Strength,

Truth is that I wish that these alternative treatments could work for everyone and that we could free people from the burden of psychiatric medications and there side affects forever.

Unfortunately that is Not the case and the simply fact is that some people will always need the aid of these drugs. What I hope that we can provide for those people here are methods that will work with there current therapies to enhance their effectiveness and ultimately improve the quality of their lives in general.

Thank you for your topic, it is an important one. I hope that you find some help and relief here.

WW

i went off all medications because they did absolutely nothing for my symptoms...

lots of side affects... i just didn't see the use in continuing them ...i did my best to give them a try...
it just seemed to make my life worse...

however when i give advice to others ...i do advocate taking extra care to help the doctor help you... i keep my my path out of it ... it was a personal decision ...based on my ability to be able to handle my own symptoms...i tried going off the meds... and i do feel more in control ... i still have tough moments...

i now have discovered through educating myself on how the body works and with some dietary additions , also daily exercise ...that i fell better than ever in my whole life...

education, diet and exercise... and of course social activity ... are putting me in the right place... psychologically i feel confident... and i have done this all on my own ...

cant leave out of the big picture how DS has been a huge factor in this turn around too

thanks everyone

I am still trying to understand when it became an either/or proposition. Somewhere along the way I became mired in the goal of using all available resources as needed to obtain a functional balance. I want to heal. Joining clubs is a different step.

You have achieved a functional balance, my strength. I advise small, well considered steps from that wonderful accomplishment. If one of those steps includes something you learn from here, go team. We don't do pee tests.

Any healthy activity that reduces your stress and increases your physical well being is going to improve your symptoms. However, as in the case of diabetes, not everyone can get by with wellness habits alone.

The hope is to reduce medications to the absolute minimum, while still controlling symptoms. There is no shame in taking medications to control a chemical imbalance, and improving your quality of lfe.

Additionally, for those who medications just don't work for ...it is important to have other options to try, to make life more manageable.

I think too that our brains physically need time to heal. Two years ago I would have never been able to come of of my AP........2 months ago I did a slow wean and have been doing very well without it. I'm not totally med free....I take an AD and anti-anxiety, but my goal over time is to become med free. I think that you will know when the right time to come off the meds will be, maybe now just isn't the time for you ya know?. Our brain and bodies go through so much and I really feel that we need a "healing time" both mentally and physically.

I think too that our brains physically need time to heal. Two years ago I would have never been able to come of of my AP........2 months ago I did a slow wean and have been doing very well without it. I'm not totally med free....I take an AD and anti-anxiety, but my goal over time is to become med free. I think that you will know when the right time to come off the meds will be, maybe now just isn't the time for you ya know?. Our brain and bodies go through so much and I really feel that we need a "healing time" both mentally and physically.

I think that each of us is unique and we have to deal with our illness the best we can. I agree with caz, that a holistic regime is the best. Dealing with body, soul and spirit. I think I have mild bipolar, despite being bipolar 1, and some really bad, bad days - both up and down. But I eat right, deal with the spiritual and I was exercising till my crash daily for 7 years.

But I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I have to take very toxic and expensive cancer drugs to keep it under control, and sometimes not even then. So big time meds for one disease, but a healing journey for the mind.

And I always say, if I need an AP or an anti-anxiety I will take it. But so far, other than when my father died, and I need the AAs, I've been good.

I would say, don't judge yourself by others. See if you can cut down a bit, when you use some of these techniques. Make your goal YOUR goal, not what others do. I think that will relieve you of a lot of stress and anxiety, about getting off the meds. If you can do it, you will, if not, just try to live in a healthy manner.

I think each of us has our own truth.

Mine is that my bipolar has to be controlled for me, for my marriage, and for my 7yo daughter. I have to be on some medication. I and my doctor try to make it as minimal as possible.

I am also a chronic pain patient. For years searching for answers, treatments, and medications to ease the pain. In doing so, I ignored my bipolar. Long story short......I am now in a long and horrible recovery process from serotonin syndrome.

No more. No more. I will control my bipolar. As to the rest, I am learning many techniques to push through and deal alternatively with the pain. Being 2 days away from being put 6 feet underground has totally changed my perspectives on a lot of things, mainly medications that about killed me. And yet some save my life and my family.

I have set my goals one step at a time. Sometimes one day at a time. I work closely with my psychiatrist and therapist. And I am trying to put in place other healthy measures one at a time so as not to be to overwhelmed.

Sending hugs, love, and comfort.

Tonna

I find alot of my peace working in and meditating in my gardens.......I see it this way.............life can be amazing and beautiful. Some plants/flowers enjoy and need sunshine and others prefer shade. They draw their energy from different sources. The one thing they have in common is that they all do best if tended well, watered, fed, watched and cared for if they have bugs/disease etc. They thrive best when they are cared for.

I see us much the same way.............some of us do best with or without meds or with certain meds. We all do better when "tended" or cared for by a pdoc or therapist that can help us through those "buggy" times. We all do better when we take care of our bodies....exercise, healthy diet, lots of water, spiritual balance, nurturing our inner gifts, and most of all finding that peaceful center that God has given all of us.

Whatever you choose to do..........plan for it. Make sure you are ready to be the best you can be in "all" ways. Too many times we count on a pill to take care of some things we could nurture ourselves. Sometimes that can spiral treating side effects instead of symptoms and sometimes we lose track of what is a symptom or a side effect.

When I first started seeing my current pdoc over 20 years ago, he took me off EVERYTHING and talked to me about my lifestyle and the things I could do to be the best I could be. I have been working on that ever since and it has made a huge difference in my life and my mental well-being including my self esteem. Once we sorted my symptoms from side effects, we slowly begin the search for the right med combo. My pdoc is very conscious about the amount of meds I am taking and we limit it to three at any one time. One of those meds is for ADHD which has helped my concentration and motivation tremendously. I have had a few stable periods of 3 years in the past but my current stability has been the longest period of time I have been stable.

I believe I can always learn new coping skills but I have a good tool box full now that I use often and they come very naturally. Even under alot of stress (which with four boys is often, lol) I have managed to keep my stability. Balance is key to stability and being aware of my emotions. With BP, we can have normal emotions but sometimes we freak out and imagine it is an episode or going into one. It takes time and patience and a love for yourself beyond just focusing on our disorder. I have been high functioning with my disorder for a long time now and it is what keeps me stable. I have learned to keep busy, stay healthy, and know myself well. Good support from family and friends is also very important and that also takes time, patience, and "building" by acknowledging that they are not always the bad guy and neither are we.

Sorry so long................xo

I totally get how people can go without medication, I really do. I am on just a few, not many, and I feel safe, sane and happy. I have tried going off many times and each time without fai, something bad happened. I did recently start taking some vitamins. So maybe that will make me feel better.