Is it possible to have bipolar and be normal without medication?

Question

I was diagnosised with bipolar when I was 15, but the medication made me feel empty and void of all emotion. I quit taking the medication and since then have been fighting an on-going battle to maintain my life without medication. I feel like it was been a lost cause, and I have wasted my time trying to be normal with this disease. I don't know what I can do to regain my life.

Answer 1

very much possible, no problem at all

:> peace
.

Answer 2

I am bipolar, living without medication for about three years now. I have had periods in those three years that I have taken new meds that end up with horrifying results. I have read the many answers in this forum and would like to respectfully point out that bipolar doesn't always fall under one classification. There are many types of bipolar disorder, one of which is med resistant. It is very hard to treat and in the end, for many of these patients, their lives are more productive and better without medication. So my answer to your question would be "Yes!".
Please don't think that I am supporting being off meds or medicated for that matter. The best answer is, you need to do what is appropriate for YOU. Not the "textbook appropriate" scenario. I have found in my many year battle with this damned disease....sometimes there is no textbook explanation. Many people's symptoms and responses to meds manifest themselves in peculiar ways. I am a mother, I am a full time nurse, I am functioning. There are still hard days, days I truly wish I could find a med that worked for me. The side effects are more of a danger to me at this point. TALK TO YOUR DOC!

Answer 3

Sorry to say, that if you are truely Bipolar, you NEED meds.
Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in the brain, that can not be fixed without medication. Alot of people on these boards say things like exercise, be happy, etc, but Bipolar is a disease that needs medication.

Now, you might go through life for awhile without having any major episodes, but eventually, things will get bad. Your brain is inbalanced and needs to be put into balance.

Finding the right cocktail of meds is difficult, but it can help you lead a better life.

Answer 4

OK, so that on-going battle will only get worse over time. There is now evidence that untreated bipolar may actually be damaging your brain.

Some people can handle bipolar without meds, but they are very few and far between and you don't sound like one of them. Get back to your doc.

Feeling empty and emotionally flat is common - I was like that on lamotrigine and amitriptyline, but switching to lamotrigine and olanzapine has transformed me. There are dozens of combos out there, and you WILL find one that works for you.

Ask around at http://www.crazyboards.org where you will find this discussed a lot.

Answer 5

not sure how old you are now,, but even if you have been off meds for just 3 or 4 yrs there are so many new meds for Bi polar now that you might want to think about giving medications a chance again,, the key here is working with a good, patient, knowledgble dr. who will lisen to your concerns and will let you try some different meds until you find the combo's that work best for you. It's a long road and rarely is it every a one time wonder pill that works ,, but you have to want to fight to find the one, or ones that will work for you.

And also meds rarely RARELY work alone,, some kind of theraphy is almost always needed.

Answer 6

Everybodys definition of "normal" is different. If you have come to the terms that you really are bi-polar without thinking something is wrong with you, or feel sorry for yourself, YES...you can "be normal". A person has to know they have a problem to be able to fix it. If you have come to terms, now you can see your own mood habits in a different perspective. Like if you see yourself being depressed for awhile for no reason, you can learn ways to bring yourself out of it without meds. If you see yourself being manic, you can develope stratagies to do things to live with it without meds. But It is not good for somepeople to be off meds.

Answer 7

I believe you will have to get back on medication and stay
on them for the rest of your life..
It is tough finding just the right meds for you as an individual..
What works for one person may not work for you..
Just keep trying different meds until you find what works for you.
Lithium, Depakote, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Welbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft and on and on and on...

Answer 8

More than likely you will have to stay on meds to retain balance. If your old meds were causing you problems, speak with your Psychiatrist about a new "cocktail". Sometimes they just lose effect over time. Best of luck to you. I know how hard that battle can be.

Answer 9

I have been having Lamictal and Seroquel for the past month and a half and have none of those empty feelings. I actually feel pretty good.

Answer 10

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in, for FREE

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 11

Go to a store that sells this book ... Prescription for Natural Cures, a self care guide for treating health problems with natural remedies, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D. If that doesn't help ... read up on anything you can (ie: WebMD.com), get your hands on articles to see if there is a natural way to help with you highs and lows ... what is normal in today's society? No one is really normal..