Should I go back on my Bi-polar medications?

Question

I'm 17. I was diagnosed Bi-polar when I was 14. I quit taking them in June, without doctor's supervision. Now I am feeling depressed, I'm cutting my self again and I have been constantly feeling like **** for 2 months. I know eventually my mother is going to find out that I am going back to "my old ways". Should I just give in and tell her I still need help?

Answer 1

Talk to your mother and see your doctor. Admitting you still need help is a sign of strength and maturity, not a sign of weakness.

Answer 2

Here's the thing: When you go off the medications in the wrong way, one of the many side effects is depression - not necessarily the depression you started with, but one caused by the withdrawal. (I bet Hihello did not know this) You probably do need to go back on the meds until you can do something about the underlying cause of the problem and then cut the right way - not more than 10% at a time with at least 3 weeks between each cut (until you feel stable). This is a major problem with these doctors throwing drugs at people - they don't fix anything - they just cover up the problems some while causing very serious other problems. It seems like every other person has been diagnosed with some condition requiring psychotrophic drugs (note all above) - they even have babies on them now. It is just a ploy to make money. But in your case, you need it temporarily until you fix the real problem. That is probably your diet. I know, people don't like to hear this or believe it. But high sugar, refined carbohydrates and lack of vegetables and fruits and too much omega 6 (mainly in any food bought at the store) and not enough omega 3 (best source, a good fish oil) is the most likely cause of the problem. Eventually people will have to get wise to this over diagnosis of bi-polor, ocd, hyper, borderline, etc. etc. etc. They want a fast, easy fix but drugs are not the answer. There is no fast easy fix.

Answer 3

With bipolar you need to be on and stay on medication in order to remain stabilized and live a relatively normal - happy - productive life. There is really no way around that. But it sounds like you have found that out for yourself. It's very common for people with bipolar to get stable on meds, feel so much better that they think they don't need them anymore so they go off of them and the symptoms come crashing back.

You are lucky that you were diagnosed so young. The earlier treatment is started, the better the long term outcome. Mine began in early childhood but I didn't receive a proper diagnosis until I was about 26. (I'm 30 now.) If I had been on medication and stable at 17, my entire life probably would have turned out very differently from this inescapable mess I've made for myself.

This is an illness, you need to treat it like one. If you had diabetes, you wouldn't think twice about taking insulin. Bipolar has a disturbingly high mortality rate (from suicide mostly and also reckless behavior) of 20% when untreated.

Please, let them know you still need help. If they know about bipolar, they know you still need it. This isn't something you outgrow or that gets cured. It needs to be dealt with and managed carefully. Although dealing with meds is a pain in the ***, it is worth it, because it gives you a chance to live without suffering.

Do me a favor please and ignore anyone telling you that bipolar disorder is not real and medication is useless. The science of it proves otherwise, but these people who say these ignorant things are clearly uneducated about the realities. Bipolar is a BIOLOGICALLY based illness. This is not my opinion, this is an established fact. It infuriates me when people who do not know what they are talking about run off at the mouth and give horrible and ultimately dangerous advice. I have spent years researching these things in depth.

Answer 4

Yes. The depression could worsen or it could remit and you could go into a hypomanic, manic or mixed episode. Most people with bipolar disorder need to be on mood-stabilizers to prevent episodes. Some who have mild, infrequent episodes may not need to be on maintenance medication. But this usually takes several years to determine what kind of course they have and they need to be able to recognize the early symptoms of an episode so they can get treatment right away. Definitely tell your mother. I hope she's read up and learned about bipolar disorder.

Answer 5

Hello........You have answered your own questions when you refer to the way you have felt since you stopped taking your medications. Do you feel better now? Have you thought about the rest of your life being filled with sorrow? Or that you may become just a statistic when your cutting goes too deep? You have your entire life ahead of you! Don't waste another minute of it being sad. It would not be "giving in" If you ask for help, it would be stepping forward to take charge of your own destiny.

Answer 6

Yes. You need to take care of yourself. I am bipolar and have been taking medication for about 20 years off and on. Whenever I was off, my life became a total disaster.

Since my last hospitalization, I have been taking my medication for five years straight, and they have been the best and most productive years of my life. I used to resent the medication because of the side effects I had like psoriasis and weight gain, but now I am sure the medication has helped to save my life.

Answer 7

Yes, please talk with your mom. Try and get your mom to take you to a psychiatrist- if you are Bipolar, you need to be assisted (your mom too, for that matter) by someone who is expert in using medicines which treat conditions like Bi-polar disorder. Medical Doctors specialize in Medical treatment and diagnoses, and medication for Bipolar disorder should really be prescribed and managed by a doctor who specializes in the use of medicines that are for conditions like Bipolar disorder. You wouldn't want your chiropracter taking out your appendix right? and you wouldn't want your family doctor trying to crack your back right?

Answer 8

yes i think you should. i mean dont do this to yourself you will feel better if you go back on meds. tell your mom you still need help before it is to late. i know you might feel weird taking meds i sure did. i had depression and my mom had to remind me everyday to take my meds. i sounded psycho but believe me they helped alot. even saved my life at the end. im much happier now

Answer 9

YES YES YES!! Untreated, your bipolar could get worse w/ time. Plus, getting back on meds and into therapy will help you cope w/ life better so you won't need to cut anymore. You KNOW you need the help, so get it!

Answer 10

yes, you should definately talk to your mom. and talk to your doctor and get back on your medication. if you feel like it's not working for you the way you'd like, then maybe you should talk to your doctor about a different plan to keep you safe and happy.

you should never go off your medication without talking to your doctor first.