Is it possible to be bipolar and then take a plethora of antiphyscotic drugs,?!
Question: along with lithium and then stabilize for good, thus never needing meds any longer?
Like some drugs can mess up your mind if it was normal in the first place, can a messed up mind be realtered back to a normal brain?
Answers: along with lithium and then stabilize for good, thus never needing meds any longer?
Like some drugs can mess up your mind if it was normal in the first place, can a messed up mind be realtered back to a normal brain?
Plethora... hehe... I love that word.
Anyway... do you mean all at once?
I used to take my daily 'plethora' of drugs for my bipolar, when I was quite unwell, prolly for about 3 years or so, and now I have made the decision to be off meds since June 2006.
I belive it can be done.. I still am bipolar obviously, I'm not fixed. I have small swings, and the usual sh*tty days, but not very often tho, but I'm able to control them. They normally happen because I've had too much coffee, stayed up too late etc, and being a mother I need to be responsible etc, so I'm quick to get on top of things. I will take meds if I need to, I just prefer not too, and have MANY valid reasons. Anyway, how I've made it so far:
* Routine, routine, routine. I have a diary for times, acitvites, appointments, and countless lists.
* Exercise. I find that is essential for me, to find my 'center'
* Diet. Sugary food, junk food is baaaaaad for my moods. It's really amazing how much diet has an effect on me, so I aim for low gi foods, and small meals often. Also helped me with my weight loss, so double bonus!
* Coffeee... keep to a minimum. And not after 3pm ish.
* Sleep! At the appropriate times.
* And if I'm feeling stressed I dont put extra pressure on myself. I am kinder to myself now. I try to adopt a more of a attitude as in "My all, or my best at the time" rather than the frustrating and often dissapointing mantra "All or nothing!" I used to live by.
* Talking. Shrinks, psychologists, good friends, anyone! I made great strides since I started seeing a psychologist. Talking and setting goals, not letting things build up and validating my feelings, and just generally working thru the million issues I have, has worked wonders.
I think thats it.... it's hard going med free as EVERYONE, almost, thinks it's a bad idea, but I have a few professionals, and all my friends and family who support me, and are amazed how well I'm doing. I would never recommend someone to do it, as some people really do go off their nut, but just find some one that does understand, and is willing to help, and respect the fact that meds are not the only treatment for bipolar. Sometimes tho, and for some periods in life, they're are needed.
I've just resigned myself that I have this problem, and I will fight it, but if I need help and strength (meds) I will take them.
So to a point... I think my brain has been restored.. but if I go back to my old ways, and self destructive behaviour, I will just re-live all the crap all over again. No thanks!
And I think I will need 'drugs' again. Especially after having my 2nd child, in the future, and if other unfortunate things happen like death or general life stress etc.
Not generally. Once you stop taking the meds, the symptoms will return. I used to work as an RN in an inpatient psych hospital and we'd see it all the time. One of the most common reasons for "repeat customers" is that they thought they were better and didn't need the medications anymore, so they stopped taking them.
Unfortunately, no. Folks with bipolar disorder will need to take mood stabilizing medications throughout their lives.
are you manic right now buddy?
seriously. are you?
because most people going through a high manic episode
think they will be cured.
no. they have not found a cure yet for bipolar disorder.
and no. you don't have a messed up brain, cause then if you did...i did. and i don't like saying "messed up brain" don't be ashamed of what you have.
antipsychotics-anticonvulsants-mood stabilizers will not cure you. they will just make you feel better. stay away from illegal drugs, all this will do is mess you up more. especially since a lot of people with BP are prone to becoming junkies...
ALL drugs mess with your brain chemicals.
ESPECIALLY weed and alcohol.
it makes you have a chemical imbalance.
of course, other illegal drugs do that too.
THEN here's the thing.
people who take stimulants when they do not even have ADD/ADHD are idiots because they think it will help them because it helps people with either disorder. but it wont.
it'll create a chemical imbalance, thus making them high.
so no. nothing will cure you.
if there was a cure, it'd be like the scene in x-men
where everyone is lined up waiting to get the vaccine.
sadly nothing will make us okay...we just have to live with it.
of course, one day there will be a cure...just look how long it took for the small pox to be wiped away...there will be a time for us.
i dated a girl that was bipolar and OCD. she was on lithium affexor celexa.. crazy high doses n she was still kinda nutty, i got her 2 slowly stop taking them. she was fine within a couple months. symptoms were nowhere what they were on the meds.
she hasnt been on any meds since. i couldnt believe all thoes pills were doing more good then bad. i imagine in most cases stopping the meds isnt a good idea. but they have side effects, in my ex's case it made her OCD worse which made her obsess over her pill taking and bipolar symptoms. so when she stopped it calmed her more then the lithium did
mate, it doesn't work like that.
if lithium isn't working for you, ask your shrink for something else.
as for antipsychotic drugs, it's a common combo. personally i'm on sodium valoprate and a large dose of antipsychotics (seroquel) which have stabilised my moods. but for good?? i don't think so. i'm in a mild manic episode as we speak.