[lunaticfringe]

Hey all. Some of you may remember me, I haven't been on here for a long time though.

I've been med-free for about two years now, aside from taking an occasional sleep aid. I'm also alcohol, weed and cigarette free for about a year. I'm doing weekly therapy processing trauma, and I'm proud to say that even though I still have episodes, the severity is nothing like it used to be and it's been manageable for me for the most part. I am still on disability though, which is absolutely necessary for me to take proper care of myself. Believe me, I still have really bad days and weeks.

Is anyone here med free or in recovery? If so, would you be willing to share your experience on and off meds, and why you choose to be med free?

It's my 10 year anniversary of my diagnosis, and life is the most manageable and in control that it ever has been for me. For those who have been dealing with it longer, if you had a period of remission, did your episodes come back in severity at a later time?

Thanks!

[Flutterby11]

i hope to be med free you give me hope

[lunaticfringe]

Originally Posted by Flutterby11

i hope to be med free you give me hope

For me it has taken a lot of dedication with therapy and holding myself accountable, exploring past trauma and root causes of certain things. I also have ptsd though.

I have been med free for 3 years now. Like lunaticfringe, it took years of hard work in therapy to process through my history, to deal with the PTSD symptoms in my case that were complicating my bipolar symptoms. It took being cooperative with my pdoc and therapist while I went through that work over the period of MANY years before I was truly stable enough long enough to consider weaning off meds with the help and support of my pdoc and therapist. You have to be at that place where you have found stability, have worked through the issues that have complicated healing, and have acquired the personal skills to healthily manage and cope with the daily symptoms that may still creep up. If you try to go med-free before those things are in place, most likely you will not be able to successfully do so. Having the patience to wait until you really are ready is difficult. You can't run a marathon if you haven't done the work and training to build the skills and stamina for that kind of endurance race.

[lunaticfringe]

Originally Posted by lolagrace

I have been med free for 3 years now. Like lunaticfringe, it took years of hard work in therapy to process through my history, to deal with the PTSD symptoms in my case that were complicating my bipolar symptoms. It took being cooperative with my pdoc and therapist while I went through that work over the period of MANY years before I was truly stable enough long enough to consider weaning off meds with the help and support of my pdoc and therapist. You have to be at that place where you have found stability, have worked through the issues that have complicated healing, and have acquired the personal skills to healthily manage and cope with the daily symptoms that may still creep up. If you try to go med-free before those things are in place, most likely you will not be able to successfully do so. Having the patience to wait until you really are ready is difficult. You can't run a marathon if you haven't done the work and training to build the skills and stamina for that kind of endurance race.

Yes, couldn't have said it better myself.

IMO, the meds will not heal you. They will mask the symptoms that are coming up in part because more healing needs to be done. Personal healing takes a lot of courage, time and dedication. It's not a fun process, but it's worth it.

I also now fully accept that I'm never going to live a "normal" life. I'll be managing my illness my whole life. But I'm at a place where I'm ok with that now.

I'm not in remission by a long shot....being med free might not ever be a possibility for me and I'm trying to accept that. I'm grateful for the meds now though and that is something. Even if I can't be medfree like you and Lola, your posts have given me hope for my future and I really appreciate you sharing your courage, strength and experience with us. Keep up the good work. (((Hugs)))