Is rapid cycle common for all types of bipolar?

I’m glad my explanation has helped and so grateful Pookyl came along and helped explain what I simply couldn’t get into words.

How do I manage med free. Well it’s complicated.

In the past I was Med free for 18 months. I did really well, I had a lot of white knuckle moments. But I had a huge tool box of coping skills and knew how to use them , many lifestyle changes. But eventually I started to crumble so back on meds I went.

This last February or March I had seen my GP we sat and went over my meds between psych and physical was on like 14-15 meds a day !! So I felt the need to just detox off as many meds as I could. I still need my Asthma meds, PsA and Fibro, cholesterol stuff but I felt driven to do whatever I could.

I’ve had some really tough situational stuff happen this year but somehow I have muddled along ... not easy sometimes but I have.

Will I need to go back on meds again? Oh I’m sure. What will be my tipping point ? If I fall into a nasty angry manic hell, depression or become suicidal.

I deal with a ridiculous amount of chronic pain which of course effect my moods and stability. I have had a week or two here and there where I start thinking well ...,, maybe it’s time ..... but I find my balance again.

If my husband were to say ... okay I think it’s time for meds again I would listen to him. Numerous close friends from here on PC agreed to quickly point out if they see something I don’t.

I am NOT anti Med. Although I bloody hate Big Pharma.

I think everyone needs to be very proactive about what meds they will take, what side effects will be tolerated. I personally won’t take those meds that are big weight gainers , my ED will come back with a vengeance and I was about a week away from a feeding tube last go around. Recovery from that took almost a year.

There is hundreds of Med cocktails that can be tried.

Meds or no meds managing your life when you have Bipolar is a balancing act. Right now ? Its a circus .... I have all my plates in the air spinning and none are wobbling so I’m good for now.

Next week ??? Everything could change....

I find so many people think that medication X is going to “ fix everything” Bipolar has to be addressed from all sides, sure meds, sleep hygiene, healthy diet, exercise, mindfulness , making sure physically everything is ok.. Thyroid and Hormones can be a huge problem yet can easily be overlooked etc etc

This is what I think Pdoc’s and T’s need to stress... major lifestyle changes have to be made to find the best baseline stability possible.

Wow, this thread has gone into an interesting new (but not unrelated) direction! Not that it wasn't already an interesting topic. Thanks, BethRags for bringing up baseline vs. stability.

Thanks, Christina and Pookyl for your responses to BethRags. Christina, I, too, totally know how crucial it is to stop hypomania in its tracks. Full blown mania is scary for me. I also experience some major price for elevated moods that go too far. I have found that long-term stability is so much better for me in most all ways. I didn't truly learn that until I realized what it was after far too many years. In my youth, I lived for and expected mood elevation thinking THAT should be my baseline. I was Teflon back then to any of its negatives. I do still "let the past stay in the past" to a large degree, but at least have full clarity about it now, unlike then. I see no use in beating myself up (other than maybe a couple explanatory apologies) but it is my responsibility to prevent such behavior now that I understand it. No mania worship from me, now.

My baseline (stable time) is still generally hyperthymic-like. That's OK in my book, but I do figure out, at least eventually or with help, when my mood goes even higher (insight). It also makes any lower moods even more apparent, though I did go through a phase once when I tried to deny any mild episodes (up or down). That was during/after a very long period of mood disturbance. I just wanted to be well already, so I convinced myself I was even when I wasn't 100%. Another form of episode denial.

I am blown away by the insight and information in this thread.

Thank you, Christina, for sharing your experiences. I admire you - clearly you have your shite together...due to your fortitude. Chronic pain definitely makes working with one's mental health so challenging...and with living life, in general. I'm headed to physical therapy today for some chronic pain issues (I strongly believe that I have fibro).

Very interesting conversation, guys and gals. I tried to go without meds. I was theoretically questioning my diagnosis. I made it less than a year before I had a huge recurrence and was begging for my medication again. I am apparently one of those people who just can't really go med-free. Oh well. It's fine. I don't really mind taking them. If it keeps me from having to go through that hell, I'm happy to do it.

Yes ! Your self aware and have decided to be very proactive and catch things as soon as things start to tilt. It’s really a huge accomplishment to fully understand how Bipolar can fit into your life and not feel like your life is less than. Yes denial can cause so much more destruction.

Edit : Yes I’m sorry I did steer this off main topic , sorry about that OP I just think so many things are necessary to find a good balance living with BP.

I think at some point I will just need meds full time with no detox/ vaca’s from them and I’ll be okay about it when that day comes.

Currently I have an appt the end of the month I have a angry liver and we need to determine if any of my meds are causing it and how I can get better.. so I’m sure any meds from here out will need to be “ liver” friendly.

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Originally Posted by bpcyclist Very interesting conversation, guys and gals. I tried to go without meds. I was theoretically questioning my diagnosis. I made it less than a year before I had a huge recurrence and was begging for my medication again. I am apparently one of those people who just can't really go med-free. Oh well. It's fine. I don't really mind taking them. If it keeps me from having to go through that hell, I'm happy to do it.

I so wish I could go med-free. The weight gain is the problem for me, both self-esteem and (even more) the resulting health issues (high blood pressure, etc., etc.). I've tried even just dropping way down to "baby doses." Well, that failed BIG time. So. Here I am.

I've had 4+ years of stability on my current cocktail and don't want to jeopardize that even tho I also want a break. I know if I quit the AP I'll lose weight and be able to quit the cloister all meds too. But at 60 I hang on to stability and relish the sameness of the days in a way that I didn't when I was younger. What Christina wrote about the hypos was so right on for me, it was a drug that I loved and I was willing to risk the destruction for a couple weeks of glorious color. My baseline is slightly depressed but tolerable.

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Originally Posted by Nammu I've had 4+ years of stability on my current cocktail and don't want to jeopardize that even tho I also want a break. I know if I quit the AP I'll lose weight and be able to quit the cloister all meds too. But at 60 I hang on to stability and relish the sameness of the days in a way that I didn't when I was younger. What Christina wrote about the hypos was so right on for me, it was a drug that I loved and I was willing to risk the destruction for a couple weeks of glorious color. My baseline is slightly depressed but tolerable.

Yes...I am right there with you on your entire post, including about what Christina said. I was quite literally crying...the first time I've ever known anyone else who had tha exact experience of hypomania/mania.