[UpDownAround]

I am feeling that old urge again - I haven't been more than slightly up or down for over a year and I hate taking daily meds for something it seems like I am over. I have stopped before and it never ends well, but I can't seem to shake this feeling that i really don't need the meds anymore. Right now, rational thought is winning and I am not stopping. But it bugs me how often I think about it, usually when I am about to take meds. I worry about giving in.

[Movingon69]

I have a physical condition that requires daily medicine or I get very sick. I sometimes forget when I'm feeling good then I pay for it. Since I'm new I'm not familiar with your support system. Do you live with someone? Can you put your medicines in a pill box in plain sight so they can help you stay on track. Please don't stop taking your medicine.

[Scooter9]

It's like an umbrella in the rain... you're dry because you're under the umbrella.

Meds work the same way. Take away the umbrella, and you get wet.

Talk to your pdoc before you do anything.

[Miss Laura]

I'm struggling with this. Been off my meds for a month now with no desire to go back on them even though I know I should as I'm manic etc. My mental health team and friends tell me to go on them and that I do have Bipolar yet I'm not convinced. I'm good at hiding the symptoms to a pint and my family have no idea what I have been doing

[Teddy Bear]

Sometimes with mental illness you feel better. I would like to say that you are stable. What happens when you don't take your meds?

[Blueberrybook]

I often go through periods of thinking I don't need all or certain of my meds and stop taking some or all of them. It has always ended in disaster for me. I think now I've hit disaster so much that I've finally learned my lesson (I hope). But I'm sure being bipolar, especially if I get that "flat" affect from meds that I hate so much, I'm just as liable to stop some/all of them again. It's like this vicious circle or something.

[UpDownAround]

Rationally, it makes no sense and I know that. It's like binge behavior when I was overweight. I knew I was just making it worse every time but I would do it anyway. That's another urge that hasn't gone away even though I have been at a healthy weigh 5 months. I have just kept it on a short leash. I have never been suicidal, but I engage in self destructive behavior an awful lot.

[Tucson]

Self-destructive behavior? Yes, that is me. I am getting hypomanic. This is when allot of my self-destructive behavior happens.

For the first time in about fifteen years I have been considering going off my meds carefully, hopefully under doctor supervision. But I am hesitant. Look at what is happening to me now? I am not really that stable right now. So this is proving to me that my stopping of meds in not such a good idea. However, I think I may reduce the dosage of my meds. This may be worth trying for yourself, under doctor’s supervision.

[Unrigged64072835]

You could go through your old posts and find how unwell you were without them. It's annoying when you feel fine, until you're not feeling fine.

You could also talk to your pdoc and see about reducing them. I've reduced mine (and even changed one) after being stable for a while.

[UpDownAround]

It actually hasn't been long since the lamictal was increased. I didn't have a full on episode but was trending that way. Like I said, rationally it makes no sense for me to think about stopping. I would probably start sneaking drinks again, maybe bingeing on food again. I really don't want either of those things to happen. I just wish the stupid urge would go away.

[Tucson]

You are an intelligent person. Find ways to rely on your rational mind to get you through this. As mentioned before, going through old posts when you were less stable may help. I think exercise and the way it is making you feel better can be misleading,

[UpDownAround]

Originally Posted by Tucson

You are an intelligent person. Find ways to rely on your rational mind to get you through this. As mentioned before, going through old posts when you were less stable may help. I think exercise and the way it is making you feel better can be misleading,

You're right about the exercise and getting back in shape. I am interested in things I did years ago again and catch myself thinking and acting like I am in my 20s. In many ways, that's a good thing but in a few it's not. Feeling invincible again, for example. Invincible people don't need meds.