Do you think it is possible to treat bipolar disoder without mediction?

Question

I know most shrinks wouldn't recommend this, but I reaally don't respond well to treatmnet and I can't help to think that the drugs are just making me a zombie and covering up my true emotion

Answer 1

No. It is impossible. A person might not experience any episodes for awhile if off medicine, but evenutally they will crash.

If a person is truly Bipolar, they need mood stabilizers to function. Anyone who says different is an idiot. Being Bipolar is like being a diabetic....would you tell a diabetic to stop taking insulin?

There have been proven studies showing differences in Bipolar brains. It is truly a medical illness that needs treating with proper medication.

Answer 2

I wouldn't recommend it myself, because I have tried it several times myself, and usually I either end up in jail or on the psych ward of the hospital. There are so many different meds out there now to treat it, there has to be a combination of them that won't make you feel like a zombie. I have had just about every cocktail available, and the bunch I take now doesn't effect me that way at all. I have taken some though that short of drooling down my chin, I wasmost definitely a zombie, but if you just sit down with you doc and explain and tell him/her, that you want meds that aren't going to make you feel that way, then I'm sure that the two of you can find the right combination for you. It may take a while, God knows it took a while for me, but other than adjustments every couple of months or so, I have been on the same neds for two and a half years now. Good luck to you, cause I've been in the boat you are in now, and I know how bad it can be.

Answer 3

I know that if you are not on the right meds or are on to strong of doses then it can make you a zombie. It is such a trial and error process to find the correct meds (and that can be so frustrating.) I went through this with my son. We tried this one med and he slept all the time, we tried another med and he had a hard time concentrating on everyday little things, etc. Finally after a few months we finally got it right and he is doing so well. Be open with your doctor about your symptoms and effects of your meds.
I think that it would be extremely hard to treat Bipolar without meds. Especially if you have mild to severe cycles. But I really think that a healthy life style could really help. Eating healthy, exercising, vitamins, not drinking, etc are just over all things that make you feel good. And while I am not a professional in this field, I would think that perhaps it could help some. Also getting enough sleep is very important. I think everybody feels unstable when they haven't had enough sleep.

Answer 4

Hi there,

I suffered from Bipolar for a long time myself. I was put on medication, but they really made me feel like a zombie. I was drowsy all the time and was nowhere closer to feeling any better.
You could be taking drugs that are too strong for you, that usually causes adverse reactions. Talk to your therapist and start on something milder. Don't stop with therapy though, because all said and done, it does go a long way.

Also what helped me get through were good exercise, lots of sleep, healthy food, talking to friends and family about it, prayers, and writing. I've been writing for 6 years now and that has really brought me a long way towards fending off the demons in my head. Putting your thoughts down on paper works miracles! It completely clears your mind and helps you vent your feelings, in addition to finding solutions.

Do something nice for yourself everyday. Read a good book, take a bubble bath, go for a walk, listen to your favorite music. Anything that makes *you* feel good.

Give it a shot, there's a beautiful world out there to see and dreams to achieve. Love yourself and don't lose faith.

Good luck~

Answer 5

Whatever you do don't!!!!!!!!!

Go on any of those supplements that claim to be especially for bipolar. A friend suggested to me that I try them. After I read online their hype I was sold on the idea. I followed their titration methods for getting off my rx and onto their supplement. My whole family got behind me on it. Everyone stayed in touch and we all prayed. The stuff costs a fortune. But I was eager to get off my rx. While I felt fine on the new stuff and my friends thought that I seemed ok. Here's what did occur while on the supplements that had never happened before. I slid off my horse, because I was riding her with no saddle or bridle. I got a contusion and a concussion and a nice slash in my scalp. That took 3 months to get over. Then I was handling my electric horse containment fencing, but while soaking wet from the spa and was given a horrid shock and tossed back and knocked my poor head again. There was another injury that followed. All of these were exceptional things that occured because I didn't have proper judgement. I could have gotten killed!! All three of those accidents happened in just a 3 month time frame.
I went off the supplement and back on meds and not another accident of any kind...
Don't try anything for bipolar except what you and your Dr. can agree on.
God bless you and keep you.

Answer 6

Hell NO! Meication management is more of an art than a science. It may take some time to find the right combo and levels of med to manage your bipolar disorder.

The important thing is (1) find a psychiatrist that will work WITH you instead of doing it TO you. One who will listen to your reports of how the meds effect you. (2) report accurately to the doc how the meds effect you. Many changes in dosages or new meds may have side effects that will disappear. But report changes to your doc. You should not be a "zombie" nor should your emotions be "flat".

BE PATIENT.

Answer 7

I have dealt with a lot of Bipolar people and with some I think they need meds, but most of them just do not want to face reality. I know one women who goes extremely high then just as low but the lows come when she is forced to look at the true picture of her life. It is not what she wanted so if whe acts out or acts badly people feel sorry for her. and she wants the pity. Sometimes you just have to take a stand for yourself and face the fact that life is not easy or fair to most people, they just have to get on with things. Get moving, take care of business, grab what ever is holding you back push it out of your way and plow forward with your life. You are the only one who can take control of it. You are right to think that the meds are covering up emotions that is what they do they make not have to think about the situation you are in then you can't take control because you just don't care. Be careful and take care of yourself maybe find a counselor to talk you problems out with. good luck to you.

Answer 8

convinced that is plausible for individuals to be dealt with in common words with mood stabilisers. Many with bipolar can't take antidepressants without triggering a manic episode. some have worse manic episodes and others more effective depressions so tailoring the cocktail only for you is demanding and perfect performed by technique of the psychiatrist who sees you and is conscious of you. i do not understand how lengthy you've been ill or what indications you've maximum of and antipsychotics are more effective perfect for some even as antidepressants artwork wonders for others. good success

Answer 9

Bipolar disorder is based on a chemical imbalance which is why medication is needed. there are a ton of meds out there; talk to your doctor and see if he/she can prescribe something different. It took my son 3 different tries before he found one that didn't make him feel like a zombie. (Lexapro is what he uses now)

Although traditional therapy will help, you have to address the cause.

Answer 10

the idea is to feel like you are awake.did zombie for 4yrs. i finally
got tired and told the doc to change the meds.i call it drug roulette
i played that for 11/2 yrs and finally found a good potion.and more
recently had to change meds but only took a few months.im stable my family says im more like me w/out the insane woman
who caused all to flee.i havent met anyone who is stable w/out
meds.it may seem bad but do you want to be the person that
everyone flees when they see you coming or as normal as possible.keep trying the meds there is a lot.there is a magic
potion for you too.talk to your psych doc.tell him what you told us.