medications and skills do help people

I have been in an IOP since I was discharged from the hospital in early Dec.

tomorrow is my last day and a "graduation".

this week and last week I have been working PT already and my mind is on work, not the program, but what I will carry with me and what I want to share is that medications do help people.

It is one thing to experience it yourself or read about it on these boards, and another thing to witness disheveled, "out of it" people start grooming themselves and participate in discussions because (just as one example with a 21 year old woman) the Abilify is working.

I also taught myself and picked up many what I call "living skills", which are no less important than medications.

In the end I am glad that I had a short manic episode that landed me at the hospital and then at the IOP, because I had a such an amazing experience and made many friends there.

I'm glad you had a good experience! Medication doesn't help everyone but it does help some! It has certainly helped me. I've been mostly stable for a whole year thanks to finding the right med combo. And skills are very important too.

I've been in the same IOP about five times I think in the past five years and it has helped me each time. The last time it got pretty repetitive and didn't help as much but I still like having the process group to help me talk about things that are going on. I wouldn't be too opposed to going again if needed.

Mine has an alumni support group in the evenings. I plan to go once a month.