DUAL DIAGNOSED--recovery without meds!?

by James Rist

Maybe you haven't been able to manage without meds. Maybe you've never heard of or known anyone who manages without meds--at least anyone who is happy with their life OR their recovery.

However, MAYBE... you think as I do deep down in my heart--in my most private reservoir of hope--that you will someday live a happy, full, and peaceful life without meds.

One of the barriers, for me, to realizing a happy, full, and peaceful life is the idea that such a life requires that I have NO MORE MOOD swings.

Well, look around, my friends. Drive on the nearest expressway, stand in the checkout line at the supermarket, or forget to set your alarm clock on a workday night--and you will soon conclude that life without mood swings is doggoned near impossible..., right!?

With a little observation, you may see that everyone you encounter tends to have mood swings. With a little imagination, you may even conclude that mood swings, to some extent, are normal events even for people who live happy, full, and peaceful lives!

So why beat ourselves up with an unreal concept of "normal"--an unachievable life without mood swings.

Wouldn't it be an interesting tack (sailing term--"I can't control the wind, but I can trim my sails and tack.") to accept some of our tendency to mood swings and focus on managing the problem to the best of our ability. Wouldn't it be interesting to try to set some target goal of manageability for ourselves, and when we reach that goal, approach the PDOC with the proposition that we have enough tools and confidence with help to try to live without meds?

So I'm going to refer you now to a post with the question, "Is anybody out there currently dealing okay with recovery from bipolar/addiction/alcoholism WITHOUT meds?"

WITHOUT MEDS?

Thanks, Y'all for being a part of my recovery!

Jim Rist

Post edited by: JR1, at: 10/14/2007 09:14

Post edited by: JR1, at: 10/14/2007 09:23

Post edited by: JR1, at: 05/04/2008 21:34