[pheonix79]

As most of us struggle with this I am again struggling with accepting that I am bipolar. I went off my medication and stopped therapy a year ago and truly believed I was ok...then a total stranger pointed out that I was not , we are never truly ok are we? it was only a matter of time and here I am breaking down again and hoping to not distroy my life again. I am trying to stay positive and have an appointment to go back to see my doc, but in the mean time I am looking to find alternative activities etc to help cope does anyone have any suggestions?

[madisgram]

welcome to pc!!!!i found that being bipolar was a difficult dx to accept at first. i was even told it is not uncommon for us to go off meds, etc. even when they helped us. so glad you have realized that you need to see the doc re this and hopefully you can get stabilized soon.
in the meantime yes there are things you can do. exercise each day really helps a lot. it produces the good chemicals in the brain that we lack. i still do it after being on meds for 10+ years cause i know it is a valuable tool for my own mental health.
some vitamins they say help too. i'm sure you will get input on this too.
i happen to rely on the excercise more.
eating regular meals, avoiding isolating from people, going to bed about the same time each night also helps. it gives your body a good rhythm...and creates balance in our sense of well being.
hope this helps and keep us posted on how you're doing, k? pc is a very caring community and us bipolars truly understand. try not to beat yourself up about going off the meds. my T finally made me make a contract with him that if i thought i wanted to go off the meds i was to call him first. in the initial years that helped cause i can't break a promise. just for me, i wouldn't go off my meds now for nuttin'...my life has balance now and before it was like a yo-yo.

[skymonk]

As you will often see if you post here often. Madisgram has lots of good info&advice to offer. It's too true that we bipolars often stop taking our meds once we start feeling better. No matter how much you dislike taking pills, I'd suggest staying on them if you're put back on them-they really do help even when you're not feeling so great. I found myself in the hoospital both times I stopped taking my meds. You don't wantto go there. Try to keep your spirits up-excercise is good&I'd also suggest volunteering somewhere-it makes you feel useful&needed even when you're low. I volunteer at my church&at the local library&it always brightens my day the day I do it.
Hang in there till you get to see your doc&hopefully you'll be back on your feet in no time.

[Crazynurse]

Don't get down on yourself for stopping meds...just pick up now and start over. We are not a very compliant lot...strong personalities often cannot admit we can't handle this on our own, you know, mind over matter type thing. But, our mind does matter and it takes the meds for us to be productive and healthy in our lives. Accepting our disease is the first step in our mental wellbeing and I don't know of one person with our disease that hasn't taken a little drug holiday just to make sure the Dr. was right in his diagnosis.