[rwwff]

Ok, so I got a little combo that seems to be doing what I frankly thought was impossible; not only feeling held within a reasonable range of mood, but no constant barrage of senseless things that MUST be believed regardless of what rational mind would suggest.

A year from now... how do I remind myself that this is only true because of those meds? That someone is spending $5,000+ a year or so on medication to keep me stable, and the only thing it'll appear to be doing is making my hands shake a bit more, skin burn in sun easier, etc. Just seems like such an impossible bar to jump over time.

I've got some journaling and some text imagery to go back and read, but that's about it.

[Sunflower123]

If I am understanding you correctly and I apologize if I'm not....you could write a letter from the "well" you and keep it handy for just such an occasion

[bioChE]

I'd suggest you accept the fact that you have a disease that will stick with you, likely for life. My meds cost over $16,000/yr, and that part sucks. However what would suck worse would be to go back to the place I was before I started them. I've nearly lost my job, my family, and my life. Those things are worth dealing with a few side effects for me.

[rwwff]

Thanks yall. Those are things I can work on further I think. I really value the stability and comfort, and am just concerned that some time in the future I'll take them for granted and not remember what last year was like. It would be so easy to forget.

I understand what you mean. I've been well for just over 3 months and honestly I debate quitting my meds all the time. "Maybe I would be fine without them" I wrote a blog when I wasn't well and I just reread that to remind myself why I take the meds. Maybe write down what life was like when you were ill to remind yourself.

[Cocosurviving]

I think the suggestions are great. I also have a blog. I started it when I first got diagnosed. At that time I was a wreck. I keep blogging to journal myself electronically. If you had cancer you'd want meds and those meds are expensive too. Meds are like groceries....expensive and necessary

Some side effects are not tollerable (I really don't think some doctors get that). It's important to keep taking the meds if you find meds you can tollerate. However I'm not in the camp that says everyone with bipolar has to take meds for the rest of their life. What if I told someone that and they end up dying from these meds and their possible effects, ya know? So I'm not going to tell you that. I'm going to say that I have to probably stay on them for life.....I've learned my lessons and have my own notes to myself with very personal details to keep me on track. I second the notion of writing a letter to yourself while well. I went on and off meds many, many times. I never got fully well with this strategy, just went from one crisis to the next. This time I'm shooting for real, TRUE, LASTING wellness. That should be your goal also. Good luck and don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon, just try again. Falling off the wagon is more common with this illness than the alternative. Good luck again.

[Sometimes psychotic]

For me I actually thought I would disappoint my pdoc and my T if I went off them so there's that......

[Wild Coyote]

I suffer with severe depression. It's like living in hell. So paralyzing. If/when any med combo helps me, I will stick with it, no doubt.

Great suggestions here to help you use tools to remember.


WC

[Victoria'smom]

Can you remain with your therapist for the long haul?

[vjdragonfly]

I was told bp'rs are the worst for coming off their medicine. There is a lot of good advice from everyone. When my meds were working I knew if I stopped them I would go back to living hell. I know I need my meds to be stable. I hope you can remember why you take your meds.

[rwwff]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Can you remain with your therapist for the long haul?

I don't have a therapist specifically, just physical and pdoc looking after me. If I do crash again into D, they might assign a therapist to me. Either way, yeah, I'm pretty committed to keeping my appointments and they tend to insist I make the next one before I leave.