THIS IS LONG. If you don't feel like reading, the point is simply: We who have bipolar frequently feel subdued emotions because of our psychotropics. Not always. But
no matter what your experience with bipolar is, you should be aware of - and certainly not discredit - the experiences of others. So I posted to Facebook (yes, this will be one of those stories) that I'm writing a script about a bipolar woman on her wedding day this April. I didn't mention it was largely autobiographical. I mentioned that medications make this woman have trouble feeling emotion.
This girl I've spoken to ONCE - I'll call her Derp - who also has bipolar - wrote this:
"You'd have to say it was a new experimental regimen. From what I understand/experience, medications don't cause you to stop feeling emotion. Emotion is kinda intrinsic to life... without it you simply can't function. How would you explain her even accomplishing anything other than feeding herself and other needs. Wants get us to work, love, live, play."
1. No, I don't have to say it's "a new experimental regimen." First off, I don't HAVE to do anything you say, derpwad. Second, atypical antipsychotics and even mood stabilizers as old and common as lithium mute emotions. Most books on bipolar dedicate several pages to warning you that this may happen to you, and that even if your emotions are muted you need to stay on your medication. What you understand/experience, Derp, seems to be pretty limited.
2. "Emotion is kinda intrinsic to life... How would you explain her even accomplishing anything." Class, what do we put at the end of a question? A QUESTION MARK. Friends, you have attested to me that people who are down, who are depressed, who have lost not only their feelings but their entire motivation CAN STILL FUNCTION. Every day I am amazed by your strength - that you get up, post here, tell me about the lives that you lead and the steps that you make, no matter how big or small. How demeaning of this girl to assume that those of us who DO suffer side effects like that turn into automatons.
3. "Wants get us to work, love, live, play." Yes. This is cliched and entirely irrelevant to your argument. You can feel muted emotions and still want to succeed or eat or, hello, write a script this April.
Ugh, I don't even know why her smarter-than-thou, smug, pretentious attitude bothers me so much. Idiot. My emotions sure aren't muted right now.
"If I knew how to write letters I would write you a long one, but four or five years ago I turned into an idiot..." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Bipolar NOS :: Lamotrigene 50 mg :: Citalopram 5 mg :: Aripiprazole 1.25 mg :: Bupropion 10 mg :: Lithium 75 mg :: Trazodone 37.5 mg
