[Sugar and Spice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elaboratedream

I'm bipolar. I used to take meds, but I didn't like them very much. I felt boring without the mania. I felt like I wasn't myself.
Sooo I quit taking the meds. Then after a few months w/o meds, my therapist determined that I needed more "intense treatment" and said that she couldn't treat me anymore, so I went to a new one, she said I was "too severe of a case" for her, and now I'm starting with a new round of shrinks.
I don't particularly like shrinks. They tend to piss me off. And I really don't like medication. but I know I prolly need it.

(and now time for me to be a major hypocrit)
but my advice to you is to assess the situation. How severe are your moods? Are you, and be honest with yourself, a danger to yourself or others? Is the disorder keeping you from doing daily tasks (keeping up in school, work, socially... wherever) Think about that, and then think more about meds. If your moods aren't too severe, you really aren't a danger to yourself or others, and its not keeping you from doing stuff, then... well, you've prolly been misdiagnosed. you might have a minor mood disorder, but not bipolar. But if any of those things apply, you prolly should be taking meds.
There are lots of them out there, you can find some that will work for you.

or you can continue to be unstable if that's what you want. you can do a little bit in therapy... but if you really are bipolar, then therapy alone isn't gonna do it.

I am not stupid, I know that the best results come from a combination of drug and talking therapies. But I felt worse in myself because I was having to take the pills. Once I made the decision to stop them I felt brighter because I was actually taking charge of the treatment I receive. At the time my psychiatrist was happy with my decision but said if I got worse then there really would be no choice in the matter and I'd have to go on them. I know a fair few people who are taking the pills - and have done for at least 2 decades - but are still unstable so its not even as if the pills are the best thing since sliced bread either.
And don't attempt to tell me what I do and do not experience when you know jack about my episodes