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Attempting Bipolar disorder without meds

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Posted 6/14/2013 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I am relatively new to this, so please bear with me. I am diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder 2 with psychotic events. Along with this I have severe allergic asthma and insulin resistance.

The main problem with finding a combination of drugs was the interactions it had with the rest of my medication. Not being treated for the asthma or diabetes would kill me faster than not being treated for the bipolar. I was on Abilify for about six months, but it worsened by insomnia and had many interactions with the rest of my medication. At around the same time by medical aid decided that it can no longer support the bipolar disorder (I live in a third world country, so they are allowed to make this decision) along with the rest of my problems. Since I can't afford the drugs, my doctor and I decided to attempt this drug free.

It has been tough going. I go for counselling every other day and my mood tends to flip every three days. I am a student, so this is not ideal, but at the moment there is nothing I can do about this.

I have tried meditation but it didn't help. Neither did yoga, mainly because I can't bend that far. Currently I am using routine and planning to maintain a system, but if and when something interrupts this, I lose control.

Has anybody else tried doing this without the drugs? I would really appreciate some advise.
Posted 6/15/2013 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi nnick,

There are 2 members who have been off drugs with any success. Many others have tried and ended up hospitalized.

happy bill and I have both been off meds with success. For both of us, getting to that point was a process of several years. It involved major life changes - divorces, job/career change included for both of us.

I am in remission for bipolar, but still struggle with anxiety from time to time. I am in cognitive behavioral therapy and continue med check appointments.

I'm sure bill will pop in and share how it's going for him. I believe he is having brief and controlled episodes once of twice a year.
Posted 6/16/2013 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, yes I've been off meds for about three years and have had great success. But each person has to find their own way.

Example: many people think medatition has to be sitting quietly chanting. Lol lol for me I have found excersise, doing dishes, mowing the lawn, routine tasks are all areas that I can meditate. That's me though.

But I didn't go cold turkey. I came down off of meds after living a normal life for a year. I kinda had to find "normal" so I could understand what it was, and where I was off the path.

That's just a very basic primer of two small things I did, if you look up my previous posts you can see where I write alot more.

It's doable, but it is hard at times, but also rewarding

Bill
Posted 6/16/2013 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Schedule was my first breakthrough coping skill. I still use it.

It starts by observing how activities and events affect your mood. Then predicting when the events will occur - or scheduling them to stabilize your mood.

For example, I have a history of depressive episodes in winter. Knowing this about myself, I make sure to schedule one event per month that I look forward to.

In a couple of months, I will have be teaching a class, followed by an art competition, then traveling internationally for vacation, a work party when we get home, and then traveling for a competition for work immediately after. The 2 weeks after I'll be working 12-hour days to try to make up for the 2+ weeks of lost work time.

I know this will be challenging, so I am already working to lighten my burden. I'm finalizing my class material and memorizing the speeches NOW. I am delegating preparing for the work party and packing for vacation. I am prepping for the art competition early. Before this string of events starts, I will have myself prepared and packed for each one.

When I have a med check appointment, we briefly check through my schedule for the next 3 - 4 months. If I anticipate symptoms, my psych nurse will set up a prescription for me to have filled if symptoms return.

My mood used to change so frequently that rather than a couple stressful weeks in a row, I would be scheduling hour-to-hour with a plan for the day.

You live just one day at a time. You're already surviving. Take baby steps to begin to thrive. (((hugs)))
Posted 6/16/2013 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
It is possible to do without meds ... my cousin has. Good luck!! I found this link has good general info.

http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/rapid-cycling-bipolar-disorder

Post Edited (TCollins) : 6/16/2013 4:46:08 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/26/2013 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
myjade,

What meds have you been on?
Posted 6/28/2013 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
I was actually going to post the same question today!!

I guess my question has been answered.

When I was diagnosed with BP2 (Hypomanic) with depression being the worst symptom also having a history of Anxiety, I was put on different meds too.

SSRI's, made things worse, increased the cycles in regaurds to highs and lows, mostly lows, with more frequent intervals.

Anti-epileptic (Lamictal) did nothing for me in regards to the depression. In fact i got nasty Headaches from this medicine.

I decided 2 years ago that i would try med free. As the side effects and lack of improvment from these meds.

I decided that education on this illness was a good start, so I read as much as i can on bpd, symptoms, triggers etc.

I also keep a mood journal, so i what sets my up or down, ive learned what my triggers are.

Thats the easy part.

The hard part is when it comes on out of what seems like no where, or if an unavoidable triggers sets it.

I can fall in too a mild to moderated depressive bout that can last minutes, to hours, even days or at worst, a week or weeks.

Because of my failures with medications, i just wait it out and stay active. Which can be hard for me since i have fibromyalgia also, but i still do it.

So far, for the past two years, no matter hard it may get at times, it always passes, i tell myself, this is just a storm passing through, some times the weathers predictable, sometimes not, but I always have my rain jacket of comfort and umbrella that proctects me.

For me that is ME that is my relationship Jesus Christ as i am Christian.

Ive even prayed, Ive asked God what is his will for me concerning this condition, If i am supposed to take meds then find me the right one, so if things get really bad for me and doesn't ease up, i know how to reach my Psychiatrist.

However, at this point my foundation as mentioned above has kept me from sinking, as well as knowledge of whats going on with me and skill im learning to accept, cope and get through my symptoms. For 2 years this has worked for ME.

I live a normal, productive life with a family and a job.

I practice my faith regulary, which helps me

I excercise

Also, I try to get in good laughter everyday, A laugh freinds co workers, and every night I watch one or two of my favorite clean family comedy shows for a good laugh. I love to go to bed with laughter.

Will I ever need meds?

Will thered ever be one that works for me?

Only God knows, but so far, I'm med free and over all doing just fine in the midst of the storm.

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