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Mental Health > Bipolar Disorder Forum > pill free treatment
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Q: pill free treatment
asked by: cheerio_05855 on August 19th, 2008
New User
curtsey Hello! My name is Sonya. I am a 28 year old female who was told I have Bipolar at the age of 22. That was 6 years ago. At the beginning I was willing to try anything and everything I could to just "get rid" or "mask" my issue, but found that EVERY drug they tried with meonly made me act like someone I wasn't. They would work great for 2 months.. sometimes even 6 months and then I would go back to filling not myself again. Finally at the age of 25 I decided I wanted a fresh start. I didn't want to wake up and swallow a pill everyday. I didn't want something clearing my head for me. I didn't want to think about the fact that I was smiling only because some little pill told me it was okay, so against EVERYTHING my dr's told me I slowly cleared myself of EVERY drug I was on. It took 6 months before I woke up with a clear head, but it did finally happen. I realized at that moment that I was pill free. Although it has been some time and I have truly managed the art of dealing with my mental issues in a more natural way I worry. Is this going to come back at me 100 times worse. Will my head get so cloudy again that I won't be able to think straight? I'm worried because I am now married and want a family, but I don't want to put them at risk. Like I said I have been truly blessed with the knowledge and the ability to work with my condition and live a normal life this far without the use of drugs, but am VERY curious to know if anyone thinks I'm doing more harm for my future doing it this way? Embarassed
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NightStar
replied on August 19th, 2008
Experienced User
There was a time when I thought the drugs where making me into a zombie, I went off of the medication for almost 10 years and it was not until the end of my marriage when everything went wrong. I had a breakdown and it took 6 months to get my feet back under me, the medication took time to kick back in. Now I am on a medication that I can't do without the withdrawal is not being able to sleep so I won't go off this medication cause sleep desperation causes sleep paralysis. And I don't want that to happen again. So I won't go off of the medicine this time.

It may be that you can go for a while with out the medication, but know if you have a breakdown then you will need to go back on.
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redhata
replied on August 19th, 2008
New User
Im very curious also, because before 10 years i had my first maniac episode, i was "stand up" almost after year and more passing a depression phase.. I had no doctors support and no medicines, actually i tried to say to myself that was just a bad period. I was doing OK for 10 years and then my second maniac episode came up, i was in clinic for a month and now im seeing(about 9 months) a psychiatrist every month and im taking everyday Depakine Ladose. Im in the same phase like 10 years before, passing the same depression phase. Meds does not make me feel better than i was ten years before. One of my questions is, if i continue to get my meds like my doc says and dont missing my appoints with him, is it for sure that i will not have another maniac or depressing episode?
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NightStar
replied on August 19th, 2008
Experienced User
I feel pretty confident with my medication (Geodone) that I should not have a relapse.

I cut out drinking also. I make sure I eat with my medication and take it about the same time each night. Unless I have to stay up late, then I will wait until I get back home before taking it.
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antigone
replied on August 20th, 2008
Extremely eHealthy
Redhata, the medications lessen the possibility of an episode occurring but it is not a cure. Some people experience break through symptoms despite being on meds. Medications will not cure bipolar disorders but will help to treat the symptoms.

My boys are taking a combination medications and supplements to manage the bipolar disorder. This is not a perfect fix either but taking less medications allows them to have fewer side effects and a cleared head.

I don't know that I really helped you. Continue taking medication. Without the meds you run a real risk of having a severe episode.
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