her and your brother that you don't know. You chose to seek medical attention and don't feel bad about it. This is a good thing. Is therapy available for you as well?

Dx: BP2, PTSD, bulimia/anorexia
Risperdal 4mg
Trileptal 300mgs
Buspar 45mgs
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvance 70mgs PRN

Thanks for the help.

So far I've not been to therapist. I dont know if it will be even effective cause I usually suffer from mania and not depression.

In all sincerity, I do not think you can control mania without meds.

[hahayeahtotallylol]

To answer your questions, life can be productive on meds once you find the right combo. As for the other question, episodes can still trigger on medication.

I guess it depends on how chronic it is for you. At least try meds, though.

[Victoria'smom]

Medication for me cause longer, less severe, more functioning episodes. My depression is more dangerous now. I was a lucky one that went catatonic state instead of depressed until medicated. I didn't even know i got depressed. Therapy keeps me on track with medication, helps with delutions, paranoia, and irrtablilty. Figuring out feelings that are less intense with medication or side effects of medication. My psychiatrist tends to read my symptoms from my therapist and change my medication accordingly. The nutritionist help balance my diet.

So yes, you CAN do it without meds and yes you WILL still have mood swings on meds. Yes, meds CAN help. Yes therapy CAN help with mania.

Both my husband and I are on 2 anti depressants (for depression), 1 mood stabilizer, 1 anti psychotic (anti mania/anti psychotic). I'm also on sleeping medication as needed and anti anxiety med as needed for irritation.

So yes there are many avenues including religion that can help but for me my meds and therapy are at the top.

[Cocosurviving]

When I first had a manic episode I was age 37. A few months before I was thought to have depression. My manic episode lasted 4 months. When I was near crashing is when I went back to a different doc for a second opinion. I was diagnosed with BP1. I was a complete mess reflecting back on those 4 months no BP meds. After being diagnosed I started meds Lithium was one and a few others. I started going to church and praying all the time. I still was not feeling any better at first. That first year after diagnoses was hell. First I had to accept my diagnoses. I had to get passed what I use to be able to do like stay up all night. Because now I need to do "sleep hygiene". I had to accept the old me was gone. I started going to a support group and that really helped me. Things came together. I learned to accept my diagnoses...found the right meds....I go to a support group...I exercise....try to eat well. The church/prayer thing didn't work for me. I love God but you can not pray mental illness away there is "no" cure. The Bible goes not speak against meds (for those that are Christians). I've had two mix episodes after going off Lithium (I was taking other meds too). My body just has to have Lithium as part of the med cocktail. I started taking it again and haven't had a episode or another hospitalization. No taking meds are not my favorite thing. But I've been through episodes unmedicated. I've tried to deal with everyday life unmedicated....no thank you.

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