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cynthia41256 Posts: 2
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So I was taking medication for about a year when i decided to get off the medication because i felt drowsy all the time and life was always a fog. I tried different medication but the side effect were always the same. I've been off my medication for about a year now and things have been going well about till right now. I've been feeling very depressed and have had horrible anxiety. If any of you have any ideas on how to stay positive and how to get some energy please do. And yes I know many of you will say medication. I would like other alternatives. Thank you  |
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mem4809
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Although I hate the meds, I know I need them. Maybe it is time to reconsider. You can try cognitive behavioural therapy but I find in reality BP is a chemical imbalance in the brain and needs to be directly treated for lasting success. |
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ASO1979able Posts: 6985
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Hi Cynthia, Welcome to the group! I have gone off of my meds before too, I was off of them for about 3 years when I realized that my life was a living hell without them. I went from depressed to full-blown mania when I was unmedcated and it did nothing but reak havoc in my life. I would strongly suggest getting back on your meds, if they make you feel groggy try taking them at night. Te side effects should go away after a wile and there are meds that don't have as many side effects. Another alternative is fish oil and vitamin D, my pdoc recommended that I take these with my meds but they may help you too. I am not a professional, any and all advice that I give is based solely on personal experiences and is not intended to take the place of a medical or mental health professional.
My diagnosis:
Bipolar I Extreme rapid cycling, General Anxiety disorder, Social anxiety disorder, PTSD, Fibromyalgia
My meds:
Equetro 800mg
Klonopin 1mg as needed for anxiety
Celexa 40mg
Atarax
Lyrica 100mg x 3 a day |
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Dit Posts: 12071
VIP Member
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Hi Cynthia and welcome this is a very supportive group. There are others here who also do not take medications for varous reasons, some suffer greatly and some seem to get over their episodes and then cycle again and are struggling. I've met people who have changed their diets and feel so much better and don't take meds. For me ive been taking meds for a long time and i know i need them b/c whenever my Lithium dosage goes down lately the bipolar symptoms start to act up within 4 months or so and i'm medicated and this still happens. I wish you all the best, glad you've found this group. I come online here daily and no longer feel alone. Take care and i hope you feel better soon. Be Still and Know That I Am - Scripture
12-Step Slogans - One Day/Moment at a Time/Just for Today/Let Go & Let God/But By the Grace of God
Live and Let Live/Easy Does It/This Too Shall Pass
"Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts." - Hopi tribe
Bipolar I
Lithium 300 mgs, Lamotrigine 200 mgs, Klonopon (Clonazepam) .05mg more if needed, Clomipramine (Anafranil) 25 mgs, Abilify 5 mgs, Seroquel 25 mgs
Please note that I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist. My opinions are personal only. This site is not intended to be a substitution for professional care, nor is anyone here qualified to make diagnoses. |
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DinoDarius Posts: 2380
Senior Member
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Hi Cynthia, Welcome. There are a lot of side effects to many medications that tend to make you really exhausted. I know when I first started my Abilify I felt tired all the time. Once the medication gets in your immune system it shouldn't be as bad as it was when you first started your medication. There are also some alternatives that you could do if you don't want to take medication. You could diet like Dit said and that would maybe help you out some. Also, you could try exercising which has something to do with releasing endorphins into the brain just like an anti-depressant. I hope you find something soon, keep in touch! Darius
Bipolar II/ Rapid Cycling
Abilify 25 mg
Lamictal 300 mg
Xanax 2 mg
Seroquel 100 mg
Vicodin 10 mg (Chronic Back Pain) |
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jenny1978 Posts: 2564
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Welcome to the group. This is a great group to belong to. I went undiagnosed for many years and i ended up medicating myself with opiates. Big mistake! I know that you want other options besides medication, but all I can say is that I know my medication is what keeps me stable and functioning. I too have bad anxiety and have to take medication for it. Try some deep breathing and maybe some meditating. Get regular exercise and eat healthy. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing! Diagnosed Bipolar 2005(FOUND OUT IN 2012 THAT I WAS MISDIAGNOSED),Recovering Addict,ADHD,
Anxiety Disorder, EBV, fibromyalgia, sporadic hemiplegic migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome
I am not a doctor. I give advice about things, but you should never take my advice over that you would get from your doctor. My advice is just what I have learned from my life experiences and is just my opinion.
"Regardless of who you are or what you have been, you can be what you want to be." ~W. Clement Stone
"In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy." ~Albert Clarke
"Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others have no choice but to believe with you." ~Cynthia Kersey
"Mary had a little lamb, she put it to the heater, but every time it turned around, it burned it's little peter." |
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Siddbartha Posts: 25
Member
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I find it impressive that you made it a year without meds before you started having problems. I would usually get in trouble in month or so. I like to go for a 30-45 min run/swim/bike-ride to help clear my mind and calm anxiety. When I am done, and I can feel my muscles aching, it really draws my attention (and blood circulation) away from my brain. I recommend at least 3 days a week, but if you want good results, go for 6, with one day rest. Try not to run two days in a row until you are in very good shape, since your body needs time to heal. Over time, the transformation I have seen in my body has been a real boost to my self esteem. Also, I write in a journal about everthing that triggers anxiety. I try to discover what part of my ego feels vulnerable, and why. Post edited by: Siddbartha, at: 12/28/2010 06:51 PM Dianosed Bipolar I 2009
1200mg lithium
1000mg Epival |
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Joy75 Posts: 15645
VIP Member
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I commend you for being off medications for a year. That is great. I don't really have any advice to offer, but maybe give the medications another try. I have found a combination that works for me where I have very little side effects. I am currently stable and it's great. We have a chemical imbalance in our brain and what we need are chemicals to get that balance. I don't think you will find these in anything else but the medications in my opinion. I strongly believe in the drugs that correct our imbalance. If you find that nothing is helping you, I hope that you would give them another try. I would hate to see you suffer when you don't have to. This site is very helpful and I really hope that you like it. There are so many friends to be made and everyone is so friendly. You will enjoy the support. Welcome to the group!! Joy, 37 years old
Blog:
http://www.joylepley.blogspot.com
Email:
simplyjoyful75@gmail.com
Bipolar type 2 and ADD
300mg Wellbutrin
200mg Lamictal
40mg Viibryd
15mg Abilify
I AM NEITHER A PSYCHIATRIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST. I AM HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS YOU ARE. TO GIVE AND RECEIVE SUPPORT. WHAT I SAY IS PURELY MY OPINION. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.
Bipolar disorder can be a great teacher. It’s a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life. – Carrie Fisher |
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cynthia41256 Posts: 2
New Member
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Thanks everyone I thought about medication but my mom always ends up changing my mind. Sometimes my mom likes to pretend im not bipolar and that the emotions i have everyone has them and i should deal with them like everyone else. I'm trying to have children this coming year and my mom said it would be hard if i started medication and then had to get off of it. But if things keep getting worst i will look into medication. Thamks for all the comments they were all very helpful. |
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jaguarandcubs Posts: 1820
Senior Member
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Hey Cynthia. I know how it is to have family members who don't think you have anything beyond 'normal' - I kind of feel like my mum doesn't want to see that I am a 'defective' model! But show me who ISN'T, I say. You have to do what is right for YOU, not what anyone else thinks is right. YOU know how you feel, you know that things aren't right. Try alternative measures, but remember that in the end, you gotta do what you gotta do. (I tried coming off my meds not long ago, and it was hell without them - so I'll put up with the side effects, which aren't really that bad any more) Disclaimer : I am not a doctor. I cannot diagnose or advise on specific treatments. I can only share my own experiences.
Come visit my blog at http://carlsandclan.wordpress.com/
My name is Carley, but feel free to call me Carls! :)
Current meds
1250 mg Lithium
75 mcg Thyroxine
200 mg Lamictal
Occasionally 10-20 mg Temazepam for sleep
Paracetamol + codeine for arthritis pain
Previous meds
2000 mg Epilim (sodium valproate)
50 mg Seroquel (to help sleep)
600 mg Tegretol |
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"The part of my recovery plan that I would say made up 80% is MDJ. I suffered a lot prior to finding MDJ, felt alone and had no one to talk to who really understood me. In the Bipolar Group I found like minded individuals who I could relate to and who offered support to me when I needed it. As I recovered, I could then offer support to them which gave me a good feeling about myself. I have met some great people here who I would class as good friends and know I would still be in the slump I was in without them. Now I am stable, I know that MDJ plays an important part in keeping me that way. Thank you MDJ for being there for us all and making us no longer feel alone." (liamacker)
