See your PDOC let that DR decide if ya need meds and most of all plz the the Pdoc if you think you still need meds. T doc is for theropy but the @ also need to talk between themselfs to come up with the best plan for you.

a therapist isn't qualified to make a diagnosis and doesn't have the same insight that a psychiatrist has on disorders. After all a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health - a therapist can be more or less anyone.

Don't accept medical advice from a therapist.

The therapist seems to have forgotten (if they ever knew) that bipolar disorders can be fine after stopping med (and I think you had to)..but often months later it comes back worse than before.

If it's cyclothemia then it's possibly a grey area about medication but that is a discussion for you and your psychiatrist.

I'm sorry you're having anxiety about relapsing. I agree with the others. And try to stay in the moment...says me, the girl who can hardly ever do that. But we push on. . (((Hugs)))

I'm sorry but the therapist is a moron. Not being on meds is so damned dangerous, I can't believe he would say that.
Bipolar is not a matter of "willing to be better". It's brain chemicals and no one can control them. Only meds can.
Please be careful of this guy.....and talk to you pdoc before doing anything.

I think if you have dealt with any diagnosable mental illness that it's important to stay connected to mental health professionals. I turned away from the 'system' because I talked to the wrong people, or perhaps people who just didn't have the full, clear story, and like fish said, the symptoms came back way worse years later. I know of an old colleague who dealt with bipolar her whole life, worked closely with her psychiatrist to come off all meds to have a baby, and now he is 2yrs old and she is still med free. But she still touches base with her psychiatrist....I don't know how often, but it's wise to have a professional on your side. That's my two cents.

I agree with the others that you need to keep a close eye on relapsing and go straight to your doctor. Your therapist should not be commenting on medication. Pdocs can take ages to accept you, might be worth applying now to see if this doc will accept you as a patient.

I think that if you strive to keep your stress levels at bay, everything should work out well for you. Good luck!!

I am also in agreement. Your pdoc should be making medication decisions not a tdoc at all. I remember when my therapy went form every week to every two weeks then once a month then every three months. My tdoc has been with me for 15 years but still schedule me for at least every three months and I can always call him earlier if I need an extra appointment. I think it is great you are happy and stable right now but with bipolar disorder and no medication that may not last. Don't ever accept medical advice from a therapist. Besides I know I am dependent probably for the rest of my life on my meds in order to remain stable and it doesn't bother me a bit. The peace the bring me most of the time is worth it. I would suggest seeing a psychiatrist soon. best of luck.

GAF? What's that? (forgive my ignorance)

Counselors aren't the same as Doctors. Talk to the experts in the field.

I feel bipolar is ap brain chemistry imbalance hence meds are more then likely a life time necessity. I keep in check with my tdoc even when I'm stable because she recognizes some of my triggers before I do

Mommy-hood took me away from DS for a while. I am always able to get an appt with my tdoc within a few days of requesting one so I'm not too worried about not having made a follow up appt last week. He and I talked about me meeting with the pdoc but we both agreed it'd be pointless. She's so anti-drug therapy it is ridiculous. I was about to see someone else to work out some kind of cocktail for me when I found I was pregnant and my OB/GYN advised against meds (plus I preferred it that way). Now I love the feeling of being stable by myself but as I think we all know- relapse is just a ways away and I feel strongly that once I relapse it'll be much worse than before. My tdoc says he will make a referral to a colleague of his who is a pdoc. He told me this pdoc often just prescribes drugs without really getting to know the patient as long as there's a history of bipolar symptoms which concerns him somewhat. It's my call at this point to decide if I want to see that pdoc or someone else. In the meantime he advised that I make a record of my episodes so I can review it with whichever pdoc I see.