This reminds me of those "one size fits all" leggings for ladies. You guys have seen them? Excuse me but how in hell can one size of leggings "fit all". Some of us are short and some are tall. Some have big asses and some have none. I would be surprised if "one size" fit anyone.

Same with our meds or no meds at all. We are all different. There is no right or wrong way to work for a stable life. The only right way is that we do have to continuously work for it.

Personally, I need my meds. It is a huge mistake when I decide I am "cured" and I can stop my meds because I don't like the way they make feel. Believe me when I say, it's better than no life at all.

I think we should each "decide" our own best fit. I need a fit for long legs and a bubble butt. Also, I don't like clothing that squeezes at me. I'm going to want some bright colors because I don't do black. Right now, I have the perfect leggings. But, that doesn't mean they will always be perfect. I might need to make some changes in the future.

I don't think any one here is judging the other ones leggings. Why would we? One size fits all is what I call bullshit on.

That was the best response yet Gilded. idk there was legging busting judgment going on but jeeeez wtf do I know since I am not medicated?

You know just exactly what you need to know Banshee - for you. You know my damn leggings are not going to fit you.

Awwww c'mon I wanna try them on!!

I agree. Let's stick with OP's original post. OP used the word "can", OP didn't say "Psychiatrics drugs ARE a choice". Can indicates a possibility, almost as if in a question like state. ARE indicate a definitive answer. OP never once said in the post that this was for EVERYONE. OP was mainly describing self. DS is a safe place for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings on any topic without being attacked :)

Huh?? What ARE you going on about #38.

I never said anything about agreeing with the OP's original post so I will assume you are not giving direction to me.

If you want to insist on a comment, here you go. This whole topic is a misguided generalization and it's condescending. It has no scientific basis and it does not even have the ring of truth to it.

Having said that, I do not have the inclination to explain or discuss why I feel the way I do. I can only hope that other people on here who may be feeling fragile can do what I am doing and just forget you ever read the OP .

Yes, it is a choice.

The choice for me is between living halfway sane and being
a complete blubering psychotic mess. I'd be dead without
my meds. No question about it.

I don't feel like I had a choice to get off the meds, physically. I know I would have probably lost my left leg to lymphedema and vascular problems if things had continued as they were..... this was choosing to live for me. because of lymphedema, I will definitely weigh about 500 lbs. if I am on the meds for any length of time as well as risk amputation and death. I got up to 400 lbs. and had to make the call. I was in recovery otherwise. my left leg was about 42 inches around at the time. also, keep in mind, the mental health care in my state of Alabama is not what I would call top notch. my state has received an F for mental health care. my insurance will only cover one location, which now feels traumatizing to me.

I have to bike every day to manage my leg and my moods. losing weight with my disease has taught me self control, and in a weird way, helped my illness, bipolar or not. also, for me, my problems are somewhat sexual (I am an incest victim), so me "losing it" would involve coming on to a grown man and maybe texting him a little too much until he tells me to back off and then I would stop. I think that is a better option than weighing 500 lbs.

hi, seeing as this got pulled up again I'll offer a suggestion to you dsf.

Having read and replied on what you originally said a year or so back and having read what you've posted here I'm convinced (as you are almost) you are not bipolar. No, I'm not a doctor but you've said nothing that makes me think you are and plenty that makes me think you are not.

It seems the original incest trauma has caused you to have problem with sexual relations and that is perfectly natural and would be expected as a result of the awful betrayal of trust you experienced. It's natural it would cause a breakdown at the time and it's unfortunate that the doctors didn't take that into consideration before giving a false diagnosis to you. Not being rude but your weight issues may also come from that - I was married to a psychotherapist for many years and the theory was that women gain weight to unconsciously protect themselves from the outside world - I'm not talking about people on meds or with hormonal / genetic issues. That again all fits with the nature of your trauma.

This can be explored and to an extent unlearned - I'd agree meds are not for you - you may be able to work with an experienced therapist on this - give you some tools advice regarding dealing with your original trauma and your natural reaction to it that is now causing you these problems.

I wish you the very best for the future.

acuriousfish- I've been losing weight for 5 years, ever since I started biking. I am a size 10/12 and 5/9"....crossing my fingers, but I'm hoping my weight issues are in the past... I still believe that my weight would never have been a as of an huge issue without my problems with my left leg, problems I couldn't get diagnosed because of sexism and fat stigma, in my opinion.

I may not be bipolar, but I underwent 2 years of treatment for being bipolor, so I feel this support group is still a good resource for me. and I am certainly overemotional at times ;) I do believe I had at least one breakdown, I don't know what you'd call it, maybe a depressive episode.

hi, if you are not bipolar how is this a good resource for you?

As you said you are not taking bipolar meds either - so how is that we can support you?

Bipolar really isn't about emotions - emotions are just how things sometimes appear - the underlying mechanism is major changes in arousal which mean things like brain activity leading to changes in thinking, physical activity etc. Over arousal leads to hypomania and mania - under arousal leads to depression.

It's certainly possible you had a depressive episode but then that is likely to be unipolar depression. Bipolar would include hypomania/ mania - fast talking, fast thinking, 1000 miles an hour leading to delusions and hallucinations.

My suggestion - and it is only a suggestion is that you might find a better fit with the Personality Disorder board. Their issues often come from past experience and treatment is via therapy. Over emotional reactions, problems with relationships are the kinds of things they have to deal with.

For us, it's genetics and changing levels of energy that drive behaviours. Might look the same to some but quite diferent in terms of causes, how it actually feels, and how to treat.

I have recently started hypothyroid med, a year ago l felt myself spiralling my doctors were not listening to me and yet l knew something was deeply wrong so l decided to support myself first with vitamins while taking lamictal. I told the doctor of my emotional changes and she realised that l had a depersonalization disorder and had lived with it for years.

I emotionally dropped again and discovered l had an autoimmune illness plus hypothyroidism the point is for those of us with milder bipolar or with slow emotional rolls it might be possible to go meds free for a time because other illnesses are being cared for or we have temporarily swung into a stable emotional state but for most the emotional swings are too severe.

For now the thyroid meds have pulled me back from feeling depressed, I had yet again no SAD this winter so l am hoping as bipolar meds are hell on my thyroid that l have a milder form of bipolar but only time will tell if l can scrape past meds free forever, those who can are the very lucky few. Even though l've been meds free for a year l am a realist l have dropped to some dark places before and could again and only taking prescribed meds saved my life.

TBH didn't read every response. I did read the OP's post. If one is involuntarily outpatient committed you are forced to take meds. I know from a former woman friend. Long story why we're not friends but bascially we lost touch with each other. I was rediagnosed unipolar but I still take my generic citalapram.

I'm officially diagnosed Bipolar 1 you name the mood stabilizer and I've taken it and none of them worked for me for very long...

My body has a handy way of breaking the drug down fairly quickly so it is ineffective. I've tried a million different combos none very helpful for very long.

I'm down to sleep meds which continue to work thank heavens and a short acting antidepressant if needed. Other than that it's exercise like crazy!

I'm in an HMO system that is very hard to see a psychiatrist regularly or a therapist. So I have to monitor my symptoms very closely.

This has forced me to try to find help for my symptoms...a lot of times what I need is rest... Last thing I would ever think of! The basics right... Did I eat recently? Have I had enough water to drink? What is my stress can I do something to alleviate it? Sleep what's that been like? My life is difficult without the luxuary of being able to rely on mood stabilizers or antidepressants.... But since that door has been closed I try to do what I can to keep myself together and easy it's not!