Posted by whiterabbit on May 18, 2003, at 16:56:04
In reply to Re: intuition is telling me to quit meds » bookgurl99, posted by WorryGirl on May 17, 2003, at 19:40:01
I've been considering whether to open my mouth about this and obviously, I've decided to butt in.
I think it's a mistake for you, WorryGirl, to have the impression that all medication is bad and no medication is good. I don't think you should be so determined to "somehow make it without meds." If you're really miserable and have been for quite awhile, try to keep an open mind about medication instead of saying, "No thanks, I don't want a life-jacket, if I can't make it to shore on my own I'd rather just drown."
What's the point of that?I have a friend who's mother is obviously bipolar.
I recognize many of the symptoms from my own illness, the signs are pronounced and classic. Sometimes she's too depressed and hung over to get out of bed for days. Other times, even though she's in serious financial trouble, she'll go on wild spending sprees, maxing out credit card after credit card. While she's fairly stable most of the time, she can get totally out of control, and often her family has to pick up the pieces.Still, this woman doesn't want to rely on daily medication. She proclaims that she's managing to live without it, which is true, but she's paying a very high price for her stubborness. Her kids have forgiven her a thousand times for calling at 2:00 am in a manic rage, but they truly resent her for making them so miserable. She can't keep a job and the bank is about to take her house.
Her life is a terrible mess but at least she's not relying on medication, by God, she's getting by without it.I know this is a dramatic example and may not apply to you in any way. Like Greg, I realize that I need psychiatric medication because the unmedicated Gracie is one sick pup. Your circumstances might be different, and you are following a traditional practice in medicine by first applying a "conservative" approach - psychotherapy. But if psychotherapy doesn't help enough, do consider medication - don't rule it out completely.
-Gracie
poster:whiterabbit
thread:226994
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030517/msgs/227465.html