Bipolar and unmedicated?!
Question: Bipolar and unmedicated?
Sometimes I am pleased and proud of my decision to manage without medication and am trying to change my lifestyle in order to re-balance myself. However, occasionally I feel like throwing in the towel and just taking the medication.
Are there any other unmedicated sufferers out there or is there anyone who tried but then went on to take medication? Perhaps someone is on medication and would rather not have taken that step?
I would love to hear other people's experiences.
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Going unmedicated probably depends on how severe your bipolar is. I have periods of extreme mania that cause me to do things I later on very much regret. Sometimes I have periods of deep, dark depression. Both are long lasting and interfere with living my life in a normal manner. No amount of life-style changing, healthy eating, or exercise will overcome either the mania or the depression. I take a mood stabilizer every day, and without it my life would be complete chaos. Like a lot of people, I have gone off my medication before in the misguided belief that I didn't really need it. I soon went back on it. If your bipolar is mild, then you might get by not taking any medication, but for me I would much, much rather take the medication and be able to function, than not take it and try to deal with things I can't control.
I'm bipolar and have met people over the years who, like me, are unmedicated. Dicipline is the cure. I repeat certain self talk therapies in my head to get myself out of ruts. I'm worse the morning and extra bad in winter. When my alarm goes off in the morning I force myself up even though the first 1 minute of the morning feels bloody awful. Sometimes I count myself through it.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/CBT works.
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