[duck11]

Hi all, what do people think of being able to make a recovery and be drug free from bipolar. I have met a few people who have said that they had boploar but only take an antidepressant now and that they are fine but i wonder if this possible. I would like to stop taking all my drugs and try to live a healthy lifestyle to see if this works. Part of the problem is that i do believe the drugs have helped, i have been doing ok. My other issue with all of this is it worthwhile to try and change things as i have no job and have not worked for a number of years and to add to this i have a sec136 on my crb which i think no employer would take me on. Sorry if i am rambling a bit but this has been annoying me and wanted others opinion. Maybe i should just continue with the support i have and accept the way my life is. Thanks for reading, Duck

[Spartikus Rex]

Just aim for the minimum theraputic range for the meds to begin with. Stay on the for at least couple of years, and even then proceed with caution - have someone who knows you well enough to spot any behavioural changes that might indicate a increase in meds is required...stopping meds always led to relapse for me.

[Positive]

I guess a lot of us are in the same boat.

Recovery is not always about being drug free (well, in my experience anyway!). Sometimes you might find you always need to take them in order to stay well. Things like councilling and CBT may be more important to recovery, as well as diet, exercise and relaxation.

There must be jobs that do not require the enhanced check. I'm no expert at this. I got sectioned myself 3 years ago after my psychiatrist let me come off my drugs and I got ill, having worked previously full-time for 15 years while staying on the meds. Doesn't seem fair.

We just have to look at the positives in life and take what chances we can to improve things for ourselves.

[manic666]

duck11, on 13 December 2011 - 05:21 PM, said:

Hi all, what do people think of being able to make a recovery and be drug free from bipolar. I have met a few people who have said that they had boploar but only take an antidepressant now and that they are fine but i wonder if this possible. I would like to stop taking all my drugs and try to live a healthy lifestyle to see if this works. Part of the problem is that i do believe the drugs have helped, i have been doing ok. My other issue with all of this is it worthwhile to try and change things as i have no job and have not worked for a number of years and to add to this i have a sec136 on my crb which i think no employer would take me on. Sorry if i am rambling a bit but this has been annoying me and wanted others opinion. Maybe i should just continue with the support i have and accept the way my life is. Thanks for reading, Duck

YOU HAVE BIPOLAR ,its for life im afraid, but you say your ok with your meds so thats cool , some are not so lucky. If you were a diabetic you would need med all your life, so think of it that way. look at kerry catonna she said i stopped my meds for her bipolar. she hit the booze instead , she is in denile. She will be back on them now but she wont say, but the weight increase is a bit of a give away, plus the 40 a day cig habit is back.

[baggies]

Hi

With Bipolar we go in and out of recovery but there is no cure. I was on Lithium medication and an antidepressant. I came off the Lithium in 2005 and just stayed on the antidepressants. I did struggle, but finally completely lost my sanity in 2009. So I am back on medications for Bipolar and have accepted I need these meds to stay well and sane

[crick]

duck11, on 13 December 2011 - 05:21 PM, said:

Hi all, what do people think of being able to make a recovery and be drug free from bipolar. I have met a few people who have said that they had boploar but only take an antidepressant now and that they are fine but i wonder if this possible. I would like to stop taking all my drugs and try to live a healthy lifestyle to see if this works. Part of the problem is that i do believe the drugs have helped, i have been doing ok. My other issue with all of this is it worthwhile to try and change things as i have no job and have not worked for a number of years and to add to this i have a sec136 on my crb which i think no employer would take me on. Sorry if i am rambling a bit but this has been annoying me and wanted others opinion. Maybe i should just continue with the support i have and accept the way my life is. Thanks for reading, Duck

hi duck ive just gone back on my meds after missing them for ten weeks,i woz close to being re admitted so wont be trying that again,did lose 4 stone though.

[BipolarJ]

I'm drug-free but have by no means made a recovery.

[ramboself]

there are some people with bipolar coping drug free, i'm not so sure about schitzoprenia my illness, i sometimes wonder about recovery been defined in terms of drug free, there was mental illness centurys ago when drugs didn't exist and everyone ws drug free

[manic666]

BipolarJ, on 25 January 2012 - 02:24 PM, said:

I'm drug-free but have by no means made a recovery.

could you tell me why you are drug free on such an illness as bipolar an what type you are, i know from hospital that bipolar patient dont like meds , but i have also seen whats happens without them. In manic faze,s thats when useually admitted to hospital, you feel great an drugs seem poitless, but the depression that follows if not treated in the manic faze is massive.

[suzy]

Huh??????


You CANNOT be on an anti d alone if bipolar as there is a risk it can send you high

If you are bipolar an anti d has to be used with a mood stabilisor!

[Ellbbo]

I think recovery is whatever you think it is - I'm still on my meds, for now. But they make it possible for me to work full time and have a enjoyable social life. If i came off them, that might not be possible - and i think for me working/ functioning socially is more important for me to feel 'recovered' than being drug free. Having said that, I am gradually trying to come off them.

At the end of the day its your choice. Everyone's different (this applies to suzy's post about antidepressants too - although i think it would be unusual to be prescribed them when you have a diagnosis of bipolar - but I'm no expert)

[manic666]

suzy, on 05 February 2012 - 10:03 PM, said:

Huh??????


You CANNOT be on an anti d alone if bipolar as there is a risk it can send you high

If you are bipolar an anti d has to be used with a mood stabilisor!

[scottg]

Ive heard that some people can live with bipolar and be drug free, this has never worked for me though I spent many years in denial and still dont like taking head meds. But beleive as others have said that recovery is a very individual thing, and for some it may be that they see being recovered as being able to function in the community, hold down a job, or not to have to self medicate with drugs and or alcohol. For some it might be that their thoughts are at a level that does not interfere with what they want or need to do to lead a life that make them feel fulfilled, and for others to control self harming urges could be viewed as recovery. I am on a low dose of anti-epileptic for my level1 bp at the moment and after coming out of a 3 month manic episode a year ago felt like a zombie until this was reduced and other meds were phased out about a month ago. I can think clearly again and can maintain good relationships so although I dont really think of it in these terms I would say I am in a period or remission rather than recovered. And take each day as it comes.

[toffee]

But why could it equally not be seen like a cold. You can get more than one cold in your life and you are not considered ill between colds.

[Spartikus Rex]

Remission clarifies the state between recurrent relapses better than recovery which implies somekind of permanancy in its common street usage. I'm in a period of remission and I've had several close calls caused by external stressors since my last hospitalisation. If I go around bandying the word recovery people with authority will be much likely to place my life, and I mean my life, in jeopardy as I can do immensely foolhardy things once I've spiralled into a state of illness. Thankfully my notes will be available at a ATOS meeeting so they will hopefully not blunder thinking I've fully and permanently recovered from a serious stress induced condition?

[tincan]

hi i dont av bipolar so cant talk from that point but from a personal view i think the more u challenge urself and take positive risks and use those experiences to make u stronger . so when the next hurdle comes along from the experiences of before its easier to negotiate . i think this makes u mentally stronger and therefore less susceptible to the stresses of life . this gives u experience and an inner strength . i have come of a anti depressant and presently on a low dose of an anti-psychotic drug i dont envisage being drug free but im no longer fragile always expecting to relapse and coping . i think thats would of been more than i could of asked for when i started the journey . u can have a gd life without what some may say is not conventional . maybe accepting urself not always ur situation cos meds or nt they can improve is va gd plc