[jai-jai]

hi, i've been diagnosed for quite a few years now, just under a decade, and i've been taken off medication about 3 months ago, i was coping well up until about a week ago.

i'm not sure exactly what makes me tick, but i fell back into old habits and i fear that this relapse isn't just a 'once over'.

my doctor says there is no point putting me back on medication, and my mother refuses to believe there is anything wrong with me, and that goes with my dad too.

i just don't know how to make them believe me and realise there is actually alot more wrong than they suspect, also what are the long term effects of using lithium and coming off of it so quickly??

i'm just utterly lost on what to do now.

[Schatje]

My father refuses to accept that there is something wrong either. Although, I think I got this "something wrong" from him. Why were you taken off all your meds? Are they going to try something different?

[MyBestKids2]

Hi jai-jai

I am concerned your doctor doesn't see any reason to put you back on medications. If your symptoms are so severe, perhaps you should consider seeing another doctor.

Good luck and keep us updated


Dee

[trippinmickey]

I am Bipolar as well and have gone to lots of groups for bipolar and i can tell you that the only people ive meet who were not on meds. and bipolar were at of there minds ,nuts ,unhappy and most homeless.Out of the 4 or 5 dozen fellow bipolars I only meet 1 who was not on meds. and doing well or so she said . Your not alone there are lots of us out there so you might want to ask around but im going to guess any one well enough to be on this website is most likely taking their meds.

You are not the first person that their faimlys didnt wont to admit that they were bipolar they the last to come around if they ever do at all .
Learning to live with bipolar can be a long road which you always seem to be working on .Becarful of fakes their are alot people these days who like to pretend that their bipolar its become the in thing for people on drugs or drink to use as their reason for using you will find that most of them dont take know meds. or see a doctor and are more then willing to tell you how to live your life without them along with faimlys who dont wont to see you as bipolar .

Find a group for mental illness in your area it will make thing much clearer and easyer.

What kind of doc takes someone with bipolar off meds? It seems to me that the docs are always stressing that you need to stay on your meds. The doc may change the dosage or the type of med if you are having side effects or it is not giving you good results, but I've never really heard of a reputable psychiatrist or mental health specialist not having someone who is truly bipolar on meds (& usually in some kind of therapy, as well).

I'd see another pdoc rather than have the symptoms return.--Suzy

[jai-jai]

Originally Posted by Schatje

My father refuses to accept that there is something wrong either. Although, I think I got this "something wrong" from him. Why were you taken off all your meds? Are they going to try something different?

hey =]

yeah they wanted to try therapy that was like..non medicated, but after a month of it i went backwards by about 3 years.

but they're not putting me back in medication and i can't go back to my doctors because its a privet one, our health care for the young in the UK isn't good at all because they all said there wasn't anythign wrong with me, yet my privet doctor new there was, and i cant get meds from him without my mum =[

hope taht helps

[jai-jai]

Originally Posted by trippinmickey

I am Bipolar as well and have gone to lots of groups for bipolar and i can tell you that the only people ive meet who were not on meds. and bipolar were at of there minds ,nuts ,unhappy and most homeless.Out of the 4 or 5 dozen fellow bipolars I only meet 1 who was not on meds. and doing well or so she said . Your not alone there are lots of us out there so you might want to ask around but im going to guess any one well enough to be on this website is most likely taking their meds.

You are not the first person that their faimlys didnt wont to admit that they were bipolar they the last to come around if they ever do at all .
Learning to live with bipolar can be a long road which you always seem to be working on .Becarful of fakes their are alot people these days who like to pretend that their bipolar its become the in thing for people on drugs or drink to use as their reason for using you will find that most of them dont take know meds. or see a doctor and are more then willing to tell you how to live your life without them along with faimlys who dont wont to see you as bipolar .

Find a group for mental illness in your area it will make thing much clearer and easyer.

thanks, yeah, i mean i've been coping because i've been able to have my bf with me - but i'm talking to me doctor soon hopefully with in the next 3 days and im going to sort it out...it's the only thing i ahve to do

[RelientK]

Originally Posted by jai-jai

thanks, yeah, i mean i've been coping because i've been able to have my bf with me - but i'm talking to me doctor soon hopefully with in the next 3 days and im going to sort it out...it's the only thing i have to do

I feel for you. You have been put in a position which forces you to prove your condition is real without any means of visible/tangible evidence. Here's what you do:

1) Go into detail about exactly what you feel. Start with triggers, thoughts and perceptions...then talk about how things feel hopeless and your overall view of the world is negative. If you experience the opposite, then talk about that. Expressing feelings seems kind of wimpy but you have to go all out and try very hard.
2) Show them a forum like this. Other people feel the same way! You a re not making it up.

Good luck.

[lost_star]

Hey, I too am struggling with bipolar disorder... and well honestly it sucks... I'm probably the most up and down person anyone will ever meet... a few years back when I was first diagnosed, my parents thought it was just a bunch of BS... that nothing at all could possibly be wrong, it was just a teenager seeking attention. Which wasn't the case at all... And after meeting with numerous doctor's, specialists, counsellors I finally found a strategy that worked for me... I would see my therapist once a week, we met for an hour, clearly discussing absolutely everything... She had me make a chart to document my moods for a month straight, and then she presented it to my parents, after making it seem very clear to my parents, she then started to meet with them for an hour after my session each week. Saying all the things to them I wished I could say to them, but felt I couldn't even after they realized I was suffering... It really has helped... and as far as your doctor taking you off your meds... GO SEE someone else... especially is you're already having issues with coping... I know I often feel like I'm alone in a world of madness, but I have to continue to tell myself, I can't win the battle if I don't put up a fight... Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel better, stop at nothing, life can be a beautiful thing, it's just a matter of finding that beauty for yourself! Best of Luck!
-Mel

[jai-jai]

Originally Posted by lost_star

Hey, I too am struggling with bipolar disorder... and well honestly it sucks... I'm probably the most up and down person anyone will ever meet... a few years back when I was first diagnosed, my parents thought it was just a bunch of BS... that nothing at all could possibly be wrong, it was just a teenager seeking attention. Which wasn't the case at all... And after meeting with numerous doctor's, specialists, counsellors I finally found a strategy that worked for me... I would see my therapist once a week, we met for an hour, clearly discussing absolutely everything... She had me make a chart to document my moods for a month straight, and then she presented it to my parents, after making it seem very clear to my parents, she then started to meet with them for an hour after my session each week. Saying all the things to them I wished I could say to them, but felt I couldn't even after they realized I was suffering... It really has helped... and as far as your doctor taking you off your meds... GO SEE someone else... especially is you're already having issues with coping... I know I often feel like I'm alone in a world of madness, but I have to continue to tell myself, I can't win the battle if I don't put up a fight... Do whatever it takes to make yourself feel better, stop at nothing, life can be a beautiful thing, it's just a matter of finding that beauty for yourself! Best of Luck!
-Mel

after reading all of this it made me feel better, this past few weeks since this post originally have been tought (been at college for the first two weeks and its been scary as hell) but despite all of that i've been coping better, i'm going to see my doctor soon i hope, but im just so afraid of them, silly really , i want my boyfriend with me, i just dont know when is right to go there.