Bipolar thinking to be cured?!
Question: I have a cousin who has a clear diagnostic of bipolar disorder. He had periodical bipolar events since his early 20s.
However, by receiving medication, psychotherapy and good support from family and our friends, he has been able to be without any bipolar events for 4 years.
What really concerns me is that he now thinks he is cured from bipolar disorder and he will NEVER (his words) need any medications. While I can understand he is much better and able to control his situation, I feel really concerned about this type of "never" statement. He is also rejecting any sort of therapy, since he is "cured".
He is saying he is "absolutely certain" not to need medicine. If it is "absolutely certain", then I asked for the scientific method that he might have used for this self-diagnosis, and he always answers he is fine for 4 years, why not forever?
This seems concerning to me. Would this be the start of another bipolar event? Or just an attempt for denial? How to help him?
Answers: I have a cousin who has a clear diagnostic of bipolar disorder. He had periodical bipolar events since his early 20s.
However, by receiving medication, psychotherapy and good support from family and our friends, he has been able to be without any bipolar events for 4 years.
What really concerns me is that he now thinks he is cured from bipolar disorder and he will NEVER (his words) need any medications. While I can understand he is much better and able to control his situation, I feel really concerned about this type of "never" statement. He is also rejecting any sort of therapy, since he is "cured".
He is saying he is "absolutely certain" not to need medicine. If it is "absolutely certain", then I asked for the scientific method that he might have used for this self-diagnosis, and he always answers he is fine for 4 years, why not forever?
This seems concerning to me. Would this be the start of another bipolar event? Or just an attempt for denial? How to help him?
the biggest mistake people make when they are on medication and doing well is that they feel they do not need their medication, and do not realize that it is the medication that is making them do well. there is no cure for bi polar illness, and if he goes off his medication then he would likely get sick again and all the symptoms will reap pear. i know, my brother was bi polar and doing well for 4 years, went off his medication, and killed himself, as he went into a very depressed state. therapy is help full but it is the medication that is helping him the most. someone in the family that is allowed to talk to his doctor may be help full .i also worked in a large psychiatric hospital for over 30 years with a lot of people that are bi polar, and everyone that went off their medications got sick again. hope this helps you.
If possible, take him to his own doctor and let his doctor tells him about his 'never' statement.
The sooner you and he go the doctor, the better. Your cousin is so lucky to have a caring cousin like you.
Bipolar has a habit of going good for awhile then dramatically changing, be careful!
It WILL be the start of another bipolar event if he isn't stopped. Both my father and step-mother have bipolar (yes, home life is fun), and that line of thinking will only lead to harm. Bipolar can be managed, not cured. It just doesn't happen and this looks like an all too familiar fall back into old habits as far as I am concerned.
i have found if you adress and settle the issues driving the cycles, yes you can reach a point of not needing the meds. i was sexually abused, and went on to struggle with depression and was diagnosed as bipolar five years ago. after a lot of therapy i am a new person now. i kind of feel the cycles happening inside, but they are so slight that they really dont effect me much now. my personal experience is that those cycles are made worse by whatever issues drive them. if you can learn to recognize the cycles, and adress the issues you have, i believe you can get to a point where you function well without meds.
I'm glad to see you concern, and I do understand that BPD is a serious condition. But, I completely disagree with the medical field just blanketing the problem with medications. Especially since many of them have the side effect of causing further depression as well as suicidal tendencies.
Actually bipolar disorder is treated with neuroleptics and and antidepressants.As your brother is having no symptoms nobody should force him to take medicine.May be family counseling is really helping him.But if there will be another bipolar event you have to start the medication.So lets hope that it will not happen again.
Bipolar disorder is the most over diagnosed disease today. 99% of the time it can be cured by simply eating better, exercising & just taking responsibility for oneself. No one wants to be on meds for the rest of their lives. Good for this individual on not being another