Hi Must. You have posed the $64 million question. Why won't they take their meds? A curiousfish is quite learned on these matters and I hope he will comment soon. All I can do is comment based on my daughter's behavior and what I have read. You answered your own question. Yes, the "magic spell" of mania tells them that they don't need the meds. In fact, they may resent the meds because they feel it interferes with their manic-induced sense of brilliance. The truth is that the mania often does stimulate their creativity and intellectual drive. But it also exhausts and confuses them. They don't get this second part unless and until they crash, often with disastrous results. If they are hospitalized, that means they had a disastrous result of some kind. They may just "go crazy," but often they become a physical danger to themselves or others.

You are right to focus on meds. I want to climb the highest mountain and shout down to all the rooftops that in the vast majority of cases, "Bi-polar is treatable !!!" Most people with bi-polar take their meds and function in perfectly normal or fairly normal lifestyles. Therapy can often help them reach this realization. I wish you the best.

--EJ

Thank you so much Epic. I appreciate your response so much it has helped me see the why of this. My loved one was religiously taking his medications and upon the presence of mania he stopped. When he's on the episode he flat out refuses to take his meds and only when he's on the episode. When he's ok he takes them religiously. Your answer has helped me see that the mania feels so good to him that he'd rather have that good feeling than come back to reality.

Now if you can only get him to acknowledge he is doing this and just accept that he can never, ever go off his meds. Sometimes, however, people need to change their meds. The meds become less effective over time in some cases. When this happens, someone needs to help him recognize this and then begin to incorporate different drugs into his regimen. This should not be done during important or critical times in his life where he needs to be functioning at his best, e.g., going on a Mt. Everest climbing trip, etc.

my best to you,
--EJ

True mania means that you lose touch with reality. Even hypomania can do something similar.

If you think you are a god why should you take meds? If you think it's 1945 and the Nazis are trying to trick you into taking meds so you cannot tell anyone else the truth why would you want to fall for that trick?

You cannot know that you are manic because as said you lose with reality.

If you are not manic but hypomanic then you may have an idea what is going on but you are more or less in a state of intoxication - you cannot think straight and your judgement is impaired.

So unfortunately while in mania and often in depression people can't see the point of taking meds. And worse, frequently when you are "normal" you can't remember what happened when you were manic.

Referring to your comments - your loved one stopped taking meds because they went into mania - which indicates they weren't working - which can happen.

You need to have a plan for when this happens - something agreed between the two of you when they are feeling well. Then you need to understand the early warning signs and agree your plan of action when those signs appear.

Thank you so much for your insight Acuriousfish it gives me a whole new perspective and a lot more understanding of what my loved one is going through. I definitely understand what your saying and I will definitely put that plan in place.

Acuriousfish has taught me much on the subject and I still have much more to learn. It can be so frustrating that we are tempted to "blame" the BP for what is effectively a manifestation of their illness. What is also distressing is that no two cases are the same. Some BPs are "high-functioning," while others are seriously challenged.

It helps that we love them and we educate ourselves so that we will at least do no harm. Thank God my daughter trusts me so that when I suggest she needs to take her meds she will take them even if she is feeling that she is a god at that moment.

peace and love to all,
--EJ

Epicjourney your comments have also taught me so much and are so insightful. I'm so thankful for this website and people like you and Acuriousfish that give us information that is right on target. You have given me hope, I hope my fiance takes my advice that he needs to take his meds now even though he thinks he's above human beings. With the answers that are provided here I've been learning so much and it helps me cope with the situation a lot better. I will also continue to educate myself to help my loved one. I'm so glad your daughter listens to you and takes her meds. I hope my fiance does the same.

I will continue to ask questions. Knowledge is power.

@Acouriousfish: I had a revelation reading your comment. I had difficulties picturing the way he thinks while on an episode. I would like to ask you pricesily this: what does he remember once he is stable again? How do he thoughts change? I mean of course I am thinking about my boyfriends case....will he be able to realise that his thinking was irrational or he just won't remeber? Thank you so much for being there for me! It means a lot!