Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.
Someone commented to me about my email about medication and bipolar disorder.
She wrote: “While I agree with you 99% of what you’ve shared, there is one piece that is not completely accurate. You can be compliant with your medication, meaning taking it regularly and as prescribed. Yet, bipolar disorder is a mystery in some ways. Even on your medication you can have an episode that throws you into mania or depression. While I will always advocate compliance, it’s important to not that even doing the right thing all of the time doesn’t guarantee you will always be stable.”
Wow. I have to admit, she is 100% correct. Unfortunately, no matter what we do it is still possible for a relapse to occur. That’s the problem with the doctors not knowing too much about bipolar disorder yet: They don’t really know what will cure it or stop it.
But it’s not all just a guessing game, either. Scientists take a lot of time and calculations to study which medications will do what, and to what effectiveness. So by the time the medications get to us, there is a good chance that this one medication will help someone out tremendously.
But, once again, she is right. Even if you are on the medication that is best for you, there is still no guarantee that you will never have another episode in your entire life. But here’s the thing: Would you rather have a chance of going into an episode at some point, or the almost-guarantee of cycling through episodes on a regular basis?
Medications still serve a valuable purpose. And it is still best practice to take your medications and to be compliant about the dosages and times of taking them. See, something can always go wrong. But it’s much less likely to go that way when you are taking your medications than it is if you are not.
It’s kind of like gambling. You have one bet that is 75% likely to win, and another that is 15% likely to win. Which do you take? I’d personally take the one that is 75% likely to win any day. It just makes sense. But it still doesn’t guarantee that you’ve got it. After all, there is that other 25% that’s not in the 75%.
It’s also a lot like the decision of whether to wear your seatbelt in your car. Sure, there’s tickets to consider if you don’t. But let’s be realistic: there are much more important reasons to wear your seatbelt. Your life, for instance.
Seatbelts have been known to save many people’s lives in car accidents. But still you hear those stories of people who walked away after an accident when they weren’t wearing their seatbelts. That is rare, by the way. Or you might hear those stories where someone actually gets hurt with the seatbelt on in a car accident.
But you have to stop and think: Sure, they were still hut with the seatbelt on, but if it was that bad of a car accident that they were thrown into the seatbelt, then imagine where they would have been thrown without it.
It is the same way with bipolar medications. It may not guarantee that you’ll never have another episode in your entire life, but considering the odds that are up against you either way, it is still best practices to take them. Life is full of uncertainties, but when you can improve your chances, it is always a good thing to do so.
Now, what are your thoughts on this?
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
Yet, bipolar disorder is a MYSTERY insome ways.
I know that some people continue to drink after they are put on medicine for depression or bipolar disorder.
This can have an effect on how the medicine works. Anyone on anti-depression medicine should not drink alcoholic beverages.
Thats my 2 cents worth.
Have a Happy Day
On a personal level I have seen my loved one go through bi-polar disorder because of not taking his medicine.
The mood swings are from one secound to the next.
He himself has said that each time he stops taking the meds he spirals down faster each time. Now I know that he does not want to go through theses spirals. Please help me to understand better why he permits this of himself. I want to help him through this, please advise.
This is a good article. Some people can’t handle the fact that bipolar requires medication for the rest of their life. I wonder why it is so common for bipolars to stop taking their medicine when they feel better? I was recently diagnosed bipolar, and I am blessed because I already have diabetes and am on insulin for the rest of my life. Taking medication to stay healthy IS my life. I can relate that even taking your meds as prescribed doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have an episode. With diabetes, it is the same way. You can do everything right and still have a problem.
I am a mom of two children who have bipolar.There is a very good product called True Hope. My daughter is off all medication and has been for 3 years. My son if he would leave the pot and alcohol alone would be doing fine also.Right now is in a depression and came out of the hospital after a 5 week stay in a mania. Doing the drugs and alcohol put him back in the hospital, starting the roller coaster again. My friend committed suicide 16years ago. Her daughter has written a book called A Promise Of Hope[by Autumn Stringham], she too has bipolar.
Would you please address the drug and alcohol issue.We are trying to educate our son[always good ahen it comes from someone else] He has just listened to Autumn’s bookj on cd. We also show him a program by The Nature of Things called The Downside fo High[about teenagers and marijana[pot] and mental illness. Thankyou for your info. Please contact True Hope.com-talk to Tony Stephen or David Hardy. I can get thier numbers if you need. So many loves would be blest.My daughtern has 4 chilren and stable is a great place to be. If you would like to talk 1-888-938-4241.[we have nine chilren 888 makes it a good way for all to call]Thanks again, Dxie
My husband reads ALL your e-mail messages to me, which I forward to him on his computer – as soon as I receive them
I feel I am most fortunate to have his close attention, as I normally take one and a half Lithium tablets each evening before bed, but sometimes, if I have been particularly “different”, he will suggest that I take the 2 tablets which I have actually been prescribed since I was advised about 10 years ago that I have bipolar.
Always I take his advice – no-one knows me better than him, and he is never offensive about the issue.
I do feel that I am very priveliged – Jo
Since my last hospitalization for a manic episode in 1977 (under which I was compliant with my meds), I have ALWAYS taken my meds religiously. Still, knowing that just because I follow a treatment plan, I KNOW that a bipolar episode can and will “sneak” up on me, given the right circumstances of stress. Bipolar disorder is a MOOD disorder, and everybody knows you can’t control certain moods, even with the right cocktail of medications, cognitive therapy, and subsequent appointments with your psychiatrist/therapist. I am “coming down” from a VERY stressful period that lasted from January until April. I know that, in the past, I have been able to weather a crisis while I’m IN it, only to fall apart when the particular stress is seemingly over. That is why I’m constantly aware of my moods right now; this week, I’ve felt “almost” depressed, only to wake up this morning, feeling like my “old self.” We people with bipolar HAVE to remember that “this, too, shall pass,” whether it’s mania or clinical depression. I’m a “self-monitor-er” as I have no supporter who lives with me. My shrink has me scheduled every month now, whereas I usually see her every three months. I am not in individual therapy (which I would LIKE to be), but am in Group Therapy every week. I don’t particularly like Group, because you’re dealing with other people’s problems, and they seldom get around to me. Though, sometimes I admit, the feedback I get from other members of Group can be halpful if I relapse. I agree that one can be compliant with ALL the treatments of bipolar and STILL be thrown into an episode…it’s just the name of the game…
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I continue to pray for my country.
Anyone every heard of Cyclothymic disorder?
Oh my is this it or what? I will not drink, smoke pot or take anything unprescribed. I know these enhance any manic high or depression. Don’t take other drugs on top. I can fall into either side of the coin at a drop of a hat. If it weren’t so serious, I wouldn’t bother to write. Bipolar has me by the tail and i wouldn’t mess with it. Always take my meds and pray for the day, every day I live through. Meds could spell freedom from it’s grips and without it it could spell death. It’s a killer disease and it’s not to be tangoed with. Take your meds or die trying. Just don’t give up. I love all my supporters and anyone who tries to help. Especially love anyone who suffers. It’s soo hard sometimes. Hang in there and I will do the same. Be safe.