[Icare dixit]

Manic-depression used to mean psychosis with a good prognosis.

Over the (last few) years, has your situation been improving or has it worsened?

Do you think that you can function as well without meds as you used to?

My situation is (slowly) improving, but I hope that also means I'll be able to function without meds one day. But I think, in order to do that, I (only) have to create an environment for myself where BP (or SZA, rather) isn't more of a liability than an asset and I firmly believe that's possible.

I don't mind using meds at all (I sometimes do, though), I just wish I wouldn't have to. I'm clearly not overmedicated: only just (now) can I live without fear, a tremor and excessive stimuli. It's been a liberation. I've regained my personality and I don't care if others don't like it much (it's just the dependence, boredom, emptiness and impulse problem I still have to solve).

Worsened.

I function more or less the same while on meds vs off meds. HOWEVER, Lamictal has eliminated my agitation, so I don't plan to go off that med... ever.

I wish I didn't have to take meds, too. Ive lost my personality on meds such as Seroquel, so I know what you mean by how good it feels when you regain your personality using the right meds. (I think that's what you're saying?)

[Gabyunbound]

I read something similar one time too: that 'back in the day,' so to speak, BP had a good prognosis. Assuming that's not the case now (I don't know the statistics), I wonder if it's because of the advent of AD's and that these have caused those with BP to have more prolonged problems with it. Who knows. Or even who knows if what I read is true.

I've seen improvement over the last couple of years. Since Abilify was added to my cocktail (of Seroquel, Lamictal, and Klonopin); I think I finally found what works. I hope. And if I run out of my pain med (see thread, if so inclined) I hope it doesn't send me into an episode...

[rwwff]

Over the last couple years, definitely has improved with the addition of my meds. I guess I got lucky and first guesses worked and are tolerable. I take other meds for physical issues that will never go away as well, so I don't really have any desire to ever go off the psych meds.

I can walk the neighborhood because of meloxicam, and I can think clearly and be mellow because of dep/abilify; why would I stop?

[Icare dixit]

I have regained my personality now I'm on the right meds, indeed.

Originally Posted by Gabyunbound

I read something similar one time too: that 'back in the day,' so to speak, BP had a good prognosis. Assuming that's not the case now (I don't know the statistics), I wonder if it's because of the advent of AD's and that these have caused those with BP to have more prolonged problems with it. Who knows. Or even who knows if what I read is true.

I've seen improvement over the last couple of years. Since Abilify was added to my cocktail (of Seroquel, Lamictal, and Klonopin); I think I finally found what works. I hope. And if I run out of my pain med (see thread, if so inclined) I hope it doesn't send me into an episode...

I do believe some meds make things worse and other meds are used to make up for that. It's partly a state-sponsored racket, surely.

Manic-depression has/had a good prognosis by definition: the only thing distinguishing MD from SZ (or dementia praecox) is/was the prognosis. Having psychosis with a good prognosis meant you had manic-depression.

[Nammu]

Improved immensely. But I got the PTSD in remission and found the good cocktail for me.

[Unrigged64072835]

With this current med regimen I'm doing better. There is still some room for improvement, but I need to do those things slowly.